Science - Biology, chemistry or biochemistry

Preveterinary medicine is an undergraduate degree concentration that prepares students for admission to veterinary school and a career in veterinary medicine or animal science.

Program coursework provides a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, physics, math and animal science. It also offers specialized courses in veterinary medicine and opportunities to gain clinical hours or animal experience through internships and study abroad programs.

The online pre-vet major includes several advanced lab courses. Most are completed online, but the two organic chemistry labs must be taken in person at ASU’s Tempe campus. These are offered in a compressed one-week format over the summer. Learn more about the on-campus sessions and how to prepare.

What can I do with a preveterinary medicine degree concentration?

This concentration focuses on biology with an emphasis on animal behavior, anatomy and nutrition. You’ll have the opportunity to take classes exploring the field of veterinary medicine, ethical issues in biology, infectious diseases, comparative immunology and more. The preveterinary medicine concentration will help you develop the skills needed to effectively work with animals and use science to formulate solutions to various problems. These skills are important for many careers related to veterinary medicine, animal science and biology.

Why earn a pre-vet major?

Earning an applied biological sciences with a concentration in preveterinary medicine degree does not guarantee your admission into veterinary school, but it can help make you a competitive applicant. Our online preveterinary medicine degree concentration is designed to help you meet the common prerequisites required to apply to veterinary school. It also connects you with advisors who can help ensure you’re staying on track to apply to veterinary school or other animal-focused graduate programs.

Even if you’re a pre-vet major, it’s still important to thoroughly research the veterinary schools and graduate programs you’re most interested in applying to as each school has its own specific prerequisites and admission requirements. For more information on ASU’s pre-health education programs, please visit the ASU pre-health website.

Students must understand that completing this program does not guarantee admission to veterinary school. For students who may be interested in applying for veterinary school upon graduation, it is highly recommended they take the ABS 484 Internship course for experiential learning.

In this neuroscience program, you’ll study the brain and nervous system, which are two of the most complex biological structures. You’ll have the opportunity to analyze behavior, thoughts, consciousness and emotion related to the nervous system.

You’ll also learn the basic elements of the nervous system and how it functions in relation to cognition, behavior, thought and emotion in humans and animals through field research. Foundations in biochemistry, biology, engineering, mathematics and psychology provide you with a deeper understanding of the structure and function of the brain and nervous system.

Tailor your studies to fit your interests

Neuroscience provides opportunities to uncover the mystery of consciousness and to gain insight into health promotion and maintenance. With a variety of paths you can take, this program allows you to tailor your curriculum to fit your interests and goals. You’ll have the opportunity to select your upper-division courses from four focal areas of neuroscience that use different levels of analysis:

• Behavioral neuroscience: Learn about the biological processes of neural activity and transmission that underlie subsequent behavior, largely using animal models.
• Cellular and molecular neuroscience: Examine the basic biological processes of the neural cells, both individually and as they connect.
• Cognitive neuroscience: Study the correlation between brain processes and our thoughts and experiences of the world using a range of approaches that draw on neuroimaging and cognitive psychology.
• Systems neuroscience: Explore how the billions of neural cells work together in neural networks.

What can you do with a bachelor’s in neuroscience?

Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for a variety of careers in health and research. While many neuroscience career paths require a master’s- or doctorate-level degree, there are some that don’t, such as a clinical research assistant, health educator and more.

Building skills in computer programming, experimental design, behavioral understanding and data science will equip you as a marketable STEM professional. This degree also provides you with the foundations needed to continue on to medical school; however, it doesn’t prepare you for counseling psychology.

How this program compares to our biological sciences (neurology, physiology and behavior) degree

If you're fascinated by the human brain and nervous system, the BS in neuroscience is ideal for you. This program focuses on cognition, emotion and behavior, offering hands-on research experience and preparation for careers or graduate study in neuroscience, psychology, medicine and other health-related fields.

In contrast, the biological sciences (neurobiology, physiology and behavior studies) program explores multiple physiological systems across species and includes ecological, evolutionary and biomedical perspectives. The neuroscience degree, however, provides an approach that allows translation between both human and animal species, supporting the application of scientific insights to real-world questions about the mysteries of the mind and brain.

This program is the first of its kind to integrate three related areas of life science research: cell biology, developmental biology and genetics. Studying these fields together has advanced a better understanding of diseases, regeneration and aging, and promises to prove even more important in the future.

This program offers coursework at the intersection of genetics, genomes and developmental biology. You’ll also gain knowledge of fundamental concepts in biological sciences, chemistry, physics and statistics. Developing scientific process and critical thinking skills will prepare you for a variety of career or professional degrees in genetics, medicine and genomes. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for graduate and professional degrees in genetics, medicine and genomes.

How cell and developmental biology relate to genetics

Genetics examines the blueprints of life, providing critical information such as what makes living things unique, how diseases develop and how and when organisms live, survive and thrive.

While genes and genomes provide the instructions for all living things, this machinery of life is enclosed within the boundaries of cells. Since cells provide all activities critical for life, from metabolism to reproduction, cell biology serves as the nexus for understanding cellular function and connections and interactions across cells.

Cellular interconnectivity leads to the growth and development of tissues and organs, which is the foundation of developmental biology. Modern developmental biology uses both genetics and cell biology to understand how genes and the environment interact to produce an individual from a single cell as well as understand the various developmental changes that organisms undergo throughout life.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

This program is ideal if you’re interested in studying classical genetics, genomics, molecular biology, developmental biology, evolution, biochemistry, cellular biology or regenerative medicine. This concentration is also a good fit if you’re considering a career in epidemiology. Check out our article on how to become an epidemiologist.

This bachelor’s degree can also be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field.

Applicable master's degrees include:

• Master of Science in biology
• Master of Science in computational life sciences

An online chemistry degree provides a foundation of knowledge applicable to a variety of career paths, such as forensics, environmental sciences, teaching and more.

Grounded in physical science, this liberal arts degree complements a range of other interests and may be a good option for those looking to earn an additional degree. For example, chemistry can be combined with law for patent work, with economics for sales and marketing careers and with computer science for careers in bioinformatics and computational chemistry. Additionally, this degree is often pursued by those who are interested in teaching science at K-12 levels.

If you’re looking to pursue a scientific research career, you should consider ASU Online's Bachelor of Science in biochemistry instead. Those looking to pursue a career in health care should consider the Bachelor of Science in medicinal chemistry. For more information about pre-health education and ASU’s tailored pre-health advisor program, please visit our pre-health website.

The skills you’ll gain from a BA in chemistry

Both the lectures and lab courses in this online chemistry degree equip you with problem solving and critical thinking skills that are beneficial for nearly any career path you choose.

Upon graduation, you’ll be well-versed in specialized chemistry knowledge and competencies, such as:

• Compound analysis.
• Laboratory experiment procedures.
• Material structure and composition.
• Nanoscience.
• Scientific language and citations.
• Substance analysis at the molecular level.
• Synthesizing materials.
• Toxicology processes.

Gain hands-on experience with our in-person chemistry labs

In this program, you’ll complete both online and in-person lab courses. Organic chemistry includes a seven-day in-person lab component, while biochemistry requires five days. These on-campus sessions take place in the summer and provide valuable hands-on experience needed to pursue a variety of chemistry career paths.

Courses also feature eScience lab kits delivered to your home. These experiences equip you with essential technical skills and strengthen your ability to work in teams in a lab setting. After conducting experiments, you’ll analyze and document your work using scientific language and citations.

In this program, you’ll learn through a combination of courses and hands-on learning experiences. You’ll also gain an understanding of how living organisms interact with the natural world, as well as how to reduce human interference with these natural processes. Upon graduation, you’ll be equipped with a wide skill set applicable to a variety of areas of conservation biology and ecology, such as:

• Animal and plant physiology
• Behavioral ecology
• Community and landscape ecology
• Population biology
• Restoring degraded ecosystems

This program’s innovative courses enable new ways of learning and applying skills. Narrative storytelling tools such as Dreamscape Learn allow you to explore virtual worlds as a scientific investigator. In this interactive 2D environment, you’ll gather and analyze data to solve realistic problems in biology. Actively participating in the story will deepen your understanding and strengthen your problem-solving skills. Additional practical learning opportunities may include at-home lab kits, in-person lab sessions, internships and research.

Understanding conservation ecology

Conservation ecology is an applied science that focuses on preserving biological diversity and maintaining healthy ecosystems. Conservation ecologists are concerned with evaluating and reducing the human impact on Earth’s biodiversity. In the field and at the policy level, ecologists use practical strategies to mitigate risks of species extinction and promote the sustainable use of biological resources.

Conservation ecology involves a multipronged approach: Protecting the integrity of existing ecosystems, investigating causes for degradation and reestablishing optimal conditions. The work of conservation ecologists reaches a wide array of ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, rivers, urban landscapes, wetlands and more.

Does this program prepare for roles in wildlife conservation and wildlife biology?

Yes, this program can support a variety of career opportunities in the field, such as park ranger, fish and wildlife biologist, soil conservationist and more. Some conservation and wildlife biology roles, such as those in academia and research, require additional study and training.

This bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master's degrees include:

• Master of Science in biology
• Master of Science in computational life sciences

Biology plays an integral part in our social context. And as a biology and society major, you’ll study science from a humanities perspective. Biological research may impact society in diverse ways, such as adapting water systems, curing human diseases and protecting our planet.

The biology and society concentration curriculum covers bioethics, conservation, ecology, genomics and more. You'll engage in scientific inquiry and investigate ethical, historical, philosophical and social issues. It also explores the impact of biology on humanity and our environment. Additionally, you'll learn about past and present controversies of applications of biology, including gene editing, human cloning and stem cell research.

This program’s innovative courses enable new ways of learning and applying skills. Narrative storytelling tools such as Dreamscape Learn allow you to explore virtual worlds as a scientific investigator. In this interactive 2D environment, you’ll gather and analyze data to solve realistic problems in biology. Actively participating in the story will deepen your understanding and strengthen your problem-solving skills. Additional practical learning opportunities may include at-home lab kits, in-person lab sessions, internships and research.

The career paths and master’s programs this degree prepares you for

Studying biology ethics gives you a diverse skill set applicable to a variety of careers. Upon graduating, you’ll have quantitative reasoning and scientific abilities, as well as intrapersonal and interpersonal skills. You’ll relate biological concepts to social and historical problems and know how to communicate science ethically. These competencies have proven to be instrumental in both biological and humanities careers. Potential career fields for graduates include environmental law, public policy and public health.

This bachelor’s degree can also be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field.

Applicable master's degrees include:

• Master of Science in biology
• Master of Science in computational life sciences

This program offers an in-depth exploration of the fundamentals of chemistry and biomolecules, making it an ideal choice for pre-health students or those seeking a liberal arts degree grounded in laboratory-based physical science. You’ll dive into biology, organic chemistry and physics, alongside courses in liberal arts and a foreign language. As you progress, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of how chemical processes enable living organisms to function, with a focus on how cells communicate through molecular and atomic-level processes.

The skills you’ll develop

As a biochemistry major, you’ll develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for STEM careers. You’ll explore how biochemists contribute to drug discovery, pathogen control and environmental remediation while gaining a deep understanding of molecular and atomic processes that drive biological systems. Alongside scientific knowledge, you’ll strengthen your cultural and quantitative skills through liberal arts courses.

You’ll also complete in-person courses for organic chemistry and biochemistry in an accelerated format, typically taking less than two weeks. These hands-on experiences enhance the legitimacy of your online degree and equip you for a career in STEM. While you may be able to take these courses at an approved institution near you, equivalencies aren’t guaranteed, so work with your advisor to confirm transfer eligibility.

Learn more about the on-campus sessions and how to prepare.

How does this BA compare to a BS in biochemistry?

When comparing a BA and BS in biochemistry, this BA offers a more well-rounded education with a foreign language requirement and electives that enhance cultural competencies and quantitative skills. However, if your goal is to pursue a career in scientific research or a PhD in the sciences, our Bachelor of Science in biochemistry is a better option for you.

The BS program includes more advanced calculus math courses which are essential for research-focused careers. This BA, while less math-intensive, still provides a strong foundation in biochemistry, making it an excellent choice for those interested in broader career paths or further study in interdisciplinary fields.

Whether you choose the BA or BS, you’ll have support from academic, career and pre-health advisors throughout your program. You’ll receive personalized guidance on health-related graduate pathways and career options. Advisors will also help connect you with local research, clinical internships and community service opportunities. For more information, please visit our pre-health website.