Biology

Discover the living world around you as you prepare for top research careers in biology.

Degrees

Whether you want to be a marine biologist, microbiologist, or zoologist, or work on making green biofuels—or any of more than a dozen other careers—you will find our Biology Department an exciting, supportive environment in which to broaden your knowledge, hone your skills, and perform cutting-edge research. Our faculty possess a wide variety of interests and have active careers in laboratory-based research at the national and international level. They obtain federal grants for their research and publish and present their findings around the world. You will assist with their research in our on-campus labs as they mentor you in their specialties, equipping you with critical knowledge and understanding of the biological sciences.

Department Goals and Objectives

The mission of the Biology Department is to provide foundational studies that enhance critical thinking skills and help prepare students for careers in biomedical science, biotechnology, environmental science, and other science fields. To achieve this mission, the department offers a comprehensive major that includes both laboratory and lecture studies of the animal, plant, microbial, and viral world supplemented by laboratory research training in more than eight different sub-disciplines within biology. The biology major aims to equip students with essential core knowledge of biology that is the foundation for advanced studies in the biological sciences and postgraduate training leading to careers in the health professions. The biology major also aims to prepare students for entry-level positions in many science and health-related fields. By example, the faculty pledge to impart professional and ethical values and attitudes required of all members of the scientific community.

To fulfill its mission, the Department of Biology sets the following general goals for biology graduates:

Students will demonstrate competency in a core body of knowledge in cellular and molecular biology, microbiology, genetics and evolution, organismal biology, and ecology.
Students will demonstrate practical competencies designed to enhance critical thinking skills as defined by the ability to independently acquire biological information from the scientific literature and by competency in the biological experimental method.
Students will model professional etiquette and the ethical implications of biological discoveries for society and the environment.

In order to achieve the goals of the department, a specified set of student-based learning objectives are provided within the degree information:

Have Questions?

Start here with Information for Biology Majors (PDF).

Find an e-mail address in the Biology Department Contact List (PDF).

Meet with an adviser: Advisement Schedule (PDF).

Contact a Biology Department representative.

Resources

Undergraduate Information
Graduate Information
Facilities
Departmental Seminars

Meet Our Faculty

Whether you want to be a marine biologist, microbiologist or zoologist, or work on making green biofuels—or any of more than a dozen other careers—you will find our Biology Department an exciting, supportive environment in which to broaden your knowledge, hone your skills and perform cutting-edge research. Our faculty possess a wide variety of interests and have active careers in laboratory-based research at the national and international level.

ALL FACULTY RESEARCH