Biology

How will climate change affect the future of the polar bear? How much of your personality is determined by genes and how much is determined by the environment? What attracts us to a potential partner, and why do birds sing? The Bachelor of Science program in biology will be able to give you the answers to these questions and a lot more.

What is biology?
The subject of biology ranges from the actions going on inside cells, to the classification and behaviour of plants and animals, the evolution of species, and the interaction of ecosystems on Earth. Biology will help us understand the life that surrounds us, and it is the best tool we have in order to achieve sustainable development. Knowledge of biology is therefore needed in many different occupations and instances in society.

Why choose biology?
If you want to understand the relations in nature and you like your studies to be a good mix of practical work and theory, then our Bachelor program in biology suits you. Biologists works both in laboratories and in nature doing field work. Field courses and excursions are important parts of the biology program at NTNU. Our courses contain both academic and social elements, as well as the use of new instruments to keep students up to date with the advances in the various subject fields.

Biology also plays an important part in fighting diseases, in food production and other issues critical to mankind's future on the Earth. That is why biology is more important to the world than ever before!

The subject of biology is both extensive and varied.
During the last ten years, intensive research and new advanced scientific methods have led to a dramatic increase in our knowledge base. Classical biology disciplines such as ecology, behaviour and physiology have been followed by new disciplines that borders close to medicine, technology, environmental protection and nature management. At the same time, biological research has adopted advanced mathematics, statistics and information technology.

For our students this means dealing with large amounts of information. At the same time, it also implies that the options when choosing fields of study and subjects for specialisation have never been better.

As of the fourth semester, you must choose one of four possible subject areas. These areas of specialisations are guidelines to different Master's degree programs eligible after receiving a Bachelor's degree. For this reason it is important to make a deliberate and though-through choice of your area.

You can choose one of the following main profiles:

• Cell and Molecular Biology
• Physiology
• Marine Biology and Aquaculture
• Ecology, Behaviour and Evolutionary Biology