Biology and Marine Biology majors investigate the interconnected processes that shape the living world. The Department of Biology and Marine Biology is housed in the Marine and Natural Sciences building, offering modern teaching and research laboratories, a spacious wet-lab with running seawater, several greenhouses and state-of-the-art instrumentation for cell and molecular biology. The Department offers the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in biology and marine biology. Minors are also offered in biology, marine biology and aquaculture and aquarium science. The Department has a very active program for undergraduate research, and students are encouraged to join an ongoing project as early as their first year.
Students may receive credit for only one of the following three courses: BIO 204 - Introduction to Marine Biology, BIO 231 - Bioethics, or BIO 235 - Biological Illustration.
Biology
Since the life sciences are increasingly interdisciplinary, biology majors can take a wide range of courses in the following general areas: cell and molecular biology; microbiology; physiology and developmental biology; zoology; botany; and ecology. Students prepare for graduate study and careers in these fields, as well as the health sciences, through lectures and labs, independent research and internships. Any student who wishes to pursue a career in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or other health science should contact his/her advisor immediately to ensure appropriate course planning. Research is an integral part of the biology curriculum, and biology majors are encouraged to participate in ongoing research in areas that include: evolutionary genetics, cell biology, developmental biology, microbiology, neurobiology and ecology.