Rollins College

What you'll study

This interdisciplinary major blends core coursework in chemistry, physics and biology to build a molecular understanding of living systems. Early coursework establishes foundations in general chemistry, organic chemistry, introductory biology and calculus, and students progress to more specialised subjects such as cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry and biophysics.

• Core laboratory skills: multi‑semester laboratory sequence emphasising experimental design, sterile technique, spectrophotometry, chromatography, electrophoresis, cloning and protein characterisation.
• Molecular and cellular courses: advanced molecular biology, cell signalling, gene regulation and genomics.
• Physical and quantitative training: physical chemistry/biophysics, biostatistics, mathematical modelling and bioinformatics.
• electives and breadth: electives in structural biology, enzymology, neurobiology, immunology or environmental molecular biology to tailor the degree to research or applied interests.
• Capstone and research: sustained independent research project or senior thesis mentored by a faculty member, often culminating in a public presentation or poster at campus symposia. Internship options with local biotech, hospital or government labs supplement on‑campus research.

Entry requirements

Applicants should present a strong secondary‑school record with coursework in biology, chemistry and mathematics; prior laboratory experience is advantageous but not always required. Rollins considers applications holistically; candidates typically demonstrate academic preparedness through transcripts, teacher recommendations and a statement of purpose explaining scientific interests.

• Recommended academic background: high school biology and chemistry, algebra and precalculus or calculus; physics is recommended.
• International qualifications: acceptable secondary credentials (for example IB or A‑levels) with higher‑level science and mathematics are considered; specific credential assessment is performed during admissions.
• Additional materials: letters of recommendation and examples of research or laboratory experience strengthen an application; standardised tests may be optional depending on current admissions policies.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for a range of pathways. Many pursue advanced degrees (PhD, MD, DDS, DVM) or professional programmes; others enter the workforce directly in roles within biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, clinical laboratories, environmental testing or data‑driven life‑science companies.

• Research technician or associate in academic, government or industry labs
• Biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry roles in assay development, quality control and regulatory affairs
• Clinical laboratory science and hospital laboratory careers (often with additional certification)
• Further study leading to careers in medicine, biomedical research, bioinformatics or science policy
• Science education, technical writing, patent law (with further legal training) and scientific outreach

Why study at Rollins College

Rollins is a liberal arts college that emphasises small class sizes and close faculty mentoring, giving undergraduates frequent access to laboratory mentorship and one‑on‑one advising. The campus culture supports undergraduate research; many students complete independent projects and present findings at symposia or co‑author publications with faculty.

• Undergraduate focus: teaching faculty committed to mentoring and supervising student research rather than concentrating solely on graduate instruction.
• Hands‑on opportunities: a curriculum designed to integrate laboratory courses with semester‑long research and internship placements, including connections to nearby hospitals and research institutions in the greater Orlando area.
• Liberal arts environment: interdisciplinary options and electives across the humanities and social sciences allow students to develop communication, ethics and data‑analysis skills important to scientific careers.