Biology

All Majors & Minors

Biology

Degree

Bachelor of Science, Major, Minor

School/College

John Charles Meditz College of Arts & Sciences

Biology student holding a microscope and looking at a closeup image on screen.

At Fairfield, studying biology means more than memorizing facts. It’s about exploring life through hands-on research, innovative labs, and close collaboration with expert faculty. You’ll be equipped with the knowledge and experience to answer big questions and pursue a meaningful scientific career.

Learn from Exceptional Faculty & Participate in Research

Work side-by-side with passionate faculty members on original research including seminars, collaborative studies, and independent projects.

From bird‐survey field work to lab-based investigations, you'll gain meaningful experience and may co-author papers or present at conferences.

Build a Strong Foundation in Core Biological Principles

Biology majors build a strong foundation in key biological principles such as evolution, structure and function, information flow, systems biology, and energy and matter while also developing essential scientific competencies. Through hands-on research and interdisciplinary learning, students learn to apply the process of science, use quantitative reasoning, model biological systems, and collaborate across disciplines. They also gain the ability to understand how science connects to society.

Pursue Real-World Applications Through Internships

Expand classroom learning with internships at top institutions like hospitals, research centers, and conservation organizations, earning credit and gaining professional insight.

Prepare for Advanced Study & Diverse Career Paths

Whether you're aiming for graduate school, medical professions, biotech, environmental work, or education, Fairfield’s biology program arms you with the critical thinking, lab skills, and scientific literacy to thrive.

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Course Requirements

67-71 credits

18-20

Contact Us

Undergraduate Admission
admis@fairfield.edu
(203) 254-4100

Internships

Internships provide the opportunity for practical experience in a career field related to your major. Most departments offer credit for internships in appropriate agencies and business firms. This experience is optional in the senior year for qualified students and may be undertaken for a maximum of six academic credits for a year-long program. Research and internship experiences are extra courses and do not count towards the biology major degree requirements.

Recent Placements

St. Vincent's and Bridgeport hospitals
Hartford, Danbury, Norwalk, Waterbury and Stamford hospitals
The Hospital of St. Raphael in New Haven
Fairfield County Rehabilitation Center
The Maritime Center in Norwalk
Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture School
Bridgeport Hydraulic Company
Stratford Conservation Commission
Connecticut Audubon Society
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
Earthplace
Environment CT and ConnPIRG
The offices of various medical practitioners

“I would recommend exploring all the different branches of Biology; Fairfield offers a diverse range of biology courses and there is a great variety to choose from.”

- Caitlin Fanella ‘25

As students proceed through their academic journey, the Meditz College of Arts and Sciences Office of Career and Professional Development offers advising, counseling, programming, and experiential opportunities to help students discover their strengths, explore career paths, and build essential skills needed to succeed in their professional career.

Learn More

Fairfield supports the scholarly success and intellectual growth of our students by providing various resources on campus including the Science Center, Writing Center, DiMenna-Nyselius Library, and more.

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The purpose of the internship program is to provide you with the opportunity of earning experience in the public or private sector which has relevance to your academic major. It is expected that the internship will be mutually beneficial to both you and the organization in which you are involved. As a cooperative effort, the internship experience should allow you an opportunity for the practical application of the principles and theories you are learning in your major field of study.

Your progress will be monitored by both an on-the-job supervisor and a faculty member. If you're interested in an internship, you should discuss arrangements as early as possible with a member of the faculty.

To be eligible for an internship, you must:

Have completed your junior year of study

Be in good academic standing as defined by the department in which you're pursuing your major

Obtain approval to register for an internship from the designated faculty member and departmental chair

Dr. Donald J. Ross Sr. Biology Lecture Series

The Dr. Donald J. Ross Sr. Biology Lecture Series, established in 2011, honors the legacy of Professor Emeritus Donald Ross, a founding member of Fairfield University's Biology Department. The series continues to engage students in scientific inquiry through virtual and hybrid events featuring faculty, alumni, and guest speakers. This fall, the monthly lectures will cover diverse topics such as predator-prey interactions and research on C. elegans.

For lecture series event links and details, visit .

Undergraduate biology students Maggie Xie ’20, Isabelle Seppa ’20, Brenna McAllister ’21, and Giulia Crosio ‘20 spent summer break conducting a variety of innovative cancer cell research in Dr. Shelley Phelan’s biology lab.Their potentially groundbreaking studies included discovering new ways to detect cancer cell aggressiveness using natural fluorescents, determining the ability to grow breast cancer cells on 3D printed polylactic acid scaffolds, and analyzing the effects of olive leaf chemical compounds on the death of leukemia cancer cells.
Biology students Katherine Biardi ’19 and Teresa Sauer ’20 teamed up with faculty mentor Jennifer Klug, PhD, to study the effects of algal blooms in Lake Lillinonah. Biardi’s research focused on an analysis of water quality data collected from 2010 to 2018, to determine long-term water quality trends at the lake. Sauer’s research focused on analyzing the effect of high river inflow on the lake’s water quality to better understand how the health and recreation potential of Lake Lillinonah is influenced by severe precipitation events.
Biology undergraduate Giulia Crosio ’20 and faculty mentor Anita Fernandez, PhD, conducted a recent study using C. elegans, a tiny nematode worm with similar genes to humans and other animals, to examine the roles of different genes and how they collaborate to promote fertility.

Get Started at Fairfield

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Biology

What You'll Learn and Do

Learn from Exceptional Faculty & Participate in Research

Build a Strong Foundation in Core Biological Principles

Pursue Real-World Applications Through Internships

Prepare for Advanced Study & Diverse Career Paths