The Department of Biology is dedicated to preparing its students for meaningful careers in a rapidly changing, challenging field. The faculty recognizes that each student brings to the major a distinctive combination of aptitudes and interests, and they are committed to guiding each student in developing to his or her highest potential.

Students are encouraged to express natural scientific curiosity and to develop confidence and self-esteem through acquiring an ability to think about and do science. The faculty strive to encourage lifelong learning by example of continued scholarship and enthusiasm for teaching and learning about biology.

Students are offered an opportunity to learn the concepts and methods of biological science through varied classroom, laboratory and field study activities, both in the U.S. and abroad. Our departmental curriculum is firmly rooted in the philosophy of active engagement and early access to independent research experiences as recommended by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Science Foundation’s Vision and Change goals for biology undergraduate education. Courses are designed to provide an understanding of the core concepts and fundamental processes and requirements of living things leading toward an appreciation of the global interdependence of natural systems.

In addition to providing strong courses in traditional areas of biology, faculty are dedicated to introducing students to recent developments in fields such as molecular biology and biotechnology. Students are encouraged to explore ethical issues that arise from new technological advances.

Departmental facilities include recently updated modern laboratories, a computer room with internet access and a greenhouse. An additional resource for human anatomy is the department’s virtual dissection table. Outstanding collections of animals and plants are available in nearby zoos, museums, conservatories and arboretums. The campus is a recognized arboretum with nearly 900 trees and numerous varieties of shrubs and perennials.

Many biology majors plan to enter graduate or professional schools, including but not limited to medical and dental schools. Others pursue human health careers or are employed directly upon graduation by secondary schools, business and industry, and government.

The University hosts chapters of Beta Beta Beta, the national biology honor society, and Alpha Epsilon Delta, a national honor society for premedical students.

Mission

The Department of Biology is dedicated to developing broadly educated biologists who are prepared to ask informed questions about nature and obtain meaningful answers across all levels of organizations. Through mentoring our students in the core biological concepts and competencies, and by modeling the behavior of scholarship, we cultivate investigators and prepare scholars for their personal paths toward careers as biology educators, research scientists, health care professionals, and many other professions. The department advocates for an anti-racist and nondiscriminatory environment that supports an academic program focused on removing barriers to access and inclusion and promoting the success of all students regardless of visible and non-visible differences.

Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation our students will be able to:

• Explain and apply the core biological concepts including energy and matter, structure and function, information flow, systems, and evolution

• Articulate an understanding of the core competencies including the process of science, quantitative reasoning, and modeling and simulation of biological phenomena

• Demonstrate biology’s interdisciplinary nature which requires communication and collaboration

• Recognize the ethical, historical, societal, and legal implications of biology

• Recognize that diverse perspectives and ideas enhance biological investigation and broaden scientific knowledge