We're cultivating your critical thinking abilities to include the scientific process.
We've got a wide variety of undergraduate courses in Biology and Chemistry for Biology majors, minors and non-majors seeking to expand their scientific knowledge and critical science inquiry skills.
Get a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Chemistry, or Chemistry with Initial Licensure in Secondary Teaching.
Learn about our Health Professions Meta Advising and Mentorship Program
Check out what one of our recent alums is doing in the Burg Blog
Learn about our
S-Stem Scholarship Program
Majors and Concentrations
Biology
Foundational principles and the exploration of contemporary thinking about the nature of life.
Chemistry
Provides a foundational understanding for all areas of Chemistry.
Chemistry with Initial Teacher Licensure
Prepares tomorrow's educators to become high school chemistry teachers.
Biology with Initial Teacher Licensure
Prepares tomorrow's educators to become high school biology teachers.
Health Sciences
Addresses the increased interest in health professions and is designed to prepare you for pursuing post-graduate studies.
Environmental Biology
Prepares for environmental careers including ecology research and environmental protection.
Neuroscience and Behavior
Bridges biology and psychology to focus on the nervous system function and how it relates to behavior.
Biotechnology
Illustrates the different aspects of biotechnology to prepare you for any career in the field.
Biochemistry
Prepares you for further education in chemistry, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and other health professions.
Job growth and graduation rates according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
98%
graduation rate for biology and chemistry majors who participate in research
6%
job growth between 2020-2030 for chemists and materials scientists
7%
job growth between 2020-2030 for biological technicians
Hear from our Students
Meet Our Faculty and Staff
Biology and Chemistry Faculty and Staff
Minors
Plan of Study, Handbook and University Catalog
Biology Chemistry Two Year Rotation of Courses
- BIOL 1000 – Introduction to Life Science
- Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer (as needed)
- BIOL 1001 – Introduction to Health Professions Seminar
- Offered: Every other Fall (even years)
- BIOL 1010 – Introduction to Environmental Sciences
- Offered: Fall, Spring (as needed)
- BIOL 1050 – Life Science for Educators
- Offered: Fall, Spring
- BIOL 1200 – Anatomy & Physiology I
- Offered: Fall, Summer
- BIOL 1300 – Anatomy & Physiology II
- Offered: Spring, Summer
- BIOL 1650 – Nutrition
- Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer I and II (online)
- BIOL 1700 – Human Biology
- Offered: Fall (as needed)
- BIOL 1750 – Decoding Your Genome
- Offered: Spring (as needed)
- BIOL 2006 – Tropical Ecology (Costa Rica)
- Offered: Every other Spring (even years)
- BIOL 2700 – Medical Microbiology
- Offered: Every Spring
- FYE 1015 – First Year Experience
- Offered: Every Fall
- HON 1015 – Topics: Honors Personal Genomics
- Offered: Every Fall, Spring (as needed)
- HON 1600 – Honors: Biological Issues and Inquiry
- Offered: Every Fall
- BIOL 1800 – General Biology I
- Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer I (online)
- BIOL 1900 – General Biology II
- Offered: Spring, Summer (as needed)
- BIOL 2300 – Ecology
- Offered: Every Fall
- BIOL 2800 – Genetics
- Offered: Fall, Spring
- BIOL 2004 – Human Anatomy & Physiology I
- Offered: Every Fall
- BIOL 2005 – Human Anatomy & Physiology II
- Offered: Every Spring
- BIOL 2150 – General Microbiology
- Offered: Every other Fall (odd years)
- BIOL 2250 – Cell Biology
- Offered: Every other Fall (even years)
- BIOL 2600 – Animal Behavior
- Offered: Every other Spring (odd years)
- BIOL 2650 – Neuroscience
- Offered: Every Spring
- BIOL 3000 – Parasitology
- Offered: Every other Summer II
- BIOL 3007 – Virology
- Offered: Every other Summer II
- BIOL 3010 – Invertebrate Biology
- Offered: Less than every 3 years
- BIOL/CHEM 3030 – Biochemistry I
- Offered: Every Spring
- BIOL/CHEM 3040 – Biochemistry II (Human Metabolism)
- Offered: Every other Fall (even years, starting Fall 2026)
- BIOL/CHEM 3060 – Biochemical Techniques (Capstone)
- Offered: Every other Fall (odd years)
- BIOL 3100 – Conservation Biology
- Offered: Every other Fall (odd years)
- BIOL 3102 – Marine Biology
- Offered: Every other Fall (even years)
- BIOL 3350 – Cell Culture Techniques
- Offered: Every other Fall (odd years)
- BIOL 3550 – Developmental Biology (Capstone)
- Offered: Every Spring
- BIOL 3650 – Plant Biology (Capstone)
- Offered: Less than every 3 years
- BIOL 3700 – Bioethics
- Offered: Every other Spring (odd years)
- BIOL 4009 – Cancer Genomics (Capstone)
- Offered: Every other Fall (odd years)
- BIOL 4011 – Models, Methods, and Analysis (Capstone)
- Offered: Every other Fall (even years)
- BIOL/CHEM 4015 – Topics: Metals in Biology
- Offered: Every other Fall (even years)
- BIOL/CHEM 4020 – Medicinal Chemistry
- Offered: Every other Spring (even years)
- BIOL 4500 – Molecular Biology (Capstone)
- Offered: Every other Spring (even years)
- BIOL 4600 – Evolution
- Offered: Every other Spring (even years)
- BIOL 4810 – Immunology
- Offered: Every other Spring (odd years)
- CHEM 1000 – Chemistry in a Changing World
- Offered: Every other Fall (odd years)
- CHEM 1200 – Chemistry for the Health Sciences
- Offered: Fall, Spring
- CHEM 1300 – General Chemistry I
- Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer I (online)
- CHEM 1400 – General Chemistry II
- Offered: Every Spring, Summer II (online)
- CHEM 2000 – Organic Chemistry I
- Offered: Every Fall, Summer I (online)
- CHEM 2100 – Organic Chemistry II
- Offered: Every Spring, Summer II (online)
- CHEM 2400 – General Analytical Chemistry
- Offered: Every Spring
- CHEM 3003 – Environmental Chemistry
- Offered: Every other Spring
- CHEM 3200 – Physical Chemistry I
- Offered: Every other Spring (or as needed)
- CHEM 3600 – Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry
- Offered: Every other Fall (odd years)
- CHEM 4750 – Chemistry Seminar
- Offered: As needed
Pre-Professional Programs
LECOM Early Acceptance Program
Guarantee your acceptance to medical school at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) with one of three programs.
Health Professions Meta Advising and Mentorship Program
A program to assist students in pre-professional preparation for careers in the medical sciences.
Go Beyond the Classroom and a Look Inside the Courses
Biology and Chemistry Club
Meet up with likeminded students for fun activities including movie nights, field trips, nature walks, in addition to informational talks and seminars.
Read more about: Biology and Chemistry Club
Biology and Chemistry Courses and Events
Check out our blog to get a look inside our courses and events.
Read more about: Biology and Chemistry Courses and Events
River Research and Applications
Eight Fitchburg faculty members from Math, Biology and Chemistry and Environmental, Geographic, and Public Health Science recently published a peer-reviewed paper about the health of our Nashua River Watershed. Feel free to take a look at their work.
Read more about: River Research and Applications
I still think how grateful I am for the instruction I had at Fitchburg State. The kindness and dedication of my faculty members is a daily reminder of why I am doing what I am doing.
Rob Pijewski '15
Assistant Professor, Anna Maria College
Questions? Get in touch!
Please reach out with any questions you might have, either though the contact information below or by contacting the department chair, Dr. Erin Rehrig at 978.665.3982.
Biology and Chemistry Department
Offers majors in Biology, Chemistry and Chemistry with Initial Teacher Licensure.
Antonucci Science 220