Undergraduate Program Overview

The undergraduate program in Biology is consistently one of the two or three largest majors in the College of Arts and Sciences.  We strive to provide an outstanding curriculum for students with interests and career goals that span this large and constantly changing field.  In addition to the formal coursework required for the B.S. and B.A. degrees, the high level of research activity in Biology presents many opportunities for students to learn about the practice of science by participating in faculty-led research or pursuing independent research in a research lab through our Honors Program. 

How to get started

If you are interested in majoring in Biology, please talk to a Biology Advisor soon so you understand how to plan your coursework to complete your degree and the courses that will prepare you for whatever you want to do in the future. 

Connect with other Biology majors! 

Check out the Biology UnderGraduate Society (BUGS) to get involved with other students in the department.

Give research a try

If you have specific interests within Biology, browse our faculty list and lab web pages (links for each faculty member) so you can learn who is doing research that interests you. See something interesting? We love to talk about Biology, so don't be shy! Working in a research lab gives you a chance to see how biological knowledge is created, and to connect with a 'family' of people who share common interests and enthusiasm for an area of biology.

The URAD office at UNM can help guide you through the process of identifying a research area and contacting potential research mentors, so check out their website or make an appointment with a URAD advisor.