Your path can be tailored to your goals.
As part of a biology and health science major, you can choose a concentration that provides focused preparation for specific health or science-related professions while building on the broad foundation of a liberal arts education.
A concentration appears on your academic transcript and highlights the specialized coursework you've completed to prepare for the next step in your educational and professional journey. Whether you're planning for medical school, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, dentistry, occupational or physical therapy, chiropractic or another healthcare or biology science field, a concentration helps you align your coursework with your career aspirations.
Personalized Preparation for Your Future
Most students pursuing health professions choose majors such as biology, biochemistry, chemistry, or health science, but students from a variety of academic backgrounds can successfully enter healthcare careers. Because career goals often evolve during college, we encourage you to choose a major they genuinely enjoy and work closely with faculty advisors to complete the prerequisite courses required by your intended profession.
While professional schools do not typically require a specific undergraduate major, they do expect applicants to complete a defined set of prerequisite courses. Concentrations are designed to help students meet those requirements while gaining a deeper understanding of their chosen field.
A concentration on your transcript is a benefit, too. It helps you to clearly communicate to employers and graduate schools your focused area of study.
Explore Concentrations
The Department of Biology and Health Science offers concentrations designed to support a variety of healthcare career pathways, as well a biology-focused pathways. Each concentration combines coursework required in the major along with focused electives that provide preparation for advanced study and professional practice.
A career in healthcare requires more than scientific knowledge.
At Marietta College, you'll prepare for a future in healthcare through a powerful combination of scientific study, hands-on learning, and personalized support. Our liberal arts foundation helps you develop the communication, ethical reasoning, and leadership skills that graduate programs—and healthcare employers—value most.
The result is a personalized pathway that prepares you to succeed in advanced study and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Major in Biology —
concentration in healthcare
Pre-Med, Pre-Physician Assistant, Pre-Dental
Class choices will include:
Biol212 (Human Anatomy)
Biol203 (Human Physiology)
Biol340 (Toxicology) or Biol309 (Cell Biology)
Biol401 (Advanced Human Anatomy)
Major in Health Science —
concentration in Pre-Physician Assistant
Class choices will include:
Chem303/305 (Organic Chem I/lab)
Biol401 (Advanced Human Anatomy)
Biol340 (Toxicology) or Biol309 (Cell Biology)
Major in Health Science —
concentration in:
Pre-Physical Therapy/Pre-Occupational Therapy/Pre-Chiropractic
Class choices will include:
Phys211/212 OR Phys221/222 (Physics I and II)
Biol401 (Advanced Human Anatomy)
STPM304 (Medical Aspects of Sports Medicine) OR SPTM385 (Pathophysiology)
A concentration doesn't replace the biology major—it enhances it.
A biology concentration lets you turn a general interest in life sciences into a focused pathway. If you loves animals, wildlife, conservation, or veterinary medicine, for exampe, you may choose a zoology/animal biology concentration to gain deeper knowledge, build relevant skills, and prepare for careers or graduate programs connected to the animal world.
You will still gain the broad scientific foundation employers and graduate schools expect, while developing expertise in a specific area. You can still earn a biology degree without a concentration, but the concentration provides a way to showcase particular interests and potential career paths.
Major in Biology —
concentration in Plant Biology
Class choices will include:
BIOL 311 (Flowering Plants)
-BIOL 312 (Lower Plants)
-BIOL 360 (Medical Botany)
-BIOL 318 (Ecology) or Biol305 (Evolution)
Major in Biology —
concentration in Zoology/Animal Biology
Class choices will include:
BIOL 204 (Animal Physiology)
BIOL 230 (Zoology)
BIOL 320 (Animal Behavior)
BIOL 310 (Developmental Biology) OR Biol318 (Ecology) OR Biol305 (Evolution) or Biol245 (Env. Toxicology)
Major in Biology —
concentration in Cell Biology
Class choices will include:
BIOL202 (Microbiology)
BIOL 309 (Cell Biology)
BIOL 330 (Genetics)
BIOL 340 (Toxicology) or BIOL 310 (Developmental Biology)
Major in Biology —
concentration in Environmental Biology
Class choices will include:
BIOL102 (Environmental Biology)
BIOL245 (Environmental Toxicology)
BIOL318 (Ecology)
BIOL378 (Field Techniques)
BIOL311 (Flowering Plants) or BIOL312 (Lower Plants)
Learn through the Landmark Experience
At Marietta College, preparation for healthcare professions and concentrated study extends beyond the classroom. You will benefit from close faculty mentorship, hands-on laboratory experiences, undergraduate research, internships, community engagement, and personalized advising throughout their academic journey.
Faculty advisors work with students to:
- Select courses aligned with professional school requirements.
- Explore healthcare career options.
- Prepare for graduate and professional school applications.
- Plan for admission exams such as the MCAT, DAT, GRE, or other profession-specific assessments.
Early planning is important, and you are encouraged to work with their advisor beginning in your first year to ensure you are building a strong foundation for future success.