{"id":1573,"date":"2026-01-05T18:29:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T18:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/?page_id=1573"},"modified":"2026-05-08T02:17:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T02:17:39","slug":"160-biology","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/","title":{"rendered":"Biology"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"introduction block-container\" >\n    <div class=\"introduction__content\">\n    \t        \t<p class=\"introduction__copy\">Biology is the study of life\u2014and life is full of questions. Why do cells divide? How do vaccines train your immune system to fight disease? What\u2019s 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\u2019ll explore life from every angle.<\/p>\n    \t        \t<p class=\"introduction__copy\">If you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n    \t    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<section   class=\"callout-resource block-container callout-resource--inner\">\n    <div class=\"callout-resource__inner\">\n        <div class=\"callout-resource__lockup-column\">\n            <div class=\"callout-resource__lockup\">\n                <div class=\"base-lockup\">\n\t\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t        <h2 class=\"base-lockup__heading\">A panoramic view of biology<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t        <p class=\"base-lockup__copy\">Biology is a huge field, and our curriculum lets you explore all of it. You won\u2019t be funneled into one narrow path. From genetics and cell biology to arctic ecology, neurobiology, and evolution, you\u2019ll sample the full menu.\r\n\r\nAs you go, you can zoom in on what excites you the most, guided by professors doing innovative research in those fields.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"callout-resource__content-column\">\n            <ul class=\"callout-resource__links-container\">\n                                    <li class=\"callout-resource__link\">\n                        <a class=\"base-cta-featured\" href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/facultystaff\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    Meet Our Faculty and Staff\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol base-cta-featured__arrow\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-arrow.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                                    <li class=\"callout-resource__link\">\n                        <a class=\"base-cta-featured\" href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/majorsminors\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    Biology Major and Minor Requirements\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol base-cta-featured__arrow\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-arrow.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                                    <li class=\"callout-resource__link\">\n                        <a class=\"base-cta-featured\" href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/courses\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    Explore Biology Courses\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol base-cta-featured__arrow\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-arrow.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prepare for a Career in Health and Medicine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Interested in public health? Many majors add the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/community-global-health\/\">Community and Global Health concentration<\/a>\u2014one 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\u2014skills that help future providers treat patients as whole people, not just symptoms.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"context-image block-container context-image--left\" >\n    <div class=\"context-image__inner\">\n        <div class=\"context-image__image-column\">\n            <div class=\"context-image__image-wrapper\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"context-image__texture\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/images\/texture-context-image.png\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A professor and two students on a research trip to Norway.\" class=\"context-image__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/487\/2025\/09\/20240718_Norway_002-1.jpg\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"context-image__text-column\">\n            <div class=\"base-lockup\">\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <h2 class=\"base-lockup__heading\">Global Research and Faculty Mentorship<\/h2>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <p class=\"base-lockup__copy\">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\u2019t once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. They happen here, every year.<\/p>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"context-image block-container context-image--right\" >\n    <div class=\"context-image__inner\">\n        <div class=\"context-image__image-column\">\n            <div class=\"context-image__image-wrapper\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"context-image__texture\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/images\/texture-context-image.png\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A student wearing a lab coat does biology research.\" class=\"context-image__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/487\/2025\/09\/20240723_macalester_0101.jpg\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"context-image__text-column\">\n            <div class=\"base-lockup\">\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <h2 class=\"base-lockup__heading\">Study away, and take biology with you<\/h2>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <p class=\"base-lockup__copy\">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\u2014and still stay on track with your major.<\/p>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"context-image block-container context-image--left\" >\n    <div class=\"context-image__inner\">\n        <div class=\"context-image__image-column\">\n            <div class=\"context-image__image-wrapper\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"context-image__texture\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/images\/texture-context-image.png\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A student measures a tree trunk as part of emerald ash borer researcher.\" class=\"context-image__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/487\/2025\/09\/20230717_EmAshBorerResearch_006.jpg\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"context-image__text-column\">\n            <div class=\"base-lockup\">\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <h2 class=\"base-lockup__heading\">Beyond Test Tubes<\/h2>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t        <p class=\"base-lockup__copy\">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!).<\/p>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t    \t\t\t<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Biology in the wild (and the lab, and the clinic)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/health-professions\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/health-professions\/\">Pre-health students<\/a> receive close, individualized advising as they prepare for careers in medicine, dentistry, nursing, physical therapy, and more. You\u2019ll design a path that fits your strengths and interests\u2014whether 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Macalester graduates are accepted to medical school at rates 20-25% above the national average.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"callout-quote block-container\" >\n    <div class=\"callout-quote__inner\">\n        <div class=\"callout-quote__container\">\n            <div class=\"callout-quote__image-column\">\n                <div class=\"callout-quote__image-wrapper callout-quote__image-wrapper--landscape\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\"\n                        src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/487\/2026\/05\/Layesa_Sid_UWC-768x960-mobile.jpg\"\n                        alt=\"Headshot of Sid Layesa\"\n                        class=\"callout-quote__image\"\n                    >\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"callout-quote__image-wrapper callout-quote__image-wrapper--portrait\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\"\n                        src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/487\/2026\/04\/Layesa_Sid_UWC-768x960-1.jpg\"\n                        alt=\"Headshot of Sid Layesa\"\n                        class=\"callout-quote__image\"\n                    >\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"callout-quote__text-column\">\n                <blockquote class=\"callout-quote__quote\">\u201cI realized that I don\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/blockquote>\n                <cite class=\"callout-quote__name\">Sid Layesa \u201925<\/cite>\n                                \t<cite class=\"callout-quote__title\">Biology and Economics Major<\/cite>\n                                \t                <div class=\"callout-quote__cta\">\n\t                    <a class=\"base-cta-secondary\" href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/2026\/03\/first-jobs-big-dreams-catching-up-with-the-class-of-2025\/#sid\" target=\"_self\">Read Sid&#8217;s Story<\/a>\n\t                <\/div>\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"callout-quote__ornament\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/texture-quote.svg\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"statistic-group block-container\" >\n\t<div class=\"statistic-group__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__header-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__header-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"base-lockup__heading\">Biology in the Cities<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"statistic-group__header-copy\">The Twin Cities are a living lab\u2014with 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.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__stats\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__stat\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__stat-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"icon showing two trees, grass, and the sun\" class=\"statistic-group__stat-icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/487\/2026\/01\/1.png\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"statistic-group__stat-copy\">The Katharine Ordway Natural History Study Area, our 300-acre field study lab is only 15 minutes from campus. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__stat\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__stat-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"statistic-group__stat-heading\">73%<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"statistic-group__stat-copy\">Percentage of Macalester students who do an internship or research project<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__stat\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"statistic-group__stat-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Blue and white hospital icon\" class=\"statistic-group__stat-icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/487\/2026\/04\/biology-hospital-opt-2.png\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"statistic-group__stat-copy\">Students have opportunities to intern, volunteer, and shadow at two different level 1 trauma centers within 6 miles of campus<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join Our Community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Think less anonymous lecture hall, more \u201csnack-basket-in-the-office\u201d and hallway chats. Faculty know your name\u2014and your goals. Some of our regular happenings:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A weekly biology tea where students and faculty pop in between classes.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Weekly seminars with scientists, doctors, and public health leaders on topics from cutting-edge research to health equity\u2014and how they built their careers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A taco truck event to kick off the fall semester.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<section class=\"callout-featured-media block-container\"\n >\n    <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"callout-featured-media__accent callout-featured-media__accent--cyan\"><\/div>\n    <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"callout-featured-media__accent callout-featured-media__accent--red\"><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"callout-featured-media__lockup-row\">\n        <div class=\"callout-featured-media__lockup-column\">\n                    <div class=\"callout-featured-media__lockup\">\n                                                    <h2 class=\"callout-featured-media__lockup-heading\">Are you a future Biology major at Macalester?<\/h2>\n                                                    <p class=\"callout-featured-media__lockup-copy\">If you\u2019re considering Mac, let us know. We\u2019ll keep you up to date on application deadlines and visit opportunities.<\/p>\n                                                    <ul class=\"callout-featured-media__lockup-cta\">\n                                                    <li class=\"callout-featured-media__cta-item\">\n                                <a class=\"base-cta-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/admissions\/request-information\/\" target=\"_self\">Introduce Yourself<\/a>\n                            <\/li>\n                                                                    <\/ul>\n                            <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n            <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A biology student and professor work together at a computer.\" class=\"base-background-media base-background-media--image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/487\/2025\/09\/20190709_mc_008-0-960x0-c-default.jpg\" srcset=\"        https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/487\/2025\/09\/20190709_mc_008-0-720x0-c-default.jpg     480w,         https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/487\/2025\/09\/20190709_mc_008-0-960x0-c-default.jpg     720w,         https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/487\/2025\/09\/20190709_mc_008-0-1280x0-c-default.jpg    960w,         https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/487\/2025\/09\/20190709_mc_008-0-1440x0-c-default.jpg    1280w,         https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/487\/2025\/09\/20190709_mc_008-0-1920x0-c-default.jpg    1440w            \">\n    \n    \n        <span class=\"base-background-media__overlay\"><\/span>\n    \n        <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"callout-featured-media__accent callout-featured-media__accent--yellow-long\"><\/div>\n    <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"callout-featured-media__accent callout-featured-media__accent--yellow-short\"><\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prepare for a Career in Health and Medicine Interested in public health? Many majors add the Community and Global Health concentration\u2014one 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 [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":391,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template_2020_level_2.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1573","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1573"}],"version-history":[{"count":52,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1573\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2005,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1573\/revisions\/2005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}