Department of Biology

Change the world by engaging with it. Experience biology through our labs in local environments, from Puget Sound beaches to the Cascade Mountains, or explore nature in international destinations. Our off-site learning opportunities can take you across the globe from a field research station in the San Juan Islands to a high-tech lab in Spain. Learn more about experiential off-site learning opportunities. 

We designed our modern labs for hands-on learning. The vast majority (~90%) of our courses includes a lab component to expand your skills and appreciation for the scientific method. In our building, the Sinegal Center, est. 2021, biology students explore and experiment with advanced technology. Learn more about Student Research in Biology and our laboratories and equipment.

You will enjoy small classes and hands-on labs taught by dedicated faculty, starting on your first day on campus. Our commitment to undergraduate education means you get high-quality faculty-led instruction in every course and lab. Your education will enable you to become biotechnology researchers, marine explorers, cardiologists, and more. As one of the broader sciences, biology offers a myriad of career options for graduates. Learn more about where your biology degree can take you.

Seattle isn't just a pretty place to live. The city also ranks as one of the most innovative and impactful tech communities in the world. Seattle is home to top biotech and biomedical companies like Amgen, Novo Nordisk, Seagen and Moderna, as well as world-renowned research institutes including Fred Hutch Cancer Center, the Allen Institute, PATH and the Institute for Systems Biology. Seattle, and the greater Pacific Northwest area, is located in a robust and diverse natural setting with mountains, rainforests and marine waters all here for your exploration.

Seattle University’s location in the heart of Seattle—combined with our partnerships with local industry leaders—only increases your career prospects. Many of our graduates have found careers at these powerhouses. Learn more about the companies that call Seattle home and about biomedical research opportunities in the area.