Undergraduate Studies Overview

Undergraduate Studies

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.

Our learning objectives for undergraduates

Majors

• Acquire a foundation in biology in order to understand and evaluate a broad spectrum of biological information; for example, information presented in the media and relevant to public policy decisions.
• Develop an in-depth understanding within a biological area of concentration, designed in consultation with faculty to meet the student’s educational and career goals. Such depth will allow students to understand and critically evaluate current scientific literature in one or more areas of biology.
• Understand research methods and approaches currently used in the life sciences through coursework and through an independent research project under the supervision of a Dartmouth faculty member.
• Develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Develop written and oral communication skills, allowing for accurate communication of biology information to scientists and non-scientists.

Our learning objectives for undergraduates

Minors

• Acquire a foundation in biology in order to understand and evaluate a broad spectrum of biological information; for example, information presented in the media and relevant to public policy decisions.
• Understand research methods and approaches currently used in the life sciences through coursework and by having the opportunity to perform an independent research project under the supervision of a Dartmouth faculty member.
• Develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Develop written and oral communication skills, allowing for accurate  communication of biology information to scientists and non-scientists.

General Information

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. Natasha Grotz and Prof. Thomas Jack. 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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