Biology, the scientific study of life and living organisms, is a very broad field that ranges in scale from molecules to ecosystems. Opportunities available to our graduates are also broad and range from careers in research to medicine to education. Many of our students go on to professions in the health sciences where they apply their understanding of living organisms on a daily basis. Others move on to graduate school or careers in research where they generate new knowledge about living organisms for the scientific community.
To prepare students for the diversity of professional and academic opportunities, the Biology curriculum uses a series of introductory courses to establish a broad foundation. Many students continue to choose courses from a diverse range of topics during their 3rd and 4th years, though our curriculum also allows students to specialize in particular areas of study or emphases. The Biology curriculum is rigorous, but it allows students the opportunity to earn a minor or complete significant coursework in other fields in science and math as well as education, social sciences and the humanities.
In addition to learning the major concepts and tenets of biology, students regularly apply the scientific method paradigm in introductory and advanced courses. All students will actively participate in the scientific processes by searching the scientific literature, designing and conducting experiments, and presenting their results in written and oral forms. Many students will conduct independent research projects and present their results at regional or national conferences.
Biology majors wishing to complete major sequence requirements at other institutions must complete these requirements at a four year institution and have the prior approval of the Biology Department.
Degree Offered: Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
• Environmental studies
• Political Science
• Forensic Studies
• Off-campus internships
• Parente Life Science Center with state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratories and equipment
• Undergraduate research
• Academic and career advisement programs
• Peer tutoring programs
• Work-study opportunities
• Guest speaker programs