Mount Saint Mary’s University

    Biology | Bachelor of Science (Route A)
    (M)POWER Major Map

    A clear pathway for academic success, career formation, leadership development, and post-graduate preparation.

    Program Overview

    Core program information and early student priorities.

    Program Details

    Program
    Degree
    Route
    Map Type
    Biology
    Bachelor of Science
    Route A
    (M)POWER Major Map

    Cultivate Learning

    Milestones across the first year, middle years, and final year.

    Summer Pathways / FYS / FYE

    Stage
    Key Actions
    First Year Experience
    • Attend orientation and meet Biology faculty.
    • Choose your Biology pathway.
    • Review program with faculty advisor.
    • Build study habits with SI/tutoring.
    Middle Years
    • Meet Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society criteria and make Dean’s List.
    • Strengthen communication, teamwork, and problem-solving through labs and group research.
    • Join a faculty research lab.
    • Participate in the Catalina Island trip.
    • Present at WISH or SCUR, and engage in WISH or Pre-Health clubs.
    • Explore Environmental Science or Pre-Health options aligned with goals and future career plans.
    Last Year
    • Review final degree requirements with advisor.
    • Complete Senior Seminar with a thesis, poster, and presentation.
    • Finalize graduate or professional school applications and recommendation letters.
    • Strengthen scientific writing, public speaking, and analytical skills through capstone work.

    Pursue Academic Excellence

    Checklist items and recommended course sequencing.

    Academic Success Checklist

    Year
    Fall
    Spring
    First Year
    • BIO 1/L (5)
    • CHE 1A/L (5)
    • ENG 1A (3)
    • MTH 7 (3)
    • FYS 1 (2)
    • BIO 2/L (4)
    • CHE 1B/L (5)
    • ENG 1B (3)
    • MTH 1 (3)
    • FYS 2 (2)
    Second Year
    • BIO 135/L (4)
    • CHE 6A/L (5)
    • MTH 5A (4)
    • PHI 10 (3)
    • BIO 197 (1)
    • BIO 130/L (4)
    • CHE 6B/L (5)
    • MTH 5B (4)
    • GS (3)
    • BIO 197 (1)
    Third Year
    • BIO El (4)
    • PHY 1A (4)
    • CHE 107/L (4)
    • GS (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • BIO El (4)
    • PHY 1B (4)
    • MTH 38 (3)
    • GS (3)
    • UDE (3)
    Last Year
    • BIO El (4)
    • UDE (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • BIO El (4)
    • BIO 195 (3)
    • UDE (3)
    • UDE (3)

    Career Formation and Experience

    Career readiness milestones and experience-building opportunities.

    Career Formation

    Stage
    Activities
    First Year
    Attend (M)POWER First-Year Discernment & Life Design Summit.
    Second Year
    Attend (M)POWER Sophomore Summit.
    Third Year
    Attend (M)POWER Junior Summit. Unlock micro-credential access.
    Last Year
    Attend (M)POWER Junior Summit and maintain micro-credential access.

    Gain Experience

    • Attend guest lectures and Biology speaker events.
    • Join groups like WISH or Pre-PA to explore science careers.
    • Connect early with faculty to learn about research and internships.
    • Network with alumni and professionals through department events, symposia, and clubs.
    • Participate in local health and science opportunities like Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Care Extender, Kaiser, or environmental agencies.
    • Present research at SCUR, WISH, or other conferences to strengthen your résumé.
    • Prepare for medical, PA, dental, pharmacy, or grad programs through exam prep, personal statements, and mock interviews.
    • Pursue internships or volunteer roles aligned with your goals.
    • Build professional skills in resume writing, interviewing, data analysis, and scientific communication.
    • Develop confidence and leadership by mentoring peers, leading clubs, or assisting in labs.

    Leadership Development

    Leadership principles and opportunities connected to MOUNTLeads.
    The Four Core Principles of Mount Leads
    Awareness of Self and Personal WellnessEthical Decision Making & IntegrityCommunication Skills and Critical ThinkingActive Citizenship
    Area
    Opportunities
    Personal Leadership
    • Participate in MOUNTLeads Leadership Summit.
    • Apply to be a MOUNTLeads Leadership Scholar.
    • Sign up for community service with Women’s Leadership & Community Engagement or student clubs and organizations.
    Group Dynamics
    • Preparing Women to Lead (PLEN) (Y2+).
    • Community Student Ambassador Program (Y2+).
    • Become a peer mentor through Summer Pathways, Orientation Assistants/Leader, (M)POWER Peer Mentor, or others.
    • Pursue leadership in clubs/organizations, Student Activities Council, Student Government Association, Community Assistants, Peer Wellness, and more.
    Self-Reflection
    • MOUNTLeads Overnight Leadership Retreat (Y2+).
    • Explore service-oriented or community- and social-impact career pathways.
    • Attend “I Lead, We Lead” Workshop Series.
    Engage Locally for Post-Grad Success
    • Pursue on-campus student employment to develop career-aligned skills, a sense of belonging, and contribute to academic success.
    • Advocate for causes and/or organizations that you care about and make an impact.
    Engage Globally for Post-Graduate Success
    • Enroll in a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) class.
    • Enroll in an international summer class.
    • Consider Study Away programs, either nationally or internationally.
    • Advocate for international causes and/or organizations that you care about and make an impact.

    Athenian Advisory Team

    Advising and support resources across each year.
    Role
    First Year
    Second Year
    Third Year
    Last Year
    Faculty Advisor
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Graduate school/career preparation
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Graduate school/career preparation
    (M)POWER Academic Advisor & Success Coach
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring academic advisement and success coaching.
    • Learn how to navigate myMSMU-Student Planning, Athenian Advisory Team, university processes, and Mount resources to support your success and well-being.
    • Clarify curriculum, catalog policies, LACE general education requirements, and how AP, CLEP, IB, and transfer work can be applied towards your degree.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, major/minor exploration, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Collaborate to explore Mount experiences, such as Study Away, in alignment with academic and career goals.
    • Support with clearance to ensure registration readiness each semester.
    • Optional Fall/Spring academic advisement and coaching.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Learn how to bolster your academic interests and pursuits in alignment with LACE general education requirements.
    • Collaborate to explore Mount experiences, such as Study Away, in alignment with academic and career goals.
    • Support with clearance to ensure registration readiness each semester.
    • Optional Fall/Spring academic advisement and coaching.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Support you in building and bolstering your academic interests and pursuits in alignment with LACE general education requirements.
    • Collaborate to explore Mount experiences, such as Study Away, in alignment with academic and career goals.
    • Guidance on navigating academic preparation with your Athenian Advisory Team for post graduate planning.
    • Support with clearance to ensure registration readiness each semester.
    • Optional Fall/Spring academic advisement and coaching.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Guidance on navigating your Athenian Advisory Team for post graduate planning.
    Career Specialist
    • Learn how to transform experiences into career, calling, vocation.
    • Discern your values, talents, strengths, and goals; shape your early career story.
    • Explore career pathways and make a plan.
    • Reflect on career conversations with alumni and industry professionals.
    • Develop an early résumé and interviewing practice.
    • Strengthen your growth mindset.
    • Learn how to transform experiences into career, calling, vocation.
    • Discern your values, talents, strengths, and goals; shape your early career story.
    • Explore career pathways and make a plan.
    • Reflect on career conversations with alumni and industry professionals.
    • Develop an early résumé and interviewing practice.
    • Strengthen your growth mindset.
    • Clarify career goals and take next steps.
    • Build and strengthen networking relationships with intention.
    • Prepare tailored versions of your résumé and cover letter for specific opportunities or job types.
    • Sharpen effective delivery of your personal career narrative and interviewing skills.
    • Explore, consider, and prepare for graduate school.
    • Clarify career goals and take next steps.
    • Build and strengthen networking relationships with intention.
    • Prepare tailored versions of your résumé and cover letter for specific opportunities or job types.
    • Sharpen effective delivery of your personal career narrative and interviewing skills.
    • Explore, consider, and prepare for graduate school.
    Financial Aid Counselor
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    Peer Mentor
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.

    Wellness & Well-being

    Students are encouraged to build sustainable habits that support academic success, personal wellness, resilience, and balance throughout each year of the Biology pathway.
    • Explore a Wellness Fair.
    • Build self-awareness around the dimension of wellness.
    • Try a new sport or continue your choice of movement.
    • Attend a GroupX fitness class.
    • Consult with a Peer Wellness Advocate to determine CalFresh eligibility and apply.
    • Consider applying to be a Facilities Attendant at the Wellness Pavilion or Doheny Wellness Center.
    • Develop healthy habits, understand and strive for self-improvement.
    • Learn positive coping and relationship skills through workshops by Peer Wellness Advocates, Counseling and Psychological Services, Residence Life, and others.
    • Take advantage of outdoor pursuit trips designed to nurture appreciation of the outdoors, environmental stewardship, social and cultural inclusivity, and risk management.
    • Consider applying to be a Peer Wellness Advocate (Y1+).
    • Utilize Produce Pick-Up for access to fresh fruit and vegetables (Y1+).
    • Commit to and prioritize your ritual for movement, healthy habits, positive self-concept, and mental resilience; model and encourage others to do the same.
    • Lead a GroupX fitness class.
    • Consider applying to be a Student Manager at the Wellness Pavilion or Doheny Wellness Center.

    Post-Graduate Outcomes

    Career pathways, transferable strengths, and outcomes supported by the Biology major.
    Area
    Details
    What skills do employers want?
    • Scientific reasoning, data analysis, lab technique, and technical accuracy.
    • Critical thinking and evidence-based decisions.
    • Clear scientific writing and communication.
    • Strong collaboration and professionalism.
    • Adaptability in fast-paced clinical, research, or field environments.
    This major equips me to
    • Apply biological concepts to health, research, and environmental problems.
    • Work independently and collaboratively in lab and field settings.
    • Communicate scientific ideas clearly.
    • Design, conduct, and interpret experiments.
    • Build strong preparation for graduate or health careers.
    What careers can I pursue?
    • Physician, physician assistant, dentist, pharmacist, or vet.
    • Clinical or research lab technician.
    • Public health or environmental science roles.
    • Biotech, biomedical, or clinical research coordination.
    • Science education or outreach.
    • Graduate study in biology, public health, environmental science, or related fields.