University of Arizona ranked top Online Bachelor of Science in Biology Degree by Forbes
The University of Arizona has been ranked by Forbes as having the top four-year online Bachelor of Science in Biology degree in the nation. The program, housed in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB), was also designated the best online option for experiential learning opportunities, recognizing its innovative blend of online coursework, hands-on labs, active learning components, and research opportunities. According to Forbes, “The online B.S. in biology from the University of Arizona is the most hands-on and immersive program among the top 10 schools.”
“We’re opening up opportunities to populations that don’t have the luxury to move to a main campus for four-years and seeing our graduates move into terrific careers and graduate programs," said Dr. Michael Worobey, professor and head of EEB at the University of Arizona. “Our program is the only online Bachelor of Science option in the country that’s offered by a world-renowned biology department, let alone a world-class College of Science and flagship state university.”
EEB launched its online Biology degree in 2021 and has since ranked among the top 10 online Biology programs in the nation. It was the first fully online Biology degree to include all the coursework required for admission to medical school, and the only “pre-med” degree in the country that can be completed in four-years regardless of a student’s initial math placement. Interdisciplinary and experiential learning opportunities are important distinguishing features of U of A’s program that ensure students benefit from the flexibility of online learning while also gaining critical laboratory experience essential for careers in medicine, health, science, and beyond.
“This is a truly innovative online program and can serve as a model for rigorous, scalable programming in STEM," said Dr. Caleb Simmons, Vice Provost of Arizona Online.
The core curriculum includes a Course-Based Research Undergraduate Experience (CURE), lab components, fieldwork exercises, discussions with problem solving components, and a research project that teaches experimental design. Upper-division elective coursework features active learning components that leverage U of A’s access to the UAZ Natural History Collections and its home in the most biodiverse desert on Earth, the Sonoran Desert. Courses such as Arizona Mammals and Ornithology incorporate virtual field trips that demonstrate how a professional mammalogist captures bats and rodents in the wild at local habitats in southern Arizona, including the Sky Islands of the Coronado National Forest and Cienega Creek Natural Preserve, as well as digitized specimens from natural history museum collections that students use to compare skeletons and skulls of different bird species.
The most distinguishing characteristic of the online Biology program’s advanced elective coursework is that it involves online students in research in exciting and exemplary ways, such as having them participate in assembling a newly sequenced plant genome or developing deep learning models to classify cancer cells. As of Fall 2024, students in EEB’s online programs also have the option to participate in Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) research opportunities, giving remote learners the opportunity to work on research with U of A faculty from more than a dozen colleges and units across campus while earning credit that can apply towards their degree requirements.
This recognition highlights the University of Arizona and College of Science commitment to providing high-quality, accessible education that prepares students for success in STEM fields. The program is designed to meet the needs of students across the country while maintaining the rigor and hands-on learning that embodies the university’s on-campus experience.
To learn more about the Biology online degree program, click here.