Office of Biology Undergraduate Affairs

FAQs: Navigating Biology

Concentration Programs and Requirements

Biology Course Offerings

Undergraduate Research and Honors

Biological Science Departments

Internship and Postgrad Planning

new! Sign up for the Bio Student email list!

Welcome to
Undergraduate Biology
at Brown University

Brown University offers courses at all levels of biological organization: molecular, cellular, organismal and population, and concentration programs with varying degrees of multidisciplinary or specialty foci. There is ample opportunity for independent study and research under the supervision of the more than 100 basic sciences and over 300 clinical faculty. Faculty maintain research programs at the cutting edge of their fields including biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, developmental biology, ecology, evolution, genetics, immunology, molecular biology, neurobiology, physiology, anatomy, artificial organs, microbiology, virology, experimental pathology, and pharmacology. The close administrative relationship with the Alpert School of Medicine offers additional opportunities for blending fundamental biology and clinical sciences in research projects at the Brown-affiliated hospitals.

Programs are available leading to either the AB or the ScB degree in the biological sciences. The standard AB and ScB programs in Biology are designed to provide both the breadth necessary for an appreciation of the diversity and unity which characterize living beings, and the opportunity for focusing in a subdiscipline within biology. While the ScB requires more coursework at the advanced level, both programs encourage individual student research in collaboration with faculty mentors. With advisors' help, students may choose courses that adapt their programs to their evolving interests within the biological sciences.

Many of the creative developments in contemporary science derive from the interplay between biology and other disciplines. Additional standard concentration programs which involve an interdisciplinary approach include: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Marine Biology, Biophysics, Applied Math-Biology, Neuroscience, Computational Biology and Biomedical Engineering. The Human Biology program draws on relationships between biology and the social sciences by emphasizing social, behavioral, environmental and health themes, and highlights these themes by encouraging coursework in public health, anthropology, psychology/cognitive science, sociology, environmental studies and more.

This website includes information about the services, resources, departments, programs and opportunities available to Biology undergraduates at Brown.