How to Apply to Biology at Lewis & Clark College: A Portland Liberal Arts College Where Biology Leads to a BA with a Hands-On Core Sequence, a Separate Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major, Test-Free and No Application Fee, 1 November Early Deadline, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Lewis & Clark College (L&C) in Portland, Oregon teaches undergraduates in its College of Arts and Sciences, and biology is offered by the Department of Biology, housed in room 210 of the Biology-Psychology building on the undergraduate campus; biochemistry and molecular biology is a separate major program. Students apply to the College as a whole, not to a separate school. Here is what you need to know, based on the biology department, the BCMB program and the Office of Admissions’ websites, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Chemistry is handled separately; medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health are not covered in this article.

1. Degrees and areas

• Biology major (BA): the department page speaks of a “Degree in Biology”, the careers section of a “BA in biology”, and the international admissions page says students graduate with a bachelor of arts (BA). The page says the curriculum embraces all of biology, “from molecules to ecosystems”, and draws on chemistry, mathematics and psychology. The department does not offer a minor, but students who have the prerequisites may enrol in any of its courses.
• Biology major requirements (as printed on the department page): at least 40 semester credits in biology (or approved alternatives) plus chemistry and mathematics. Three core courses: BIO 110 (Biological Investigations, a 4-credit, hands-on, lab-based project course), BIO 201 (Biological Core Concepts: Systems, 4 credits) and BIO 202 (Biological Core Concepts: Mechanisms, 4 credits); CHEM 110 and 120 (General Chemistry I and II); one of MATH 131 (Calculus I), MATH 132 (Calculus II), MATH 255 (Statistical Concepts and Methods) or CS 171 (Computer Science I); and six additional courses, at least four with a laboratory component and at least four taken at Lewis & Clark. CHEM 330 and 335 may count as non-lab biology courses, CHEM 330 or 335 with CHEM 336 (Biochemistry Laboratory) as lab courses, CHEM 220 (Organic Chemistry II) as a lab course, and the two semesters of senior thesis as one lab course. Courses must be taken for a letter grade, except BIO 395 Biology Seminar (up to two credits may count). The page adds that majors may be able to substitute MATH 255 after consulting the advisor and with the chair’s permission, and strongly encourages more courses in chemistry, mathematics, computer science and physics.
• Biochemistry and molecular biology (BCMB) major: a separate interdisciplinary major; the program page requires at least 52 semester credits in biology and chemistry plus mathematics and physics. Required: BIO 110, BIO 202, BIO 311 (Molecular Biology), BIO 312 (Molecular Biology Lab), BIO 361 (Cell Biology); CHEM 110, 120, 210 and 220 (Organic Chemistry I and II), 330 (Structural Biochemistry), 335 (Metabolic Biochemistry), 336 (Biochemistry Laboratory); BCMB 410 (Seminar); one elective from CHEM 310, CHEM 312, MATH 255 or PHYS 390; MATH 131 and 132; and PHYS 141 or 151 and PHYS 142 or 152. The program director may waive lower-level courses for students eligible to begin in higher-level sequences. The page links sample four-year plans, BCMB 496 (senior thesis) and BCMB 499 (independent study) requirements as PDFs, which are not covered here. It says the most popular minors for BCMB majors are data science, health studies and neuroscience; minors are not covered here.
• Popular minors (biology): the department page says the most popular minors for biology majors are environmental studies, health studies and neuroscience.
• Overseas programs: the department page says that, besides programs open to all students, there are programs led by biology faculty to Australia, East Africa and New Zealand on which students earn credit toward the major.

2. How admission works: apply to the College, then declare and plan

• At application: the admissions office says the College does not require portfolios or special applications for particular majors; the pages read do not say whether the intended major you list affects admission, or whether admission is by major, so ask Admissions.
• When and how to declare the major after enrolment: the pages read do not state the timing, any grade requirements or any cap on places; this is not published in them. The College’s online catalog is hosted on a third-party (CourseLeaf) platform and is not covered here; check the catalog or contact the department (biology@lclark.edu); the BCMB contact is biochem@lclark.edu.
• The department’s approach: the page says the curriculum is built around an introductory sequence of three courses that teach students very early to pose and answer questions about living systems; students then choose upper-division courses with their faculty advisors. Each BIO 110 section reflects its professor’s interests and expertise; the department page has descriptions of current sections, which are not covered here.
• Internal transfer into the major: not stated in the pages read.

3. Prerequisites, laboratory work and research

• High school preparation: the admissions office says successful applicants will have completed a rigorous curriculum including at a minimum 4 years of English, 4 years of mathematics, 3–4 years of history/social science, 2–3 years of a world language, 3 years of lab science and 1 year of fine arts; Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or honors courses are viewed as further evidence of preparation. The apply page gives a slightly different list (“ideally” 4 years of English, 4 of math, 3 of history or social science, 3 of lab science, 2 of world language). The website does not separately state high school biology or chemistry requirements for the biology major.
• Chemistry and mathematics in the major: the department page says majors complete at least a year’s study of chemistry and a college-level course in calculus, computer science or statistics, because biology draws on the techniques and knowledge of these disciplines (specific courses are in section 1).
• AP/IB and waivers: the biology major requirements state that for students who have earned a 5 on the AP Chemistry examination the CHEM 110 requirement and associated credits will be waived. The pages read do not say what AP Biology, IB biology or calculus credit replaces; that is in the online catalog or registrar pages, which are not covered here, so it is not published in the pages read; please ask Admissions or the department.
• Laboratory work and research: BIO 110 is a lab-based introductory course (the page links its lab manual, a PDF that is not covered here); the department page says classrooms and labs use tools in microscopy, physiology, computational biology and molecular biology, with fieldwork, internships and paid student-faculty research. Many students collaborate with a professor or pursue their own investigations on or off campus, with extensive guidance from the department; research students frequently coauthor publications with professors; each fall students present at a poster conference; there is a regular seminar series; and a student-curated natural history collection holds plant, fungus, insect, bird and mammal specimens and supports public exhibitions. The BCMB page says students can do research with a faculty member during the academic year through Independent Study and Senior Research courses, and can apply to join a research team paid through the Rogers Summer Science Program. Whether a thesis is required is not stated in the pages read (BCMB has a BCMB 496 senior thesis requirements document, not covered here).
• Student groups: the department page says student groups include Math Club, Physics Club and Pre-Health Club.
• Biology competitions: the pages read do not say how biology olympiads or similar competitions are viewed in admission. The admissions office says academic materials (such as graded writing samples or science research summaries) tend to be more helpful than non-academic ones, and they can be uploaded through the portal after applying.

4. Deadlines and application materials

• Rounds and deadlines: Early Decision 1 (binding) 1 November at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time; Early Action (non-binding) 1 November; Early Decision 2 (binding) 15 January; Regular Decision (non-binding) 15 January. The international admissions page gives notice of decision as late November for ED, mid-December for EA and mid-March for RD. The pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry.
• How to apply and fee: the Common Application; the College says in several places that there is no application fee.
• Materials: a transcript and secondary school report; one teacher recommendation from a teacher who taught you in an academic course (English, mathematics, science, world language, history or social studies) in 10th, 11th or 12th grade (it does not say it must be a science teacher); and the Common App personal statement. Optional: academic or nonacademic work and an interview.
• Essay: the personal statement; the pages read do not list a separate L&C supplemental essay prompt, so please check the Common App.
• Interview: the College says interviews are recommended but not required; they are led by Admissions Fellows (current students in a leadership role in the office), are a mix of informational and evaluative, and the notes go into the file. They must be completed before the deadline of the round you apply under (before 1 November for EA and ED 1, before 15 January for ED 2 and RD); virtual interviews can be booked online.
• Testing: test-free. The College says it adopted its first test-optional policy in 1991 and, starting with the fall 2025 entering class, a test-free policy: it does not ask applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores nor review them. However, the international application checklist still says SAT/ACT scores are optional, will be included in the holistic review if submitted and will not affect merit or need-based aid, and gives the SAT code 4384 and ACT code 3464; that contradicts the test-free policy page, so please confirm with Admissions. The international admissions page also says the College has not required standardized scores since 1991.
• Early Decision benefits: the College says admitted ED students are guaranteed a minimum merit scholarship of $35,000 a year (renewable for four years), have 100% of demonstrated need met (calculated from the FAFSA), are guaranteed one of their top three New Student Trip choices at $350 off, and are guaranteed a paid internship by the end of junior year (provided they complete the required career programming), plus a dedicated career consultant. You may apply ED to only one college, and applicants denied in EA or ED 1 cannot reapply in ED 2.

5. US domestic applicants

• Costs: the Financial Aid office page gives estimated costs for 2026–27: tuition and fees $74,272, housing (double room) $9,962, food (14-meal flex plan) $7,590, books $800, personal expenses $1,652 and transportation $1,200, with a printed on-campus total of $95,476. The Admissions “Paying for College” page prints the same figures (tuition and fees $74,272, housing $9,962, food $7,590, and $3,652 for books, transportation and personal expenses combined) under the heading “Tuition Rates 2027–28”, and lists student health insurance at $5,655 a year (the 2026 cost; the 2027 cost is to be determined; it can be waived with comparable coverage). The two pages label the same numbers with different years, so please check the latest. A single tuition figure is listed, with no in-state/out-of-state distinction.
• Aid application: the FAFSA, school code 003197; the College says to file even if you think you will not qualify for need-based aid.
• Merit scholarships: all applicants are considered automatically; the Admissions cost page says awards start at $24,000 a year, while the Financial Aid page says $20,000 a year (the two differ). There are also performance-based awards in music and in speech and debate. The international page says the College does not award athletic scholarships.
• College-wide aid figures: the College says it distributed over $74 million in assistance last year, and that all entering first-year students in 2026 received scholarships or need-based aid.
• Oregon residents: the pages read do not mention in-state tuition benefits, priority or guaranteed admission.
• Biology-specific funding: the biology page says the Kent Swanson Jr. Biology Scholarship benefits junior and senior biology majors who have demonstrated financial need and interest in the outdoors, environmental conservation and the arts; its own page is not covered here.

6. International applicants

• English requirements: native English speakers need not submit proof; other international applicants do. The International Students and Scholars page lists minimum scores “to study without ESL restrictions”: TOEFL iBT 91+ (paper-based 74+ overall and 22+ on each subscore), IELTS 7.0+, Duolingo English Test 115, IB English A (higher or standard) predicted 5 or higher (IB English B does not qualify), SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 660, and others such as ECPE and Cambridge FCE/CAE/CPE at grade A. International transfer applicants may show proof with a two-year associate degree from an accredited US school.
• Materials: the Common Application; official transcripts of all secondary school and college grades, in the original language with officially translated English copies; a Certificate of Financial Responsibility (submitted through the Common App) and proof of available funds (official documents from employers, banks and the tax office, translated into English, with the currency noted if not US dollars); English proficiency scores if applicable; the School Report; a teacher evaluation; and, for aid, the International Student Application for Financial Assistance (the page links the 2027–28 form), or a similar form completed for another college. The CSS Profile is not accepted. There is no application fee.
• Aid: the website says international students are eligible for merit-based scholarships (all applicants are automatically considered) and need-based aid, that the College awards no athletic scholarships, and that some named scholarships are for international students only; the Davis United World College Scholars programme gives UWC graduates a need-based grant of up to $40,000 a year, and the Mary Dimond Scholarship is for a selected group of current international students. Aid application deadlines: 1 November for ED and EA, 15 January for RD; documents can be uploaded to the portal or emailed to admissions@lclark.edu.
• Visa: after you accept an offer the College sends an I-20; you then pay the $350 SEVIS fee, book a US consulate appointment and apply for an F-1 visa with the admission letter, I-20, passport and proof of financial support.
• Other: the website says international students make up about 13% of the student body, from 69 nationalities; International Students and Scholars provides advising and immigration services. The international recruitment contact is Joshua Ferchau, associate dean of admissions and director of global recruiting.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the admission pages read do not mention the Gaokao. Whether Gaokao results are accepted and how they would be used is not published there; you can contact admissions@lclark.edu.
• Chinese school documents: the pages read give only the general international requirements (transcripts in the original language with official English translations); China-specific guidance on school transcripts or school-leaving examinations is not published there.
• English scores: see section 6; the minimum Duolingo score at this College is 115.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see sections 5 and 6.
• Department scholarships: see section 5; the Rogers summer research program is described in section 3.
• Outcomes (department pages): the biology page says alumni work in research, medicine, public health, natural resource management, teaching and law, in academia, industry, nonprofits and local, state and federal government, and that many apply their problem-solving, critical thinking, writing and speaking skills in fields other than biology. The biochemistry and molecular biology page says alumni work at companies such as Gilead, Genentech, Transcriptic, FEI and Impossible Foods, or pursue advanced degrees to become health-science practitioners or researchers in biochemistry, molecular biology or cell biology, and some receive competitive fellowships from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. College-wide, the website says 99% of the Class of 2025 were employed, in graduate school or in service work within six months (70% of graduates reported). The pages print no employment numbers or salary data specific to biology.

9. Transfer students

• Deadlines: transfer applications are evaluated on a rolling basis; review of fall applications begins after 15 January and there is no set completion deadline, but the College strongly recommends submitting all credentials by 1 April; you are notified about three weeks after your file is complete. Spring-entry dates are not stated in the pages read. There is no application fee.
• Materials: the Transfer Common Application, including your activities and work experience and the L&C supplemental questions; official transcripts for all college coursework (those currently enrolled must include the current year’s fall grades); an official high school transcript with verification of graduation; one academic evaluation from a college instructor who taught you in a full-credit, traditional academic (non-performance, activity or studio) class taken after high school graduation; a list of current and projected courses; some applicants may be asked for a statement of good standing; FAFSA by the 1 March priority deadline for need-based aid; and an interview with a transfer admissions counselor, encouraged but not required.
• Credit transfer: the College evaluates credit course by course, with no block transfer, so associate’s degrees do not transfer automatically; credit requires a grade of C- or better; there is no credit for CLEP, life experience, credit by examination or repeated courses, none for coursework completed over 20 years ago, and at most four semester credits of physical education/activity; one quarter credit equals 0.67 semester credits. Class standing depends on transferred credits (0–28 first-year, 29–60 sophomore, 61–68 junior). A degree needs 128 semester credits with at least 60 earned at L&C, so no more than 68 semester credits can be applied. Admitted students receive a preliminary statement of transfer credit, and the registrar issues the official evaluation after the enrollment deposit; whether earlier coursework satisfies major requirements is decided with the department or programme chair.
• Biology: the pages read do not state a minimum transfer GPA, requirements for entering the biology major, or the biology, chemistry and mathematics sequence expected; the biology page says at least four of the additional upper-level courses must be taken at Lewis & Clark (see section 1), and the admissions office says to contact the department or program chair about whether earlier coursework meets major requirements. The checklist for international transfer applicants is not covered here. The transfer checklist’s example years (for instance “applying for fall 2024 admission”) are out of date; please check the latest.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• ED 1 and EA 1 November; ED 2 and Regular 15 January; Common App; one teacher recommendation (academic teacher, grades 10–12); test-free; no application fee
• FAFSA (school code 003197)

International applicants (including China):

• English scores (TOEFL iBT 91, IELTS 7.0, Duolingo 115 and others); Certificate of Financial Responsibility and proof of funds; International Student Application for Financial Assistance (CSS Profile not accepted); transcripts in the original language with English translation
• Gaokao use is not published; ask Admissions

After entry:

• Take BIO 110 and CHEM 110, 120 in the first year, and one of calculus, statistics or CS 171; decide between the biology and BCMB majors and contact the department or program director; contact faculty early about research or the Rogers summer program

Transfer students:

• Rolling review, submit everything by 1 April if possible; one college-instructor evaluation; up to 68 credits transfer, C- or better

Sources: Biology; Biology: majoring; Biochemistry and molecular biology; Biochemistry and molecular biology: majoring; Rogers Science Research Program; Admissions: apply; Admissions: what we are looking for; Admissions: test-free policy; Admissions: Early Decision benefits; Admissions: international students; Admissions: international checklist; Admissions: international financial aid; Admissions: transfer checklist; Admissions: transfer application information; Admissions: transferring credit; Admissions: paying for college; International Students and Scholars: English proficiency; Financial Aid: undergraduate. The dates on the admission pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry; the cost pages are labelled 2026-27 or 2027-28 (see the text). See the College’s website for the latest.