Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Rigorous science training paired with a Christian view of creation — and an early-acceptance pathway into med, dental, and pharmacy school.
LECOM Partnership
Early acceptance into med, dental, and pharmacy school
Five Lab Courses Required
Bio II, A&P I & II, Gen Chem, Organic Chem
Senior Research Capstone
BIO 490 closes the major with culminating work
ACU’s Bachelor of Science in Biology is built for students who want serious science training and an unapologetically Christian view of the world that science investigates. The 120-credit degree spans biology, zoology, and botany, with deep work in the chemistry that modern biology runs on and a 16-credit elective block that lets you shape the major toward pre-med, research, or any biology-adjacent direction.
The academic core is substantial: General Biology II, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II, all four semesters of General and Organic Chemistry, Brief Calculus, and a senior capstone. The elective list keeps going from there — Molecular and Cellular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Pathophysiology, Bioethics, Creation Apologetics, and more. You leave with the bench skills, scientific writing, and pre-graduate preparation that med schools, research programs, and biology employers expect.
What sets ACU’s degree apart is the integration. The same students working through Organic Chemistry are also working through ACU’s Biblical and Theological Studies core, asking what it means to study living systems as both scientists and Christians. The result is graduates who can hold rigorous science and serious faith together in the same head — and increasingly, that’s exactly what the field needs.
Master Cellular and Molecular Biology
Work through living systems from the molecular level up through cells, organs, and whole organisms.
Develop Bench-Level Chemistry Skills
Complete two semesters of General Chemistry and two semesters of Organic Chemistry — the chem foundation modern biology requires.
Study Human Anatomy and Physiology
Build a working understanding of human body systems through the two-semester A&P sequence with labs.
Conduct Scientific Research
Design experiments, analyze data with biostatistics, and communicate findings — through coursework and optional research credits.
Engage Bioethics
Address the ethical questions that real biological research raises — from genetics to medicine to environment.
Connect Science and Faith
Examine the relationship between biology and Christian conviction through dedicated courses on creation apologetics and a biblically integrated core curriculum.
A Biblical Worldview doesn't compete with biology — it gives biology bigger questions to ask. Three convictions run through how ACU's program treats the science.
Creation Worth Knowing
The living world is something to be appreciated and cared for, not just dissected. ACU's biology program treats plants, animals, ecosystems, and human bodies as creation — meaning the careful work of investigating them is also a form of attention to what God has made.
Grounds your science in wonder, not just method.
Real Ethics, Real Questions
Biology raises hard questions — about gene editing, ecological responsibility, end-of-life care, what counts as a person. A Biblical Worldview doesn't dodge those questions; it gives you a framework for engaging them. ACU's program builds Bioethics and Creation Apologetics into the major precisely because the questions deserve real coursework, not a sidebar.
Prepares you to be a scientist who can think about the implications of the work, not just the work itself.
Stewardship in the Lab
Christian engagement with creation has been a steady thread in the history of science. ACU treats biology students as the next generation of scientists who can do excellent work and hold Christian convictions seriously — without either of those things diminishing the other.
Equips you to bring integrity, humility, and craft to a research career, a clinical practice, or any biology-adjacent field.
Introduction to Sports Medicine w/ Lab
An entry point into athletic training and sports medicine — for students moving toward those careers or just curious about how the field works.
BIO 301Human Anatomy and Physiology I w/ Lab
The first half of the A&P sequence — cells, tissues, and the integumentary, nervous, and musculoskeletal systems.
BIO 320Microbiology w/ Lab
A survey of the microbial world — its biology, its lab techniques, and its relevance to medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.
BIO 341Human Genetics
An introduction to human genetics and inheritance — and a working tour through the genetic disorders shaping medicine today.
BIO 385Creation Apologetics
A one-semester survey of origins — examining the presuppositions behind both biblical creationism and evolutionary frameworks.
BIO 483Pathophysiology
How body systems function in disease — cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, and reproductive disorders covered in working detail.
A B.S. in Biology opens doors in research, healthcare, education, and industry — and ACU's LECOM partnership gives qualified students a direct line into professional health programs.
Medical, Dental, or Pharmacy School
Pursue early acceptance into Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine's medical, dental, or pharmacy programs through ACU's affiliated-university partnership.
Biological Scientist or Researcher
Work in academic, government, or industry research labs investigating living systems.
Laboratory Research Assistant
Support research teams in academic, clinical, or pharmaceutical lab settings.
Biological Technician
Run lab work in biotech, environmental, agricultural, or healthcare settings.
Microbiologist
Specialize in the study of microorganisms across medical, environmental, and industrial applications.
Pharmaceutical Sales and Research
Bring scientific training into the business side of pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
Christian School Science Teacher
Teach biology and life sciences in Christian middle and high schools with formal biology credentials.
Graduate School in the Life Sciences
Enter graduate programs in biology, public health, biomedical research, or science education.
ACU's biology program pairs a rigorous, biblically integrated curriculum with the kind of mentoring and access you only get at a small university.
LECOM Early Acceptance Pipeline
Qualified students can secure early acceptance into Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine's medical, dental, or pharmacy programs through ACU's affiliated-university partnership.
Faith and Science Together
Christian conviction and serious biology aren't held in separate compartments — they're integrated through dedicated courses like Bioethics and Creation Apologetics.
Small Classes, Real Lab Time
A 17:1 student-faculty ratio means you actually get hands-on bench time and personal mentoring through every lab course.
Pre-Med Chemistry Backbone
Four full semesters of General and Organic Chemistry — the foundation med, dental, and pharmacy schools assume.
Flexible 16-Credit Elective Block
Shape the major toward your interests with electives in microbiology, biochemistry, neuroscience, ecology, kinesiology, bioinformatics, and more.
Senior Capstone
BIO 490 brings four years of science together in a culminating research experience.
The B.S. in Biology is a sequential, lab-heavy program. Starting on time matters. Here’s how students get going.
Apply to ACU
Submit your application for admission. If you're targeting LECOM early acceptance, mention that in your application materials.
Start Your ApplicationMeet With Your Academic Advisor
Map the 120 credits across four years with attention to the chemistry sequence and lab scheduling.
Begin Chemistry Early
CHM 151 leads to 152, then 235, then 236 — four sequential semesters. Starting freshman year keeps the rest of the major on track.
Plan Your 16 Elective Credits
Pick electives that match where you're heading — pre-med, research, ecology, neuroscience, or education — and sequence them around the lab-heavy core.
The B.S. in Biology pairs serious science with serious faith, and opens direct pathways into medical, dental, pharmacy, and research careers. Apply or reach out to talk through the fit.