FACULTY-GUIDED RESEARCH
Take part in the work of discovery.
Explore research opportunities with faculty, including projects in regenerative medicine.
Meet a researcherUNDERGRADUATE · ON CAMPUS
Biology
Discover life.
Deepen your purpose.
Build your future through faculty-guided research, hands-on science, and an education that brings Catholic faith and reason together.
Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science · Steubenville, Ohio
FAITH MEETS DISCOVERY
Your questions belong here.
SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR FUTURE. SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR FAITH.
A world to explore.
A calling to discover.
Build your understanding of life—and consider how you will use it to serve.
Explore biology through research, field experiences, and a Catholic understanding of the human person. Choose a direction that fits your interests: pre-medicine, research, environmental science, pre-health, or general biology.
At Franciscan, academic preparation and personal formation belong together. Bring your curiosity, your ambition, and your questions about what comes next.
Explore your academic pathDEGREE OPTIONSBA & BS
LEARNING ENVIRONMENTOn campus
ACADEMIC HOMEBiologyMeet the department ↗
BUILD ON YOUR INTERESTSBioinformaticsExplore the certificate ↗
WHAT YOU WILL DO
Go beyond the textbook.
Ask a better question. Test an idea.
See where hands-on learning takes you.
Put science into practice.
Explore hands-on training through the Franciscan Institute for Science and Health.
Explore FISHConnect learning and service.
Learn about global health experiences through the Franciscan Institute for World Health.
Explore global healthInvestigate an ecosystem.
A Summer 2025 feature documents students measuring local streams with Dr. Eric Haenni and monitoring invasive species with Dr. Christopher Payne.
See students’ researchResearch and experiential opportunities vary by project, prerequisites, availability, and selection requirements. Ask the department about current options.
WHO WILL INVEST IN YOU
Professors who expect more.
And invest more.
Dr. Dan Kuebler Professor of Biology
His published faculty profile describes undergraduate research on adult stem cells and regenerative approaches to osteoarthritis—from cell isolation to studies of cell growth and gene expression.
A concrete example of faculty-guided work. Contact the department about current projects and participation.
Explore his researchLET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR FUTURE
See yourself
at Franciscan.
Have questions about studying biology? Start a conversation about the program, opportunities, and your next steps.
Prefer to explore in person? Plan a visit ↗YOUR PROGRAM INTERESTBiology
BA / BS · On campus · Steubenville, Ohio
CONNECT WITH FRANCISCAN ADMISSIONS
Learn more about Biology
Choose the degree you’re interested in to start your inquiry.
Your choice will be included with your inquiry. Changing it reloads the form and clears any information you have entered.
Choose BA or BS above to load the inquiry form.
Still exploring? Connect with Admissions for help choosing a direction.
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HOW FAITH SHAPES YOUR FIELD
Study life with wonder.
Approach it with reverence.
What does it mean to serve the human person through science? At Franciscan, that question belongs alongside the questions you bring to the lab.
In the same Summer 2025 feature, Dr. Kyle McKenna describes antibody testing designed without materials derived from aborted-fetal cell lines—a specific example of faith informing scientific practice.
Read about faith in the labWHERE IT CAN LEAD
Prepare for your next chapter.
Consider the possibilities.
Then start building your path.
Keep asking bigger questions.
Explore graduate and professional study in biology, medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, or veterinary medicine.
Explore pre-professional pathways ↗Put your knowledge to work.
Consider directions in research, environmental science, laboratory work, or science education.
Some careers require additional education, certification, or licensure. These are possible paths, not placement results.
Connect with Career Services ↗A GRADUATE’S PATH · REPORTED SUMMER 2025
From field research to Cornell.
Melody Vetrovec ’23 helped begin Dr. Christopher Payne’s local invasive-species study in 2020. Franciscan Magazine reported her role as a lab manager at Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Summer 2025.
Read the research storyOne graduate’s reported trajectory; not a program-wide placement rate or a statement of current employment.
WHAT YOU WILL STUDY
Make room for
your interests.
Start with the academic catalog for official degree requirements. Bring your goals to a conversation with Admissions and the biology department.
View biology requirementsSTART A CONVERSATION
Talk about your interests You don’t need every answer yet.
Ask how the BA and BS options connect with your interests, and what experiences might help you explore them.
An exploration guide, not an academic plan. Refer to the catalog and your advisor for requirements.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Find it at Franciscan.
Meet the people. Explore the campus.
Imagine the questions you’ll ask here.
Let’s make your next step clearer.
How do I apply?
Start with undergraduate admissions for requirements and the application process.
Undergraduate admissions ↗Start your application ↗What will it cost?
Explore tuition, financial aid, and scholarship options with your family. Ask Admissions for help understanding your individual situation.
Tuition and financial aid ↗Scholarships ↗What if I’m transferring?
Review the transfer process and ask how your previous courses may apply to your degree.
Steps to transfer ↗Where can my family find support?
Explore academic support, campus life, and campus safety together.
Academic resources ↗Student life ↗Campus safety ↗