It is large enough to offer a wide variety of courses and faculty specialties, but small enough to allow students and faculty to get to know one another. Many classes give students the opportunity to do individual projects and papers. Students may select a faculty adviser who shares their area of interest. There are 18 faculty in the Department of Biology. Their research interests represent a broad spectrum of specialties within biology.
Research is a major focus of the department.
The faculty welcome the participation of both undergraduate and graduate students in their research programs. The Department of Biology is housed in the Science Building on the EWU campus in Cheney. Facilities include a greenhouse, herbarium, and animal quarters. The department has its own student computer lab. The Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is located a few miles from the campus.