Biology

The Biology (BIOL) program offers Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees and a Biology minor in order to prepare students for a variety of careers in biological science; provide a background of skills, attitudes and knowledge needed for further study in professional and graduate schools; and promote enjoyment and appreciation of the organisms that populate our planet.

Stockton's Biology courses emphasize the diversity of life-forms that have evolved and the wide range of levels at which they can be studied: molecular to ecosystem. Many courses have laboratory and/or field components, and seminar, tutorial or independent project modes of instruction are also utilized.


About the Program

The Biology program takes advantage of the University's 1,600-acre setting in the New Jersey Pine Barrens close to the Atlantic Ocean. It is an area rich with diverse terrestrial, estuarine and marine habitats. Nearby are the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and many other federal, state, county and private wildlife preserves. The laboratory complex includes a greenhouse, animal rooms, environmental growth chambers, computer apparatus for physiological studies, light microscopes of many descriptions, plant and animal tissue culture facilities, and modern biological instrumentation including centrifuges, thermocyclers, and instrumentation for automated DNA sequencing.

Program Co-Chairs

Image of Matthew Bonnan

Nathaniel Hartman
Associate Professor of Biology
609.626.3417 | USC1-212
Nathaniel.Hartman@stockton.edu  

Michael Lague

Michael Lague
Associate Professor of Biology
609.652.4746 | USC2-310
Michael.Lague@stockton.edu

Program Features

  • All program faculty hold doctoral degrees from highly reputed institutions.
  • Opportunity for one-on-one assistance.
  • Biology seminar series.
  • Research opportunities in field and laboratory work.
  • Diversity of faculty and of Biology allows students the freedom in choosing their coursework.
  • Talk to the professors about their research; they love to talk about it!
 

Curriculum

A student has several choices of concentrations within the B.S. and B.A. degrees, including the General Biology concentration. Concentration structures are intended for general guidance in selecting a coherent set of recommended courses to prepare toward biology careers and/or graduate/professional education that supplement the general requirements.

  • B.A. / B.S. Biology: is a versatile degree that provides a broad program of study to prepare the students for a broad spectrum of biology-related careers or a targeted specialized career of student’s choice, where a customized program of study is designed with guidance from a Preceptor.
  • B.A. / B.S. Biology | Pre-Professional Concentration: includes prerequisites for most medical, veterinary, dental, optometry, podiatric, physician assistant, chiropractic, pharmacy, and other schools in the health sciences requiring similar preparation. 
  • B.S. Biology | Dual Degree Medical Technology Concentration: intended for those with a broad range of career options in hospital and commercial laboratories, in vitro fertilization laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, instrument manufacturing, etc.
  • B.S. Biology | Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration: designed for students intending to apply to a graduate degree program in Physical Therapy. Completion of this concentration does not guarantee admittance to the DPT graduate program at Stockton.
  • B.S. Biology | Biotechnology Concentration: intended for students desiring laboratory careers in the pharmaceutical industry or graduate study in molecular biology-related applied fields
  • B.A. Biology |  Education Concentration: suitable for those wishing to pursue a career as a high school biology teacher. This concentration includes education and related courses necessary for certification in the State of New Jersey
  • Minor


Worksheet

To see the curriculum for your area of interest you’ll use the web program, Degree Works. This program is accessible even if you are not currently a student with Stockton University.

If you are a current student at Stockton University, access Degree Works  through the portal, then choose the “what if” option to explore the various paths towards degree completion.

Prospective freshman or transfer students, can use the Curriculum & Transfer Equivalency Tool below. In addition, the program degree map below provides valuable degree information and is a guide to assist in planning academic coursework, but should not substitute academic advisement.

 

Instructions on How to Use Curriculum Tool

  • At the next page you are prompted with three (3) options. Select the one that says “continue without signing in.”
  • Respond to each prompt using the pull-down menu in the center of the page. [Please be patient. It may take a few seconds for the system to process your request. If you see a NO symbol, you need to wait a moment!]

Prompts include:

  • Enrollment dates (Choose intended semester attending)
  • Intended level (Choose“undergraduate”)
  • What degree you will pursue? (Choose “Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts”)
  • What is your intended major? (Choose “Biochemistry Molecular Biology”)
  • What is your intended concentration? (Choose “General”)
  • What is your intended minor? (Choose “none or select one - it is not required)
  • For prospective students, choose “I’m all done" button.
  • For transfer students, use the “class” button to see how courses already taken fit into the Stockton degree path.
  • You will see an overview of the degree you have selected, including all requirements.
  • At the bottom of the screen, you could save or print worksheet.

 

 
 
 
 

Minor

The core course requirement contributes breadth and the elective component contributes depth in biology. The minor might be of interest to almost any student curious about the living world. Students for whom the minor would fit most easily include those majoring in BCMB, CHEM, ENVL, MARS, PSYC, and PUBH.

As with all minors within the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, all courses taken within the minor must be completed with a C or better. A C grade is not acceptable. Additionally, at least the Seminar (BIOL 4600) and the two elective courses must be taken at Stockton.

Faculty

Our faculty have diverse scholarly interests and a commitment to undergraduate education, providing a broad educational experience in the biological sciences, and opportunities for faculty mentoring and undergraduate research.

Default Stockton symbol

Adam A.
Aguiar

Assistant Professor of Biology
609.626.3823 | USC - 121

Default Stockton symbol

Luis
Arriago

Teaching Specialist of Biology
609.626.3169 | USC - 117

Default Stockton symbol

Guy F.
Barbato

Associate Professor of Biology
609.652.4404 | USC  -121

Dr. Matthew Bonnan

Matthew F.
Bonnan

Professor of Biology
609.626-5589 | USC2 - 312
    

Dr. David Burleigh

David
Burleigh

Associate Professor of 
Biology
609.652-4466 | USC 118

Default Stockton symbol

Kevin
Coffey

Teaching Specialist of Biology
609.626.5564 | USC2- 110.2

Default Stockton symbol

David
Furgione

Instructor of 
Biology / BCMB
609.652.4483 | USC 120

 Default Stockton symbol

Tim A.
Haresign

Associate Professor
of Biology
609.652.4316 | USC2 - 313
    

 Dr. Tara Luke-Harmer

Tara L. 
Harmer-Luke

Professor of 
Biology / BCMB
609.652.4965 | USC - 114

 Dr. Nathaniel Hartman

Nathaniel
Hartman

Associate Professor 
of Biology
609.626.3417 |  USC - 212

Dr. Michael Lague

Michael
Lague

Associate Professor 
of Biology
609.652.4746 | USC2 - 310

Dr. Michael Law

Michael
Law

Assistant Professor 
of Biology / BCMB
609.652.4471 | USC - 312
 

Dr. Margaret Lewis

Margaret E.
Lewis

Professor 
of Biology
609.652.4686 | USC2 - 311

 Default Stockton symbol

Craig
Lind

Associate Professor 
of Biology
609.652.4484 | USC2 - 308

Dr. Melanie Schroer

Melanie
Schroer

Instructor of Biology
609.626.6872 | USC-318

 Dr. Kathy Sedia

Ekaterina G.
Sedia

Professor 
of Biology
609.652.4569 | USC - 214
 

Default Stockton symbol

Lauren
Seyler

Assistant Professor of Biology
609-626-3188 | USC-113

Dr. Peter Straub

Peter F.
Straub

Professor of Biology / BCMB
609.652.4556 | USC2 - 212

Dr. Steven Shaak

Steven
Shaak

Assistant Professor
of Biology
609.652.4247 | USC - 120

Dr. Karen York

Karen P.
York

Professor of Biology / BCMB
609.652.4449 | USC - 313
 

Dr. Melissa Zwick

Melissa
Zwick

Associate Professor 
of Biology
609.652.4700 | USC - 119

 

 

 

 

Ebenezer Bilewu

Ebenezer Bilewu, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Nathan Bone

Nathan Bone, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Colleen Brust

Colleen Brust,   Biology Adjunct Faculty

609.626.5668 |  USC1 - 211
Richard Colby

Richard Colby,   Biology Professor Emeritus /Adjunct Faculty

609.652.4355 |  E-244C
Michael Crowell

Michael Crowell, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Timothy Cummings

Timothy Cummings, Biology Adjunct Faculty

 609.626.5668
Gale Donohue

Gale Donohue, Biology Adjunct Faculty 

Ilene Eberly

Ilene Eberly, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Elaine Francis

Elaine Francis, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Dr. George Hermann, M.D.

Dr. George Hermann, M.D., Biology Adjunct Faculty

Daniel Hernandez

Daniel Hernandez, Biology Adjunct Faculty 

Diane Imburgio

Diane Imburgio, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Jessica Keen

Jessica Keen, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Melissa Laurino

Melissa Laurino, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Christine Lentz

Christine Lentz, Biology Adjunt Faculty

Robert Mejia

Robert Mejia, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Candace Ochs

Candace Ochs, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Thomas Olah

Thomas Olah, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Susanne Poff

Susanne Poff, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Salman Rahman

Salman Rahman, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Thushani Rodrigo Peiris

Thushani Rodrigo Peiris, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Steven Schain

Steven Schain, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Lena Usyk

Lena Usyk, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Tanya Usyk

Tanya Usyk, Biology Adjunct Faculty

Kimberly Wiech

Kimberly Wiech, Biology Adjunct Faculty

 

Opportunities

  • Local internships: Mentoring is available at wildlife refuges and other public and private facilities for monitoring, rehabilitating and otherwise studying local wildlife, zoos, museums, aquariums, botanical gardens, hospitals and other healthcare practices and laboratories, nursing homes, the State Police forensic laboratory, the Federal Aviation Authority Technical Center, pharmaceutical companies, environmental testing laboratories, etc.

  • Washington, D.C. Internship: The University participates in a program open to all majors. Biology students have been assigned to the Walter Reed Hospital and Research Center, the Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health laboratories, etc. See Washington Internship program in the Bulletin.

  • Semester abroad: There is a semester- or year-abroad program, in which Biology majors have enjoyed taking classes at universities in Britain, Ireland, Australia, etc. See International Education in the Bulletin.

  • Research: Most Stockton faculty maintain research programs, which engage students.

  • Teaching Certificate: Students who combine a Biology degree with preparation for a teaching career have developed projects to introduce new teaching or laboratory instructional units as part of their practice teaching in a local school.

  • Independent study: Students are invited to approach faculty with ideas for learning topics not included in the regular curriculum, which are then pursued by independent study or tutorial modes of instruction.

  • Minor: The opportunity to combine a Biology degree with a minor in Chemistry, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Mathematics, Language, Performing Arts, Economics, etc., is particularly valuable.

  • Certificate programs: Certificates may be earned in Energy, Forensic Science, Gerontology and Holocaust-Genocide Studies. Certificates indicate that students have successfully completed course work in theses interdisciplinary subjects beyond those completed as part of the Biology degree.

The Biology Program also offers a number of opportunities for students to get involved in various areas of interest outside of the classroom. 

Careers

Biology program alumni report that the largest employment niche for graduates has been the research and development laboratories of pharmaceutical companies and other industries, university research labs and clinics. Graduates also find employment in other industrial and commercial niches (such as pharmaceutical sales) and in the public sector as teachers or as technicians in federal, state, or county laboratories and agencies. Other Biology graduates go on to professional or graduate school, and several are now faculty members at major universities. Virtually all graduates report the need for frequent use of their writing and computer skills, suggesting that future graduates should take full advantage of Stockton’s writing program and opportunity for minors. Many graduates develop careers by combining their preparation in biology with expertise in computer science, library science, drawing, journalistic, creative or technical writing, environmental law, accounting, marketing, management, psychology, etc.

Explore information in:

There is a wide variety of jobs within biological sciences. 

Sample list of careers:

Biologist
Government agency roles
Dentist
Botanist
Science writer
Pharmacist
Pharmacologist
Zoologist
Physical therapist
Ecologist
Educator
Radiologist
Nature conservation officer
Research scientist
Dental hygienist
Biotechnologist
Physician
Physician Assistant
Forensic scientist
Veterinarian
 

 

Image of US Bureau of Statistics

Employment in life, physical, and social science occupations is projected to grow 5 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations, and will result in about 68,200 new jobs. Increasing demand for expertise in the sciences, particularly in occupations involved in biomedical research, psychology, energy management, and environmental protection, is projected to result in employment growth.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics


The Office of Institutional Research collects information on where our alumni land within six months of graduation. To learn more about Biology alumni, use the Graduate Outcomes tool.

  • Using the down arrow, uncheck 'All' and select 'Biology'

 

The connections you made with your professors and preceptors are invaluable resources for your career planning. Beyond providing assistance on coursework and scheduling, they can give you guidance in planning for your post-college career. 

In addition, we have a student Career Center that is available to guide you through your career development journey - from CV writing, interview prep or general guidance.

 

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Ranked within the Top 50 Best Bachelor's Degrees in Biology by Study.com