BS MAJOR or MINOR

What You’ll Study

We believe that the best biologists have followed a program of study that provides a broad fundamental understanding of all areas of the life sciences as well as chemistry, physics, and mathematics. This approach reinforces in students the knowledge, skills, and habits of thought that characterize the biologically trained mind. Your program will begin with core courses, followed by courses in three areas:

Cellular and Subcellular Biology
Botany
Zoology

Because we require all majors to take at least one course in each area, you’ll emerge with a well-rounded knowledge that translates into the professional or graduate school environment. Concurrent training in environmental studies is possible for interested students.

Dynamic Landscapes as Labs

You’ll test your theories and think creatively in the best lab on earth — the farm, forest, river, greenhouses, and garden right here on Warren Wilson’s 1,100 acre campus. Unfettered access to plants and animals provides rich opportunities for independent research. You’ll join the ranks of hundreds of alumni who’ve conducted research projects with real-world implications, and then join them along your own successful path.

Your Next Step

Many of our biology students go on to pursue graduate education or training. The close relationships you’ll develop with faculty give you a leg up when you’re applying to graduate school or a job. And you’ll be supported by our Career Services team, recognized in the 2019 Princeton Review as having one of the top Career Services in the country.

I didn’t have any classes or labs taught by teaching assistants and the class size was small enough that I got regular practice and feedback on my writing and public speaking. My experience with undergraduate research played a huge role in the professional path I took after college. The work program is also highly valuable in that I learned to manage my time and work hard for a full day each day – juggling classes and work crew time.
Justin Conley, '04, Environmental Studies/Biology

Biology majors have the opportunity to graduate with honors. Through the Honors Program, you will be required to conduct original research, apply for research funding, and present and defend your research in a professional forum. Your honors experience will establish you as an independent, critical thinker ready for the next step.

Professor Jeff Holmes meeting with student

Justin is a postdoctoral researcher investigating the toxicity of endocrine disrupting chemicals and new approaches for water quality monitoring at the Environmental Protection Agency. Get to Know Justin.

Explore Classes in This Program

In today’s world, being able to clearly and persuasively communicate scientific principles and results is more important than ever before. Effective biologists must investigate, organize, and present concepts to their peers, not only in written format, but orally. You’ll present a 15-20 minute oral presentation on your research project and submit a formal thesis for the College archives.

This course will acquaint you with aspects of modern plant taxonomy, focusing on families of flowering plants. You’ll become familiar with the characteristics of various plant taxa and the techniques and terminology needed to distinguish among them.

In this course, you’ll explore birds’ evolution, biology, and ecology. You will study avian diversity, anatomy, physiology, and behaviors related to food, sex, sociality, communication, and migration. After learning to identify local species by sight and sound, you’ll conduct an authentic research project with wild birds.

Still curious? See the Curriculum

Warren Wilson College provides seemingly endless opportunities to work in collaborative settings with students who take an active role in their own learning.

Alisa Hove, Ph.D.

Meet Alisa Hove See all Natural Sciences Faculty

Warren Wilson is a place where we are engaged lovers of learning and of connecting what we learn to the world. It's also a community where we can be whole people with diverse interests, where I can not only be scientist but artist, musician, gardener, mother.

Amy Boyd, Ph.D.

Meet Amy Boyd See all Natural Sciences Faculty

As I field biologist, I always say our best laboratories are right out the back door of the science building. Within a 5 minute walk we have 3 ponds, a trout stream and 600 acres of Forest.

Mark Brenner, Ph.D.

Meet Mark Brenner See all Natural Sciences Faculty

I am more guide than teacher; I love guiding intelligent, passionate students as they help change the world not just after they graduate, but as part of their educational experience.

Liesl Peterson Erb, Ph.D.

Meet Liesl Peterson Erb See all Natural Sciences Faculty

There are a lot of great colleges in this country, both big and small, but I don’t know of another one I would rather teach at than here.

Jeff Holmes, Ph.D.

Meet Jeff Holmes See all Natural Sciences Faculty

The reason I wanted to work at WWC is because of the students. I have never worked with a more passionate, caring group of students in all of my years teaching at universities.

Jill Arnold, MA

Meet Jill Arnold See all Natural Sciences Faculty

I love teaching at Warren Wilson because the students challenge me to dig deeper and think harder. And I return the favor: we push and support each other in our learning.

Olya Milenkaya, Ph.D.

Meet Olya Milenkaya See all Natural Sciences Faculty

The enthusiasm Warren Wilson students have for the study of the natural world on campus and beyond is infectious. I enjoy guiding and learning from them as we explore biological systems and processes together.

Patrick Ciccotto, Ph.D.

Meet Patrick Ciccotto See all Natural Sciences Faculty

Everywhere you look there's a story to be told here at Wilson. It's my job to help guide my students to see these stories and learn how to best share them with the world.

Peter Erb, MA

Meet Peter Erb See all Natural Sciences Faculty

To be a teacher at WWC means, by necessity, to be a generalist. My students are eager and my subject is limitless, so there is always some new wonder to be discovered and shared.

Paul Bartels, Ph.D.

Meet Paul Bartels See all Natural Sciences Faculty

vlad — Top Five

Dr. Kat's Five Colleges for Biology

The Power of Fungi

Student Research discovers the power of fungi

A Growing Partnership

$129,000 National Science Foundation grant

Of Pelicans and Opossums

Rhett Small '14 rehabilitates wildlife

medical student — Did someone say "Doctor"?

Pre-Med support

A biology and environmental studies crew student studies a sample through a microscope — Biology & Environmental Science Crew

Work in the departments in a variety of ways

Meet Our Students

Beer. Meet Biology.

Biology major Halley McVeigh ’15 integrated her passion for science into a documentary she developed as part of an upper division Conservation Biology course. “No Ordinary Squirrel” looks closely at the endangered population of Carolina Northern Flying Squirrels, providing an in-depth look at this threatened species. Along with three other student films, Halley’s documentary premiered to the public at Pisgah Brewing Co., a local certified organic brewery just minutes away from the college campus. Pisgah Brewing Co. teamed up with Warren Wilson and Wild South to create Wild Connections, a celebration of the wild places in the Appalachian mountains. On the night of the film screening, Pisgah Brewing Co. released the first in a series of Conservation Brews, beers designed to correspond with the student films. This integration of learning, art, community, conservation and, well, beer (Asheville is the Beer Capital of the USA, after all) is a uniquely Wilson experience. You’ll only find it here.

Biology

What You’ll Study

Dynamic Landscapes as Labs

Your Next Step

With Honors

Justin Conley '04

Explore Classes in This Program

Communication: Natural Science Seminar

Plant Taxonomy

Ornithology

Hands-on, All-in

Beer. Meet Biology.

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