Our Programs
We offer several degree options to prepare students for various careers in biology. All our programs place a heavy emphasis on undergraduate research and provide numerous opportunities for internships and international experiences. Explore this page to learn more about our majors, pre-professional tracks and our affiliation agreements with partner institutions.
Majors
Biomedical and Health Sciences
This major prepares you for careers in healthcare, biotechnology or biomedical research with a strong foundation in human biology, physiology and disease.
Ecology and Organismal Biology
This degree focuses on preparing you for careers in natural resources management, including roles such as zoologists, wildlife biologists, hydrologists and ecologists.
General Biology Option
A bachelor of science degree designed for students seeking a broad education in biology.
Life Science and General Science Education
Gain a strong foundation in life and general sciences while preparing to educate future students.
Pre-Professional Programs
Pre-Health Professions
This track prepares students for careers in various biomedical fields or further education in graduate school. Learn more about the pre-health professions curriculum.
Pre-Veterinary Program
Designed to meet the requirements for admission into veterinary schools, this program prepares students for careers as veterinarians.
Affiliation Agreements
Affiliation agreements are contracts between UW-River Falls and external colleges who work together to provide credit transfer options. Students taking advantage of affiliation agreements begin their academic careers at UWRF. After one to three years of study, they transfer to an affiliated institution where they earn a certification or degree and upon completion, receive a B.S. in Biomedical and Health Science from UW-River Falls.
For more information about UWRF's affiliation agreements, contact email amber.qureshi@uwrf.edu or call 715-425-4538.
Biology Affiliation Agreements and Transfer Opportunities
The Biology Department has developed transfer agreements with health professional schools to benefit our students and we continue to look for further opportunities to connect with additional partner schools. The Pre-Professional Curricula contains detailed information about the Pre-Health prerequisites and affiliation agreements.
The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry is a well-known health professions school with campuses located in Erie, Penn. and Bradenton, Fla. The first-time pass rates for licensing exams and board exams and the match rates for medical residencies are among the highest in the nation.
The UWRF Biology Department has an agreement with LECOM for early provisional acceptance to these programs. These programs, in some cases, will permit students to start the professional program prior to receiving a bachelor's degree. Students who have two more years of study left at UWRF and have attended for at least one, preferably two years, can apply to enter these programs. Students must also have at least a 25 ACT score and a college GPA of 3.5 or better (science and cumulative). Students who do well in an interview are provisionally guaranteed entrance to LECOM upon graduation from UWRF. During the next two years, students have to meet with a LECOM and UWRF adviser, as well as submit grades at the end of each semester. An evaluation is also sent to LECOM at the end of the semester.
Students with early provisional acceptance are not required to take the entrance exam for the college (MCAT, PCAT or DAT). This is a big advantage to the program!
UWRF Biology has two agreements with Bellin College in Green Bay, Wis.
- Our students complete two years in biology with specific courses and criteria that will have guaranteed transfer to complete a Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) in 15 months at Bellin College.
- The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) articulation agreement relies on students completing their B.S. in biology at UWRF and will be provided priority application consideration with a guaranteed interview during their junior year at UWRF.
A medical lab scientist performs lab tests on medical specimens to diagnose and determine disease.
UWRF has two transfer agreements for this program: University of Minnesota and Mayo School Of Health Sciences.
The UWRF Biology Department has entered into a 3+1 agreement with the medical lab scientist program. After three years of prerequisite classes at UWRF, students attend the accredited MLS program at either the U of M or MSHS. Following completion of required classes and clinicals, students receive a B.S. in biology from UWRF and a certificate from the school's program. The certificate allows the student to sit for the board exam.
Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA (higher preferred), complete required classes and obtain a recommendation from the biology department to apply.
The UWRF Biology Department has entered into a 3+1 agreement that allows students to attend Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, following three years of required prerequisite classes at UWRF. After one year of chiropractic school, students receive a B.S. in Biology from UWRF. Scholarships from Palmer are available.
Students must have the required prerequisite classes and at least a 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.0 science GPA.
The UWRF Biology Department has entered into a 3+2 year affiliation agreement with the Echocardiography, Sonography, Radiography and MRI Programs at the Mayo School of Health Sciences. After three years at UWRF, students attend classes at Mayo for two years. Following their first year at Mayo, students receive a B.S. in biology from UWRF. They then advance to the clinical portion of training at Mayo. After the program is completed, students receive an echocardiography, sonography, radiography or MRI certificate and are eligible to sit for the licensing exam.
Students must take prerequisite classes and maintain a 3.0 overall and science GPA. Students must also have a recommendation from the Biology Department program adviser.
