Areas of Study

The Department of Biology at Elizabethtown College offers three majors, a minor, and participation in cooperative programs with professional schools and several of the College's interdisciplinary programs.

• Biology
• Pre-Medicine Advising
• Biotechnology
• Pre-Professional Programs
• Environmental Science

Biology

Choose from four concentrations to target your career aspirations:

• Biological Sciences – prepare for immediate employment or graduate work
• Pre-Medical – prepare for entry into medical, dental, veterinary, optometry and podiatry schools.  
• Secondary Education – prepare to become certified biology and general science teachers in middle and high schools.
• Allied Health 

• Major Courses and Requirements
• Minor Requirements
• Department Checksheets

Biotechnology

This exciting major is at the forefront of biomedical research, genetic engineering and social ethics. The biotechnology major at Elizabethtown College has been specifically designed for students wishing to continue either on to graduate school or pursue a career as a research associate. This program represents ideas gathered from over 100 hospitals, graduate institutions, academic research facilities, and large and small biotech companies. Combining all of this information with the latest in teaching methodology and research, the biotechnology major offers students the cutting edge of scientific research and theory. The problem-based learning methodology allows for student research in the classroom laboratory, during independent research projects, and in established internships.

• Major Courses and Requirements
• Department Checksheets

Environmental Science

In this interdisciplinary program, you will learn the "hard science" necessary to solve environmental problems and also develop the skills to interpret those problems in terms of the larger social, political and economic issues. The curriculum prepares you for entry-level positions with environmental firms, industry or government agencies that require knowledge of environmental principles and methodology, as well as for entry into graduate environmental programs. In addition to providing students with a solid grounding in basic principles, the curriculum also exposes them to the application of those principles through research and/or internships.

• Major Course and Requirements
• Department Checksheets

Pre-Med Advising

Pre-Med students are encouraged to meet with a member of the College's Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC). This faculty committee offers help and advisement to students who wish to pursue continued study in many of the health professions. Committee members assist students in selecting elective courses, arranging medically-related service activities, choosing medical schools to which to apply and putting together applications.

Cooperative Pre-Professional Programs

Preforestry with Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environmental and Earth Sciences

The Preforestry program is a five-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree from Elizabethtown College and a Master of Forestry or Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University. For more on this program, visit the Pre-forestry program website .

Cardiovascular Invasive Specialty program with Lancaster General College of Nursing and Health Services 

The Cardiovascular Invasive Specialty program will prepare you to assist physicians in procedures including coronary arteriography, ventriculography, atherectomies, electrophysiology and other heart-related diagnostics after three years at Elizabethtown College and one year at the Lancaster General College of Nursing and Health Sciences. This program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree from Elizabethtown College and a diploma in Cardio-vascular Invasive Specialty from Lancaster General College of Nursing and Health Services.

Pre-Allied Health program 

In the Pre-Allied Health program, students spend the first two years at Elizabethtown College and then transfer to Thomas Jefferson University or another degree-granting institution with an accredited program for their junior and senior years. The professional programs include areas of biotechnology, molecular sciences, radiologic sciences and occupational therapy. These programs differ from the Biology major/Allied Health programs in that no degree is awarded from Elizabethtown College. Thomas Jefferson University awards the Bachelor of Science degree for the programs.

Cooperative Program with the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine

The Cooperative Program with The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine allows selected undergraduate science majors to enroll in graduate classes at the Hershey Medical Center campus of The Pennsylvania State University. This unique educational opportunity allows students to gain exposure to graduate-level classes, while pursuing undergraduate studies at Elizabethtown College.

Cooperative 3+3 Program with Thomas Jefferson University and Widener University 

The Cooperative 3+3 Program with Thomas Jefferson University and Widener University leads to a Bachelor of Science degree from Elizabethtown College and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Thomas Jefferson University or Widener University. In these programs, students spend three years at Elizabethtown College fulfilling general education Core, the Pre-Physical Therapy curriculum and the requirements of the Biology major. If accepted by the cooperating institution, students spend three more years at Thomas Jefferson University or Widener University.

Cooperative Programs with The Pennsylvania State University 

Elizabethtown College is one of a select group of colleges that participates in The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine's Primary Care Pre-Admissions Program at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The program was established to encourage undergraduate students to pursue careers in internal medicine, family practice and pediatrics by providing students with mentoring, primary care and pre-clinical experience. Through an agreement with The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, select students may be admitted to Penn State's Premedical Primary Care Program, allowing them to pursue careers as primary care physicians. This program gives these students the option for automatic matriculation to The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine upon completing the Bachelor of Science degree requirements and maintaining competitive grade point average and Medical College Admissions Test scores as stipulated by The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine.

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)

Through an matriculation agreement with the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), qualified students can pursue a 3+4 or 4+4 program leading to a bachelor's degree from Elizabethtown and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from PCOM provided they successfully have completed their undergraduate prerequisites for medical school at Elizabethtown College and fulfilled the admission requirements for PCOM.

Temple University's School of Dentistry 

Through an articulation agreement with Temple University's School of Dentistry, qualified students can pursue a 3+4 program leading to a bachelor's degree from Elizabethtown and a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from Temple.