Biology
Explore life in all its forms
Biology is the study of life—and life is full of questions. Why do cells divide? How do vaccines train your immune system to fight disease? What’s happening in your brain when you form a memory? How do ecosystems respond to global change? Why does sourdough rise, and how did dinosaurs get so big? At Macalester, you’ll explore life from every angle.
If you’re curious about how living things work, how they interact, and how humans fit into it all, this is a place to explore those questions in meaningful, hands-on ways.
A panoramic view of biology
Biology is a huge field, and our curriculum lets you explore all of it. You won’t be funneled into one narrow path. From genetics and cell biology to arctic ecology, neurobiology, and evolution, you’ll sample the full menu. As you go, you can zoom in on what excites you the most, guided by professors doing innovative research in those fields.
Prepare for a Career in Health and Medicine
Interested in public health? Many majors add the Community and Global Health concentration—one of our most popular tracks and a strong foundation for careers in medicine, policy, and beyond. At Macalester, preparing for a health profession means learning to think critically, practice empathy, and understand people in context—skills that help future providers treat patients as whole people, not just symptoms.
And here, you get the best of both worlds: small classes and close faculty mentorship, plus hands-on experience in a major metro area. Through the University of Minnesota and local hospitals, you can explore clinical research, shadow healthcare professionals, and gain real-world experience in labs and clinics.
Global Research and Faculty Mentorship
Mac students work side-by-side with faculty on research. One professor takes students to the arctic to research tundra plants in a rapidly changing climate. Another will teach a course on paleobiology that will take students to work with fossils at the Denver Museum of Natural History. These aren’t once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. They happen here, every year.
Study away, and take biology with you
From the tropics to the arctic, Mac students study biology around the world. Spend a semester exploring tropical biodiversity or shadowing health professionals in Copenhagen—and still stay on track with your major.
Beyond Test Tubes
Our biology classes show you where science lives in the real world. You might learn about microbes at a brewery visit or a sewage treatment plant (yes, both depend on microbiology!).
Biology in the wild (and the lab, and the clinic)
Biology grads take their curiosity everywhere. Some head to med school, grad school, or public health programs. Others dive straight into work at health clinics, nature centers, hospitals, and research labs around the country and the world.
Pre-health students receive close, individualized advising as they prepare for careers in medicine, dentistry, nursing, physical therapy, and more. You’ll design a path that fits your strengths and interests—whether that leads to clinical care, mental health, environmental health, multilingual public health, or research. Alumni healthcare professionals regularly return to campus to connect with current students.
Macalester graduates are accepted to medical school at rates 20-25% above the national average.
“I realized that I don’t have to become a scientist to do what I enjoy doing, which is science and learning things. I can be an investment banker and work with founders of the biotech companies who are at the forefront of innovation.”Sid Layesa ’25 Biology and Economics Major
Biology in the Cities
The Twin Cities are a living lab—with prairie gardens, fossil reefs, and top research sites. Mac students intern at museums, hospitals, nature centers, public health agencies, and the University of Minnesota, with premier teaching hospitals minutes away.
The Katharine Ordway Natural History Study Area, our 300-acre field study lab is only 15 minutes from campus.
73%
Percentage of Macalester students who do an internship or research project
Students have opportunities to intern, volunteer, and shadow at two different level 1 trauma centers within 6 miles of campus
Join Our Community
Think less anonymous lecture hall, more “snack-basket-in-the-office” and hallway chats. Faculty know your name—and your goals. Some of our regular happenings:
- A weekly biology tea where students and faculty pop in between classes.
- Weekly seminars with scientists, doctors, and public health leaders on topics from cutting-edge research to health equity—and how they built their careers.
- A taco truck event to kick off the fall semester.
Are you a future Biology major at Macalester?
If you’re considering Mac, let us know. We’ll keep you up to date on application deadlines and visit opportunities.
