In addition to being one of the most popular majors for students who plan to attend medical school, Biology majors often graduate to become biochemists, research scientists, biologists, physician assistants, environmental scientists, botanists, and much more.

A common thread that you’ll find with most biology programs at small liberal arts colleges is that in addition to studying what’s already known within the field, the programs aim to train students how to question what remains. In other words, they want students to “do” biology, not just study it. The schools on our list all have small class sizes and take a hands-on approach to learning. If you want to major in biology but don’t want to go to a big school, or if you’re peripherally interested in biology and want the option to take classes, the schools below are worth looking into.

Williams:

The biology major at Williams is satisfied by nine courses: three core classes and six electives. The curriculum is diversified in a way that introduces students to molecular, cellular, organismal and ecological biology. Biology faculty members act as advisors to students interested in studying abroad, research opportunities, fellowships, and post-grad career plans. There is also the BMAC, a student-run committee who in turn advises the Biology department on its curriculum and helps plan activities. Biology students at Williams have the added benefit of talking to members of BMAC about changes, courses, and opportunities that they would like to see within the department.

Bowdoin:

Students in the Biology department at Bowdoin choose from three concentrations: Integrative Biology; Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology; and Molecular and Cellular Biology. Bowdoin places a huge emphasis on research and there are a lot of opportunities to get involved, including working on independent research with a professor during the school year, completing a two-semester honors project during their senior year, or spending the summer at the Bowdoin Scientific Station doing a summer research fellowship. For those interested in marine, estuarine, and terrestrial research, check out the Schiller Coastal Studies Center.

Amherst:

Amherst’s Biology major is comprised of four categories: two introductory courses, five advanced courses, two courses in chemistry and two courses in math, statistics or physics, and the senior Biology major requirements. In addition to research opportunities, there are paid jobs as well. Attending Amherst gives students the opportunity to take classes at four other schools within the five college consortium, including UMass Amherst, which is a research institution. It’s a good fit for students who are leaning towards a liberal arts education but would still like access to offerings at a larger research school.

Wellesley:

The Biology program at Wellesley is all about hands-on experience. A vast majority of Biology classes offered include either lab work or a field component, so you don’t have to worry about restricting your education to a classroom setting. Students are encouraged to design and perform their own experiments under the supervision of professors, some of whom have won Wellesley’s Pinanski Teaching Prize. As a bonus, Wellesley’s Science Center was just renovated and a new modular lab complex is being installed.

Harvey Mudd:

At HMC, Biology classes are limited to 12 students. This means that you’ll have great access to professors, and that discussed based instruction is the way of life. Students explore flora and fauna, literally! There are lizards and corals on campus. The colloquium schedule is robust, and the website breaks out research opportunities by special interests. Research at Harvey Mudd can be funded both internally and externally, and every HMC student completes a year-long investigative senior project.

Middlebury:

At Middlebury, you’ll complete the core biology sequence before moving onto upper-level courses. There are a variety of interests to choose from: molecular genetics, neurobiology, conservation biology, organismal biology, and developmental biology – and the flexible curriculum does not force you to choose just one. In addition to the biology coursework, there is the STEM Innovation Program. It’s a team of students that design and implement a technological solution to a real-world problem, and you can read about previous solutions here. As is the case with most schools on our list, Middlebury values experiential learning. Recently, Middlebury faculty and students traveled to the Bahamas to survey hurricane damage.

Carleton:

In addition to a diverse course catalog and research opportunities, Carleton is home to the Cowling Arboretum, an outdoor classroom for the Biology department. The 800-acre space is next to the college, and students have access to forestland, the Cannon River, marshes, pine plantations, and prairies. There are numerous ongoing projects going on there, including restoration and monitoring habitats. There is also an impressive events schedule, with monthly lectures and screenings.

Davidson:

Davidson is an affiliate of The School for Field Studies. SFS programs teach students about environmental problems and train them how to address the problems through fieldwork and research. SFS has six international locations: Turks and Caicos, Costa Rica, Panama, Australia and New Zealand, Kenya, and Tanzania. What’s even better is that because Davidson is an affiliate, Davidson students get priority acceptance and Biology course credit for completing the program.

Swarthmore:

We came across something on Swarthmore’s website that was not as prevalent at other schools on our list: an emphasis on scientific communication skills. It’s true that attending a liberal arts college could aid your writing in a general sense, but scientific writing is crucial (and very different from) traditional writing. At Swarthmore, you’ll read and evaluate research articles in science journals, write lab reports according to the professional standards, and critically discuss oral and written presentations.

And if you are specifically interested in marine biology, check out this blog post. It’s not limited to liberal arts schools, but the information is helpful.