Undergraduate Studies Overview

Students find diverse opportunities to pursue cutting-edge research in faculty laboratories and hands-on experimentation. Majors develop an in-depth understanding within an area of concentration, while non-majors explore research methods and approaches in the life sciences. 

Our faculty are committed to providing students with a broad exposure to biological processes and systems and a deep understanding of biology at environmental, organismal, cellular, and molecular levels.

With their faculty advisors, students extract DNA from plant and animal cells, study genetics of diverse life forms and species, translate their findings to higher organisms, and potentially impact human diseases and find solutions to environmental problems.

• Demonstrate a knowledge of the major core concepts, theoretical underpinning and empirical findings of Biology (Content Goal)
• Understand and apply basic research methods, including experimental design, data analysis and interpretation. (Research Methods Goal)
• Understand and apply mathematical approaches to analyze, interpret and model biological processes. (Quantitative Goal)
• Use critical thinking and reasoning, skeptical inquiry and scientific approach to solve problems. (Critical Thinking Goal)
• Demonstrate writing and oral communication skills important for communicating scientific ideas. (Communications Goal)
• Understand the major ethical issues being addressed by professional biologists (Science and Society Goal)

This site provides information useful to current and prospective undergraduate students, including descriptions of our course majors and minors, and advising program; an overview of research opportunities in biology; and helpful links about careers in biology. To learn more about a particular topic, use the links listed in this section on Undergraduate Studies.

If you have any questions not covered here or in the Organization-Regulations-Courses (ORC), please contact any member of the Undergraduate Committee. Undergraduate Committee members are Prof. Patrick Dolph, Prof. Natasha Grotz, Prof. Thomas Jack and Prof. Caitlin Hicks Pries. If you are a prospective student and would like to set up an appointment with a faculty member, please contact the department office by email.

If you would like assistance with introductory or foundation courses in biology, the Teaching Science Fellows may be able to help.  For more information, please click on this link to visit their web page.

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