• Student holding turtle

    Biology

Explore the fabric of life.

From the smallest single-cell organism to complex flora and fauna, biology holds the answers to what makes every living organism on the planet move, breathe, and exist. You’ll be in the field studying the habits of charismatic critters like wolves, netting trout, tagging deer and surveying plants, and analyzing growth patterns of juniper bushes in the Apostle Islands. In the laboratory, you’ll be linking modern molecular techniques with environmental and conservation issues, analyzing genetic material, and identifying gene expression in animals like northern turtles.

Biology overlaps with many natural resource courses and is the centerpiece of our pre-health care and pre-veterinary programs. After four years, you will be prepared for employment in the fields of bioresearch, natural resource science, environmental consulting, education, and for graduate, medical, and veterinarian schools.

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“It gives me a thrill to think that I could possibly be a part of the wildlife research realm in my future, helping to create and perpetuate positive change for the environment and our fellow inhabitants.” Jennifer Franke, Biology Major

Program Highlights

  • Intimate Learning Experience

    Small classroom sizes and hands-on experience are the hallmark of the biology major. You’ll work closely with faculty and your peers to study and observe all forms of wildlife.

  • Classroom and Field Study

    Whether you’re analyzing genetic material in the lab or strapping on a pair of hiking boots to conduct field research, you will advance from basic molecular biology to advanced anatomy and genetics.

  • Preparation for Your Career

    Many of our biology professors work in partnerships with government agencies and non-profit institutions to conduct research, create internships, and find future jobs for you.

Why Northland?

Experiential Learning

An education at Northland involves more than just sitting in lecture halls. We combine classroom learning with immersive field studies and opportunities within the community to create a one-of-a-kind learning experience. Our career-focused curriculum will provide you with the tools and confidence to succeed in anything you do.

Access to Financial Aid

Think all private colleges are expensive? Think again. With 99% of all Northland College students receiving some form of financial aid, you can receive a private school education at a public school price.

Proven Outcomes

A degree from Northland is your pathway to opportunity. Our 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio allows our professors to personally invest in your success, and the results of this approach speak for themselves. 93.5% of our recent graduates are employed or in graduate school.

Full-Spectrum Sustainability

At Northland, we live our sustainability mission every day. Going green is a part of everything we do as an institution and everything you’ll do as a student—from how you’ll live, to what you’ll learn, and ways you can contribute.

Live & Learn in a Natural World

Our location in Ashland, WI, a small, safe community of just over 8,000 tucked along the south shore of Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and over a million acres of national forest, creates truly unique educational and recreational experiences.

Work with the Best & Brightest

Our faculty are passionate about learning—and not just student learning. They are dedicated learners and scholars, and that shines through in the classroom and in the field. And they’re more than just teachers. They are mentors who often establish life-long relationships with students.

Ready to take the next step?

Get in touch to learn more and start planning your journey at Northland College.