Biology is one of the largest majors at Dickinson, home to 14 faculty members with research expertise in ecology, molecular genetics, cell biology, plant biology, animal physiology, microbiology, neuroscience, bioinformatics and evolution. We provide opportunities for our students to stimulate critical thinking, refine communication skills and gain technical expertise to tackle the complex biological, ecological and clinical challenges of our time.

All of our majors participate in research at some point during their time at Dickinson, and we strongly believe active participation in scientific exploration is paramount to their intellectual development as thoughtful scientists. These experiences prime our students for graduate and medical school admissions as well as various careers in biology. Many of these experiences lead to student presentations at professional meetings and to authorship of scientific publications.

The Princeton Review has named Dickinson a “great school for biology majors” (2020)

Biology at Dickinson extends far beyond the Carlisle campus. Nearly half of Dickinson biology students study off-campus for a semester or more, in our own global programs or at partner institutions in the U.S. and abroad. These experiences provide students with a wider perspective through coursework and research experiences that add to the value of a Dickinson biology degree.

We hope you’ll take time to learn more about what it would be like to join our departmental community. You're always welcome to visit a lab or a class with one of our award-winning faculty members. Also, please check out our related programs in neuroscience, biochemistry & molecular biology and environmental science.