Students develop specific skills and competencies, become aware of the social role of scientists and the world community, develop personal and intellectual attributes for thoughtful decision making, and develop a general education foundation which promotes competency for life. The division also has many special facilities to assist in undergraduate education and provide opportunities for individual research projects. Students seeking entrance into medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical technology, and veterinary medicine usually complete a baccalaureate degree in Human Biology or Chemistry with a minor in the humanities prior to admittance to a medical, dental, or veterinary school. Faculty advisers work closely with the student in planning course work and in preparing for the entrance exams and interviews that are prerequisites for acceptance into a professional school. This program will also provide the student with a good background for graduate study in organismal biology.
Field work is an important part of the biology program.
Our program emphasizes field work in upper level courses, hands-on experiences with professional biologists and summer work on research projects. This program is designed to prepare students for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, physical therapy and other related health fields. Students interested in seeking entrance into these professions usually complete a baccalaureate degree prior to admittance to a medical, dental, or veterinary school. Pre-medical students may wish to consider the interdisciplinary option with majors in science and a minor in some area of humanities. Based upon the processes of science, this major provides learning experience and subject matter skills necessary for the secondary school teacher who must be prepared to teach a variety of science courses.