College of Arts, Sciences, and Professional StudiesBiology


GMercyU’s College of Arts, Sciences, and Professional Studies will help you to develop the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in a competitive marketplace.
With small classes taught by experienced faculty, you will focus on today’s in-demand skills, such as communication, ethics, problem-solving, research, and critical thinking, as well as in disciplinary theory and practice.
GMercyU offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of arts, sciences, business, and education.
All graduate programs in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Professional Studies are offered online to suit your lifestyle as a working professional.

Arts & Sciences Programs

Develop a crucial skillset that spans industry standards, as well as communication, ethics, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

  • socialwork_2022.jpgBachelor of Science in Biology​​​​​*+
    With an emphasis on research, this major will prepare you for an exciting career in the sciences — the pharmaceutical or bio-tech industries, research hospitals, graduate school, medical school, dental school, or physician assistant or physical therapy graduate program.

  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Science
    Choose from three exciting concentrations with hands-on labs and experiential learning opportunities: Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Cybersecurity & Computer Forensics, and Web Design & Multimedia.

  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice+
    With 60 credits of Criminal Justice classes, it's the most comprehensive program of its kind in the state.

  • Bachelor of Arts in History*
    This major offers three options for those who want to teach history at the secondary level, who want to pursue graduate studies to become historians, or who want careers as museum professionals or archivists.

  • Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies
    With courses in English, history, philosophy, music, art, and psychology, among others, students lay the groundwork for bachelor degree programs in many arts, humanities, and professional disciplines.

  • Associate of Science in Natural Sciences
    Graduates gain a foundation in scientific theory and practice to pursue bachelor degrees in a variety of natural and health sciences.

  • Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy+
    Hone your critical thinking skills as you prepare for myriad career paths, from medicine and law to politics and communications.

  • Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Psychology+
    You don't need a doctorate to work in the field of mental health! Our faculty will help you find the path that's right for you — career mentorship is a key component of this program. You can save time and tuition earning your master's degree with GMercyU's 4+2 Early Entry to the Master of Science in Counseling Program to pursue licensure as a therapist or counselor.

  • Bachelor of Science in Public Health
    Become a health advocate and help fight the opioid crisis, obesity, climate change, gun violence, food deserts and more.

  • Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)+**
    Our accredited program offers a practical, hands-on curriculum for those who want to dedicate their careers to helping others.**

*Students who major in biology or history can pursue GMercyU's (4+1) BS/MsEd: Fast-Track Master of Science in Education Program, earning both your bachelor's degree and master's degree in education in just five years.

**GMercyU’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is accredited by The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Board of Accreditation. This program was designed to meet the licensure requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If you reside in a different state, you should carefully review your home state’s licensure requirements prior to enrolling in this program.

While student research is often embedded only in graduate programs, GMercyU values undergraduate research as a high-impact practice. Students of various majors in the College of Arts, Sciences & Professional Studies work closely with faculty members on original research projects and present their findings at the annual University Research Conference. Research is emphasized in programs, such as Psychology and Biology, because it can give you an edge in your future job search or graduate school applications.

GMercyU students also gain real-world experience through internships at some of the area’s top companies, such as:

  • American Red Cross Tri-County Chapter
  • ATF Field Office
  • Berks WIC Nutrition Center
  • Blue Cross Insurance
  • Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical
  • Bucks County Heath Improvement Project
  • Bucks County Juvenile Probation
  • Chester County Food Bank
  • Chester County Health Department
  • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
  • City of Philadelphia: Office of Forensic Science
  • Coatesville Center for Community Health
  • ESPN
  • Family and Community Services of Delaware County
  • Federal Public Defender, Camden NJ
  • Health Federation of Philadelphia
  • Hewlett Packard Computers
  • IBM
  • L’Oréal Cosmetics
  • Lansdale Police Department
  • Lockheed-Martin Aerospace
  • McNeil Laboratories Pharmaceutical
  • Merck & Company Pharmaceuticals
  • Montgomery County Department of Probation and Parole
  • Montgomery County Detective Bureau
  • Montgomery County Health Department
  • Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office
  • Nationwide Insurance
  • Noetic Software Corporation
  • Norristown Police Department
  • Penn Foundation
  • Pennsylvania Resources Council Eastern Regional Office
  • Pennsylvania Sibling Support Network
  • Pennsylvania State Police
  • Philadelphia Department of Probation & Parole
  • Philadelphia Department of Public Health
  • Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
  • Philadelphia Health Partnership
  • Philadelphia Justice Center
  • Philadelphia Police Department Crime Scene Unit
  • Pottstown Police Department
  • Procter & Gamble
  • Public Health Management Corporation
  • Rohm & Hass Chemical
  • Siemens
  • Social Security Administration
  • Target – Department of Loss Prevention
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • U.S. Navy
  • UNISYS
  • Upper Dublin Police Department
  • Valley Youth House – Chester County Office
  • Vanguard
  • Warrington Police Department
  • WHYY, and the Office of the Attorney General, among others.
  • Women’s Center of Montgomery County

+Counseling State Licensure Notification:To become eligible for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) status in Pennsylvania, you must successfully complete 60 semester hours of graduate coursework that meets the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Program (CACREP) curriculum requirements, pass the National Counselor Exam (NCE), and fulfill post-degree supervision requirements to earn the LPC credential in Pennsylvania. GMercy’s Master of Science in Counseling degrees meet state requirements across all concentrations of study. Our curriculum was designed in accordance with the core course requirements outlined by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), though GMercyU’s program is not currently accredited by CACREP. Licensure: This program was designed to meet the licensure requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If you reside in a different state, you should carefully review your home state’s licensure requirements prior to enrolling in this program.

*GMercyU is an applicant for accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The accreditation review will address the Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Science in Public Health degrees.

Early-entry and 4+1 programs help you to gain graduate credentials while saving time and money.

(4+1) BS/MsEd: Fast-Track Master of Science in Education Program
Students majoring in biology and history majors can earn both a bachelor's degree in History and master's degree in Education in just five years.

NEW: 4+2 Early Entry for the Graduate Counseling Program 
Undergraduate psychology majors can apply to complete counseling courses during their senior year, which will count toward the graduate degree in counseling. More information to shared soon!

Meet a Public Health Major
Meet a Computer Information Science Major
Meet a Biology Major

Business Programs

Become a leader in today's competitive business world. Learn from experienced faculty who know business from the boardroom, not just the classroom. Our programs focus on today’s most in-demand skills, including communication, problem-solving, ethics, and leadership.

  • finance and accountingB.S. in Accounting*+ 
    Our Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree will prepare you to meet a critical need in any organization. 

  • B.S. in Digital Communications**— The perfect launching pad for a career in writing, social media, broadcasting, or public relations for communication majors.

  • B.S. in Finance+ 
    Our Bachelor of Science in Finance will give you a seat at the financial table of any business or organization.

  • B.S. in Management+ 
    A degree in management from GMercyU will open the door to a wide array of opportunities in the business world.

  • B.S. in Marketing+ 
    Our diverse marketing curriculum will prepare you for a range of career opportunities in the business and non-profit world.

  • B.S. in Sport Management+
    Our B.S. in Sport Management will help transform your love of sports into a career.

*Licensure: This program was designed to meet the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) education licensure requirements in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. While the exam is the same no matter where it's taken, each state has different education and experience requirements that must be met in order to become a licensed CPA. If you reside in a different state, you should carefully review your home state’s CPA licensure requirements prior to enrolling in this program. We will work with you to find out what your specific state requirements are. For more information, please visit our Program Licensure Requirement page.

+In addition to the University's Middle States accreditation, these programs have special accreditation through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education. 

**Digital Communication majors can apply for Early Entry for the Master of Public Health to complete both degrees in as few as five years.

While student research is often embedded only in graduate programs, GMercyU values undergraduate research as a high-impact practice. Students of various majors in the College of Arts, Sciences & Professional Studies work closely with faculty members on original research projects and present their findings at the annual University Research Conference.

Student also gain valuable real-world experience and networking connections through internships at top area companies such as: 

  • Aetna
  • All Star Sports Academy
  • Ascensius
  • Baum, Smith, & Clemens
  • Bee, Bergvall & Co
  • Boston Red Sox
  • BucksMont Indoor Sports Center
  • Clifton Larson Allen
  • Comcast
  • Cooper Hospital
  • Day and Zimmermann Corporate Offices
  • Delaware River Port Authority
  • Diamond Nation Sports Complex
  • Donna A. Heckler Group
  • East Norriton Township Recreation
  • ESPN Radio
  • Forensic Business Solutions
  • GMercyU's Marketing department
  • Gwynedd Mercy University Athletics
  • Herbien + Company Inc.
  • International Sport Training Camp
  • Janssen Biotech
  • Juma Entertainment television studio
  • KPMG
  • KPMG
  • Lancaster Barnstormers
  • Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs
  • LIVE- Wells Fargo Center- Philadelphia 76ers
  • Mallie & CO
  • Malvern Retreat House
  • Marcum LLP
  • Merrill Lynch
  • Millennium Radio New Jersey
  • NBC10 / WCAU Philadelphia
  • Northwestern Mutual
  • Philadelphia Flyers
  • Philadelphia Freedoms
  • Philadelphia Phillies
  • Physicians Endoscopy
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
  • Public Relations at GMercyU
  • Reading Royals
  • Redeemer Health
  • Resnick Amsterdam Leshner, P.C.
  • Saile & Saile LLP
  • Special Olympics Pennsylvania
  • St. Joseph’s University
  • Temple University-Athletic Department
  • Trenton Thunder
  • United States Liability Insurance
  • Univest Corporation
  • Vanguard
  • Willow Terrace
  • Wilmington Blue Rocks
  • Wilmington Blue Rocks
  • WKJ Associates
  • WMMR - Preston and Steve
  • Wouch Maloney, CPA
  • XL Catlin
  • XL Sports

Best MBA Forbes listAdvance your career and earning potential! GMercyU's MBA degree programs are offered in an accelerated, online, asynchronous format. You'll take one course at a time in 7-week accelerated sessions. We find this schedule suits working professionals best.

Not ready to commit to an MBA program? Build specialized skills to enhance your resume with the following 12-credit MBA certificates. They're offered in an accelerated format and can be completed 100% online. They're also stackable toward a GMercyU MBA degree.

If you enroll in an undergraduate business degree program, you have the option of staying for a fifth year to complete your 4+1 MBA program.

If eligible, you will take 12 graduate credits during your senior year as part of your undergraduate tuition and then complete the remaining credits in year five in a combination of in-person and online classes.

This option saves you up to a year of time and $9,000 in tuition!

IACBE accreditationGwynedd Mercy University has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) located at 11960 Quivira Road in Overland Park, Kansas, USA. For a list of accredited programs please view our IACBE member status page.

IACBE Public Disclosure of Student Achievement (2023-2024) (PDF)

*To register a complaint with the IACBE, please contact International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) at https://iacbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Procedure-for-Third-Party-Complaints.pdf.

Meet a Sport Management Major
A Top-Ranked MBA Program

MBA best Forbes list

Teaching Programs

GMercyU will help you to become the teacher or education administrator you aspire to be. With state-of-the-art technology and experienced educators as your guide, you will develop the teaching, classroom management, and educational leadership skills you need to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of students.

The programs below were designed to meet the certification requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If you reside in a different state, you should carefully review your home state’s certification requirements prior to enrolling in this program.

 

  • B.S. in Education Studies 
    All undergraduate education majors start out in our Education Studies program. Once you’ve completed at least 45 credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and passed a Basic Skills Assessment Test as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, you may apply to one of the teacher certification programs listed below.

  • B.S. in Early Education (PreK-4) 
    This program will prepare you to become a certified Pre-K through grade 4 teacher in Pennsylvania. Upon completion of this program and the passing of the Pennsylvania Department of Education teacher certification test, you will be eligible to apply for PreK-4 teacher certification in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

  • B.S. in Early Education (PreK-4) and Special Education (PreK-12 ) 
    This dual major will prepare you to become certified as a teacher in both PreK-4 and PreK-12 Special Education in Pennsylvania. Upon completion of this program and the passing of the required Pennsylvania Department of Education tests, you will be eligible to apply for PreK-4 and Special Education (PreK-12) teacher certifications in Pennsylvania.

  • B.S. in Special Education (PreK-12) 
    Prepare to become certified as a special education teacher, PreK through grade 12. This degree is also the perfect path for pursuing an applied behavioral analysis (ABA) certification program on the graduate level, which could further boost your salary and employment opportunities as a special education teacher.

TAP Into Your PotentialTAP student

As an undergraduate education major in our Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP), you will participate in classroom observations your first semester on campus and then continue to gain hands-on experience through pre-student teaching and student teaching opportunities

Get the Hands-On Experience and Support You Need:

  • Personal advisor to guide you through all four years of your program
  • Dedicated Field Placement Director to support you in your student teaching experiences
  • Certification Coordinator for Education to ensure you meet the requirements to become a certified teacher in Pennsylvania

Gwynedd Mercy University offers the programs you need to achieve your goals in advancing your career. Each of the programs below is offered in a fully online format that allows you to earn your advanced education degree without interrupting your career. You will learn with and be supported by qualified faculty and other educators from around the country.

Prepare for leadership at all levels of education with Gwynedd Mercy University’s innovative programs created and overseen by award-winning Program Director Raymond Bandlow, PhD.

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Classroom and lab technologyState-of-the-Art Facilities

Gwynedd Mercy University’s College of Arts, Sciences & Professional Studies offers access to advanced classroom technologies.

For example, our fully equipped science laboratories for Biology majors feature an Anatomage Table, which provides a virtual, interactive 3D anatomy and physiology dissection platform. 

Business majors make use of a real-time stock ticker in their classrooms, and our Computer Information Science majors learn in our Artificial Intelligence Lab, Innovation Research Lab, and Hacking & Countermeasures Lab that feature the latest technologies, including Alienware computers.

Honors Program

In Gwynedd Mercy University’s Honors Program, academically accomplished students work closely with faculty and other talented students on a rigorous curriculum designed to challenge and inspire them. The critical thinking skills developed in this program will complement any major in the College of Arts, Sciences & Professional Studies. To learn more, visit our Honors Program page.

Small Classes Taught by Expert Faculty

If you’re looking for experienced faculty who will take a genuine interest in you, you'll find them at GMercyU. Our small classes offer plenty of opportunities for you to get to know your professors and for them to get to know you. Our faculty also have a wide network of professional contacts, so you can build your network before you graduate.

   

Some programs offered by the College of Arts, Sciences & Professional Studies may require a criminal background check, child abuse clearance, specific immunizations, and other health-related clearances to participate in experiential learning required as part of your undergraduate curriculum. In addition, some careers require a criminal background check and/or certain immunizations as a condition of employment. See the undergraduate catalog for more information and course descriptions.