DelVal is one of the few private universities in the U.S. to offer an array of biology-related specializations – enabling you to tailor your program to your interests and goals. You’ll work with advanced instruments and equipment and benefit from many natural study areas on our 1,000 acre living laboratory and beyond.
Biology, the study of life and organisms, is a broad subject that offers many different career paths. Delaware Valley University is one of the few private universities in the country with a large selection of biology specializations. At DelVal, you can choose from five specializations to customize your degree to best fit your interests and goals! You will have the option to focus your degree on botany, ecology/environmental biology, microbiology and biotechnology, pre-professional biology or, even zoology. In addition to a wide selection of classes covering a spectrum of biology specializations, you will have access to advanced laboratory instruments and equipment. In our modern biology facilities, we encourage each student to apply classroom knowledge while developing important laboratory skills.
DelVal students gain hands-on experience at the undergraduate level that many students at other schools don’t get until graduate school.
- At DelVal, you can explore a semester-long research project of your choice with one-on-one guidance from a faculty mentor.
- Our undergraduates have presented at regional and national conferences.
- Your faculty will get you outside of the classroom to participate in hands-on activities in scenic natural study areas on and near campus.
- You will develop close connections with faculty while gaining valuable experience applying concepts from the classroom.
Students who graduate with a DelVal biology degree are well prepared to pursue a variety of career opportunities in biology.
Delaware Valley University Student Jalene Beach ’21 Offered Early Acceptance to Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine
Delaware Valley University Professor Spends Sabbatical at Cornell University
The small class sizes allow a lot of one-on-one time, which makes learning feel more personal.
I am overjoyed to have been accepted to Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine. I could not have succeeded without the wonderful opportunities provided by Delaware Valley University, both inside the classroom and out.
4. Delaware Valley University – Elmwood Park Zoo
Many veterinary potentials are intrigued by the care, biology, and future of animals like zebras, ocelots, and lemurs. And, while many colleges provide excellent veterinary courses that define and familiarize students with these creatures, only a small number of schools provide on-site zoo animal experience.
"Students of the program benefit from working directly with the Elmwood Park Zoo, an AZA-accredited facility. They gain both didactic and hands-on learning experiences through working with either zoo or marine animals in a variety of zoo science areas. These include exotic animal husbandry, handling, care, nutrition, disease, and psychology."
Delaware Valley University prepares you for various careers in the field of biology through a diverse selection of courses.
Sample Courses:
- Botany
- Comparative Anatomy
- Ecology
- Evolution
- Genetics
- Histology
- Human Anatomy
- Invertebrate Zoology
- Limnology
- Microbiology
- Tropical Ecology
- Virology
Recommended Minors
- Agribusiness
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology Minor (for Food Science and Food Technology Specializations)
- Business Administration
- Communication
- Food Systems
- One Health Communication
- Policy Studies
- Writing
The One Health Communication minor provides students with the opportunity to bridge the study of writing and rhetoric with the sciences. Students who complete this minor will enhance their analytical and communication skills related to sciences including the University’s pre-veterinary, pre-health, STEM and science programs. They will gain skills for effectively communicating science topics to non-scientists and the general public.
Our botany specialization will allow you to explore plants and their many uses. This specialization provides opportunities to study topics such as plant physiology, and plant anatomy and plant communities. The botany specialization offers classes such as Plant Genetics, Plant Pathology, and Plant Propagation, to name a few.
The environmental biology specialization will allow you to study biology through a conservation lens. Courses cover subjects such as animal biology, plant biology, soils, wildlife conservation, ecology, and aquatic ecology. This specialization offers courses such as Soil Classification, Plant Communities, Hydrogeology, and more.
In the microbiology and biotechnology specialization, you will be able to focus your degree on biology within the laboratory environment. Courses cover applicable topics such as microbiology, molecular biology, physiology, and statistics. This specialization offers classes such as Food Microbiology and Plant Cell and Tissue Culture.
Our pre-professional biology specialization is designed for students who want to continue to pursue graduate or professional school. Courses focus on cell biology, histology, immunology, microbiology, and physiology.
In our zoology specialization, your studies will cover animal biology topics. This specialization offers fascinating courses on amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, and mammals. Some of the classes offered to students focusing on zoology include Animal Husbandry Techniques, Wildlife Management, and Clinical Pathology.
The Experience360 Program gives you the opportunity to apply classroom lessons to real-world activities in the field of biology through internships, career exploration experiences, student research, study abroad, leadership development and more.
Career Opportunities
Our graduates have pursued:
- Additional training in the fields of veterinary medicine, human health care, and allied health
- Careers in the pharmaceutical industry
- Careers with the National Park Service
- Careers with the United States Department of Agriculture
- Careers with the United States Food and Drug Administration
- Careers with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
- Careers with the United States Environmental Protection Agency
- Careers with environmental consulting firms
- Zoo careers
- Animal advocacy in conservation and animal welfare programs
- Education careers
- Biology Club - Explore the latest frontiers of biological science as well as a variety of biology career paths!
- Pre-Vet Club - Learn about veterinary medicine careers with your peers!
- American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) - Learn about animal care through different means such as zoos, aquariums, conservation, and research!
- Animal Lifeline Club - Help animal shelters while making new friends!
- Wildlife Society - Explore wildlife conservation issues and careers through our student chapter of this national professional organization!
- Ducks Unlimited- Learn about wetlands and waterfowl conservation through our student Ducks Unlimited chapter!
- Chemistry Club - The chemistry Club is the student affiliate chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
- Augering Aggies - Participate in our competitive soil judging team!
