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Â鶹¹û¶³ College Office of Admissions
McBride House 505 Â鶹¹û¶³ Valley Road Mahwah, NJ 07430
p: (201) 684-7300
e: admissions@ramapo.edu
f: (201) 684-7964
About Biology
Biology is the scientific study of living things. The biology program at Â鶹¹û¶³ College addresses a wide range of biological topics and fields, spanning molecular, cellular, organismic, community and evolutionary perspectives. Students gain experience in problem-solving and data collection & analysis in the classroom, laboratory, and field, while also building other essential academic skills such as writing and oral communication.
Graduates of Â鶹¹û¶³ College’s biology program, many of whom go on to graduate school, follow a wide variety of career paths, including those in medicine and other health areas, pharmacy, food science, horticulture, ecology, research, education, government organizations, and more.
Healthcare Pathways
For those interested in a career in healthcare, below are are advising tracks rather than restrictive standalone majors:
- Pre-Health: For students pursuing health professions other than medicine or nursing, the Biology Pre-Health track supports many career paths in healthcare. This option prepares students for professional fields such as physician assistant, medical imaging science and radiography, occupational therapy, epidemiology, dietetics/nutrition, and exercise physiology.
- Pre-Medicine (MD / DO): Our premier advisory track for future physicians, guiding you step-by-step from undergrad directly into medical school.
- Pre-Physician Assistant: Fast-track your path to a versatile healthcare career by mastering clinical prerequisites and securing the direct patient care experience required for top PA programs.
- Pre-Veterinary Medicine: Turn your passion for animal health into a competitive profile for top-tier veterinary medical programs.
- Pre-Dental: Master the clinical prerequisites and manual dexterity skills needed to excel in competitive dental school applications.
- Pre-Physical Therapy: Learn to design life-changing rehabilitation plans that help athletes recover from injury and patients regain their independence.
- Pre-Chiropractic: Focus on holistic, non-invasive patient care by mastering the musculoskeletal system to restore mobility and alleviate pain.
- Pre-Optometry: Specialize in vision health by learning to diagnose eye disorders, manage vision changes, and protect patient eyesight.
- Pre-Podiatric Medicine: Become an expert in lower-extremity health, diagnosing and treating complex conditions, injuries, and diseases of the foot and ankle.
Pathway Partnerships (Early Assurance Programs)
An articulation agreement is a formal partnership between Â鶹¹û¶³ College and a professional graduate school. Think of it as an academic bridge: it creates a clear, structured path that guarantees you early acceptance or priority admission into medical, dental, or pharmacy school, provided you maintain specific GPA and coursework standards at Â鶹¹û¶³. This eliminates the guesswork and stress of the traditional graduate application process.
- The Track: Pre-Medicine (Osteopathic or Allopathic)
- How it Works:
- Secure your seat in medical school early during your undergraduate years.
- Choose the accelerated 3-year track to save time and tuition, or the traditional 4-year track for extra preparation.
- The Track: Pre-Dental Medicine
- How it Works:
- Transition seamlessly from your undergraduate science degree directly into a professional doctoral dental program without the stress of competing against thousands of outside applicants.
- The Track: Pre-Chiropractic Medicine
- How it Works: Transition seamlessly from your undergraduate science degree directly into a professional doctoral chiropractic program—saving time and tuition through our accelerated pathways without the stress of competing against thousands of outside applicants.
- The Track: Pre-Optometry Medicine
- How it Works:
- Fast-track your path to becoming an eye care professional by completing a joint bachelor’s and Doctor of Optometry degree in seven years instead of eight. Transition seamlessly from three years of undergraduate science coursework directly into the four-year professional doctoral program.
- The Track: Pre-Physical Therapy
- How it Works:
- Transition seamlessly from your undergraduate studies into a top-ranked, accelerated 2.5-year professional doctoral program—utilizing traditional degree routes or a structured 4+3 pathway to secure extensive clinical placements and pro-bono community health experience.
- The Track: Pre-Podiatric Medicine
- How it Works:
- Connect directly with the nation’s premier podiatric college. Master specialized lower-extremity surgery and medicine foundations. Transition undergrad credits directly into intensive clinical experiences. Treat high-volume, diverse cases at elite hospitals. Bypass normal application pools via direct institutional pathways.
- The Track: Pre-Pharmacy
- How it Works:
- Spend three years completing your foundational science curriculum at Â鶹¹û¶³, then transition directly into a four-year professional pharmacy curriculum to earn your doctorate faster.
- The Track: Pre-Pharmacy
- How it Works: An alternative accelerated pathway designed to fast-track your journey to becoming a licensed pharmacist through a dedicated regional curriculum partnership.
Classes you can take:
Genetics, Microbiology, Field Botany, Angiosperms, Evolution, Immunology, Avian Ecology, Paleontology & Paleoenvironments, Food Science, Nutrition and Human Metabolism
- BIOL 111 – FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY I LECTURE
- BIOL 111L – FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY I LAB
- BIOL 113 – FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY II LEC
- BIOL 113L – FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY II LAB
- BIOL 221 – GENERAL ECOLOGY
- BIOL 332 – GENETICS LECTURE
- BIOL 332L – GENETICS LAB
- BIOL 356 – EVOLUTION
- BIOL 407 – CELL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LEC
- BIOL 407L – CELL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LAB
Sample Job Titles and National Salary Ranges
| Job Title | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Microbiologists | $59,190 - $126,870 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $74,010 - $133,310 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $60,530 - $220,530 |
| Forensic Science Technicians | $42,520 - $73,340 |
| Biological Technicians | $37,530 - $80,070 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $77,920 - $167,900 |
| Pharmacy Aides | $30,220 - $45,500 |
| Veterinarians | $78,860 - $236,210 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $60,140 - $150,280 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $61,550 - $125,720 |
| Physical Therapists | $80,850 - $133,790 |
| Physician Assistants | $112,980 - $178,780 |
| Pharmacists | $105,710 - $160,620 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $53,040 - $119,390 |
| Life Scientists | No Salary Data |
* Sources of Information: United States Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). For more information about careers and assistance in making your career plans, please contact Career Services (cahill@ramapo.edu) or visit www.ramapo.edu/careercenter/.
Hands on learning occurs in all Biology laboratories and other science laboratories. There are additional opportunities for hands on learning with research with faculty as well as coops.
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