Biology Major & Minor

The Biology major is designed to help students develop a strong and broad background in biological science and seeks to emphasize to its majors that the discipline of biology is intimately related to many disciplines outside of the sciences. As part of the major, students will gain an appreciation of the impact of biology on history, and they will appreciate the many philosophical and ethical questions that have biological underpinnings. Students are encouraged to find additional connections—to the humanities, to the social sciences, and to the other science fields—as they pursue their education.

A strong knowledge base is essential for a biologist, but it does not alone make the scientist. Therefore, the Biology major seeks to guide students to develop the skills to ensure that, for them, biology is an inquiry-based discipline. Through ample opportunities for practice, students learn to:

• read, understand, and analyze biological literature;
• design, perform, and analyze experiments to ask questions and test hypotheses; use up-to-date techniques and equipment common in the discipline; communicate their questions and findings both orally and in writing; and
• work collaboratively on experimentation with fellow students and faculty who share a love of inquiry.

The combination of these three components of our mission—the strong knowledge base, the appreciation of the connections between biology and other academic areas, and the collaborative “doing” of biology—position students to become skilled biologists, lifelong independent learners, and citizen leaders.

Many careers are available to students who have majored in biology. Some of these careers can be accessed directly by those with a B.S. in Biology. Others require—or can be enhanced by—post-graduate education. The Biology major seeks to ensure that graduates are well prepared for careers in biology research or teaching and for admission to graduate programs (M.S. and Ph.D.) and programs designed to train  medical professionals. Among the many examples of the latter for which our students are well trained are medical school, dental school, veterinary school, pharmacy school, and nursing school, as well as programs that train the physician assistant, the physical therapist, and the occupational therapist.

The Biology Department offers classes for students enrolled in the first-year FYS program, distribution courses for nonscience majors, introductory level courses covering the breadth of the discipline, and diverse upper-level courses for majors. Undergraduate internship and research opportunities are available in departmental laboratories during both the academic year and the summer. Students can also participate in internships sponsored by off-campus laboratories through existing programs or those proposed by the student. A chapter of Beta Beta Beta, the national biological honor society, provides supplemental activities for students.

The nearby Chester River, a major tributary to the Chesapeake Bay, and the River and Field Campus afford excellent opportunities for ecological studies in a wide variety of biological subdisciplines. Another resource is the Virginia Gent Decker Arboretum, the collection of trees and shrubs on the college campus, in which students can also study a broad range of topics. Collaborative student-faculty research is an important focus of the department, and the Toll Science Center boasts personal labs for each of the faculty and a number of shared research spaces including a set of microsuites (fluorescence microscopy, cell, and tissue culture), the aquatic research facility, and a spacious research greenhouse.

6. Graduates will demonstrate broad-based knowledge within the discipline of biology.
7. Graduates will demonstrate fluency in scientific reasoning, experimental design, and data analysis.
8. Graduates will demonstrate familiarity with current research techniques.
9. Graduates will demonstrate an ability to search, read, interpret and synthesize the primary literature. 
10. Graduates will demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate scientific information in written and oral formats. 
11. Graduates will demonstrate an ability to work and learn in groups.