The Department of Biological Sciences undergraduate degree programs were designed to highlight specific knowledge and skill sets that will serve as a strong foundation for a student’s chosen career path. Students majoring in any of our four bachelor degree programs have various opportunities that will further prepare them for a technical or scientific career, graduate studies, or professional schools. For example, ISU leads Idaho in health profession education and those students majoring in the Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Biomedical Sciences (BMS) increase their chances of acceptance to a professional school. Over 90% of our students applying to M.D. and D.O. programs are accepted, a figure nearly twice the national average.

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Biology
  • Biology Education
  • Natural History
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology
  • Biomedical Sciences (BMS)
  • Ecology and Conservation Biology (ECB)
  • Integrative Organismal Biology (IOB)
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biochemistry
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Microbiology

Please send Undergraduate Degree information

Apply for our Undergraduate Degree Programs

1. Complete the Undergraduate Application Process.
2. Meet with the Biological Sciences advisor.
3. Declaration of Major.

The Department of Biological Sciences graduate degree programs were designed to offer a challenging, high-quality, and valuable graduate experience that prepares graduates for 21st-century careers in the life sciences. Students admitted into any of our six graduate degree programs have various funding opportunities that will further prepare them for their future careers.

For additional information regarding our graduate programs or to discuss the availability of financial support for graduate students, please contact the chair of the Graduate Education Committee or our Graduate Advisor.

• Ph.D.Biology
• Ph.D.Microbiology
• D.A.Biology
• M.S.Biology
• M.S.Microbiology

Please Send Graduate Degree Information

 Apply for our Graduate Degree Programs

Applications can be submitted at any time of the year.  The final deadline for applications to be considered for fall admission is April 1 of each year and November 1 for spring admission.  However, for priority consideration, especially to be considered for Graduate Teaching Assistantship support, please submit applications for fall admission by the preceding January 15th.

1. Identify a Faculty Advisor and correspond with them directly by email and/or video conference. If they invite you to apply to the program, go to step 2. We can’t accept students into the program without a faculty advisor.
2. Complete the Graduate Application Process.

Idaho State University offers students the opportunity to pursue an interdisciplinary master's degree. The degree sought and the field appearing first in the title of the program will be that of the department providing the major portion of the graduate credits. Other fields in the title will be secondary fields of concentration.

The requirements include: completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours with a minimum of 10 hours in each of the departments participating. Students must be admitted into such a program by each department which participates. Students must contact each department contemplated to be involved prior to initiating the development of an interdisciplinary program. Although students must take at least 10 credits in each of the departments participating, departments may, at their discretion, require additional credit hours of the students as a condition of the departmental participation and admission of the student in the program. An initial program of study must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research during the first year of coursework. Requirements for interdisciplinary programs are the same as for other degree programs. An interdisciplinary thesis may be written with a minimum of three credit hours and a maximum of five credit hours in each department. The final oral examination must include a representative from each department and a graduate faculty representative from a department not involved in the interdisciplinary program.

Minor in Biology or Microbiology

The Department of Biological Sciences offers two minor options. Read about the minor degree requirements in the course catalog​.

• Minor in Biology
• Minor in Microbiology

Please be aware that no double counting of courses will be allowed. In general, if a student decides to receives a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Microbiology, the core courses will be the same, but the elective courses must be different.

Biology Endorsements

The Department of Biological Sciences, in conjunction with the College of Education, offers a B.A. or B.S. in Elementary Education with a 20 credit Biology Endorsement and a B.A. or B.S. in Secondary Education with a Biological Sciences 30 or 20 credit endorsement.