Biology
An 18-credit minor that pairs General Biology I & II with General Chemistry — the science foundation pre-health, research, and grad-school applications actually require.
About the Minor
ACU’s Biology Minor gives non-biology majors the science foundation that pre-health, research, and graduate-program applications actually require. The 12-credit core walks you through General Biology I and II and General Chemistry I — three full lab courses, not a survey — so you finish the minor with real bench experience, not just background reading.
From the core, you choose six credits of electives that match where you’re headed: Human Anatomy and Physiology, Human Genetics, Nutrition and Wellness, Bioinformatics, Kinesiology, or ACU’s distinctive Creation Apologetics. That flexibility lets the minor work for pre-PA students adding A&P, psychology majors picking up Genetics or Neuroscience prep, Christian-school teaching aspirants wanting Creation Apologetics, or any major where biology adds professional weight.
This is the smallest credible add-on that still signals serious science preparation. If you’re thinking about graduate school in healthcare, public health, or biological research and you’re majoring in something else, this is the minor that opens the door.
What You'll Learn
Master Cellular and Molecular Foundations
Work through living systems from the molecular level up through cells, organs, and whole organisms in BIO 181 and BIO 182.
Build Chemistry Bench Skills
Complete General Chemistry I with the integrated lab work that any further chemistry, biochemistry, or pre-health prep assumes.
Apply the Scientific Method
Design experiments, collect data, and interpret results across three semesters of real lab work.
Specialize Through Electives
Shape the back half of the minor toward A&P, genetics, nutrition, bioinformatics, kinesiology, or science-and-faith integration.
Read Biology Literature
Develop the working scientific literacy to follow primary research, professional articles, and clinical reasoning beyond ACU.
Studying Creation as a Scientist
A Biblical Worldview doesn't compete with biology — it gives biology bigger questions to ask. Three convictions run through how ACU's biology curriculum treats the science.
Creation Worth Knowing
Living systems are something to be appreciated and cared for, not just dissected. ACU 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. That conviction shapes how the labs are taught, not just how the topic is framed.
Grounds your science in wonder and care, not just method.Faith and Science Together
Christian engagement with biology has been a steady thread in the history of science. ACU's curriculum reflects that, treating rigorous science and Christian conviction as belonging in the same conversation rather than as opposing camps. The Creation Apologetics elective makes that integration explicit.
Equips you to do excellent science while holding your faith seriously.Bioethics in View
Biology raises hard questions — about genetic 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 with care.
Prepares you to be a scientist who can think about implications, not just methods.Where This Minor Takes You
The Biology Minor opens doors any time you need science credentials to pair with a non-science major — and it's especially strong as pre-health preparation.
Pre-Health Professional Programs
Add the science foundation for medical, dental, pharmacy, PA, or nursing school applications when you're majoring in something else.
Christian School Science Teacher
Pair the minor with an Education degree to qualify for science teaching in Christian middle and high schools.
Public Health and Health Policy
Build the biological literacy that graduate programs in public health and health policy assume.
Biotechnology and Research Support
Step into lab technician, research assistant, or biotech support roles where biology coursework is the entry requirement.
Environmental Stewardship Work
Bring biological grounding to conservation, ecology, and environmental ministry work — especially with the Creation Apologetics elective.
Ministry and Christian Schools
Equip yourself to teach science-and-faith questions thoughtfully in pastoral, parachurch, or Christian-school settings.
Why Students Choose This Minor
The Biology Minor at ACU is built around real lab work and a flexible elective shelf — not a survey-only "bio for non-majors" track.
Three Real Lab Courses
BIO 181, BIO 182, and CHM 151 are the same lab courses biology majors take — not a stripped-down version. Lab fees apply.
Same Faculty as the BS Major
ACU's Bio and Chemistry professors teach across every level, so minors learn alongside biology majors and pre-health students.
Flexible Elective Block
Six credits of electives let you shape the minor toward A&P, genetics, nutrition, bioinformatics, kinesiology, or creation apologetics.
Creation Apologetics Available
BIO 385 Creation Apologetics is a distinctive ACU elective — few biology programs anywhere offer it as a real 3-credit course.
Stacks Into Pre-Health Prep
The minor's coursework counts directly toward most pre-med, pre-PA, and pre-PT prerequisite lists.
Small Classes, Hands-On Mentoring
ACU's small program means real bench time and actual conversations with faculty about your work.
Getting Started
The Biology Minor builds on a prerequisite chain — starting early matters.
Talk With Your Academic Advisor
Map the 18 credits into your degree plan with attention to the BIO 181 → BIO 182 sequence and the CHM 151 prerequisite.
Confirm MAT 112 Placement
CHM 151 requires MAT 112 with a C or higher, an appropriate math placement score, or instructor approval — check this before scheduling.
View MAT 112 →Begin BIO 181 Early
Take General Biology I in your freshman or sophomore year so BIO 182 (which is offered in Spring) lines up cleanly the following semester.
View BIO 181 →Choose Your Two Electives
Pick the two 3-credit electives that match where you're heading — A&P for pre-health, Bioinformatics for research, Creation Apologetics for ministry or teaching.
Explore More Options
Ready to Add Real Science to Your Degree?
The Biology Minor gives you the lab work and elective flexibility most non-science majors can't get elsewhere. Apply or reach out today.
