Biology
Chair: Associate Professor Izzo
Professors: S. House, Haenel, Kingston, Touchette
Associate Professors: M. Clark, Coker, Gallucci, Gammon, N. Harris, MacFall, Miyamoto, L. Niedziela, Train, Uno, Vandermast, Vick
Assistant Professors: Bauer, Hamel, Terribilini
Visiting Professor: Parker
Adjunct: DeVries
Biology is the study of life in all its diverse forms. As a species, we have always been deeply fascinated by other living creatures. Early humans’ dependence on other animals and plants for food, medicine and shelter fostered an appreciation for life’s interconnectedness. Modern society has rediscovered these relationships in the face of such challenges as global warming, rainforest destruction, antibiotic resistance, emerging diseases, pollution and rising cancer rates.
Our approach to biology at Elon stresses hands-on experiences in the classroom, laboratory and field. The course of study includes off-campus experiential opportunities and research seminars that encourage creative approaches to biological problems. The focus is on science as a process, not merely a collection of established facts.
The faculty strives to provide students with a high-quality program that enables them to (1) develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills to better understand and meet present and future biological challenges; (2) develop competency in information retrieval, use and analysis; (3) develop an understanding of the latest technologies utilized in biological investigation; (4) acquire broad-based knowledge of biological concepts from molecules to ecosystems and (5) acquire an experiential learning opportunity through either research or internship.
In all of Elon’s biology offerings, students receive a strong foundation in biology that prepares them for graduate studies, medical and other allied health-related professional schools, teaching and industry.
The Department of Biology offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biology and a minor concentration in Biology for students majoring in another discipline. The Bachelor of Arts is also offered with a teaching licensure.
The Department of Biology has divided its course offerings that serve as electives into three concentrations to assist students in the development of a broad-based major with the necessary fundamental biological concepts while at the same time providing the student with the flexibility to build a program that meets their individual interests and needs.
The Bachelor of Science in Biology with concentration in Integrative Biology
This concentration emphasizes the belief that the study of biological systems is best approached by incorporating a diversity of perspectives. The focus is on structure and function in the evolution of diverse biological systems, including: organismal morphology and physiology, development, animal behavior, genetics, ecology and evolution of life. The goal is to provide a broad training to help students be successful in our complex interdisciplinary world. This concentration is also appropriate for those students with a general interest in biology. Students in this concentration will be well prepared to enter graduate programs in almost any discipline of biology or to enter the professional world as: organismal biologists, field biologists, conservation biologists, ecologists, or professionals at zoological parks, museums or botanical gardens.
The Bachelor of Science in Biology with concentration in Foundations for Medical Sciences
This concentration prepares students with a primary career focus in the direction of human or other vertebrate medical disciplines (i.e., dentist, physician, veterinarian), allied health (i.e., medical technology, nursing, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, etc.), and therapy (i.e., occupational, physical, recreational, rehabilitation, respiratory, etc.). This concentration provides broad introductory knowledge in the biological sciences and exposes students to coursework in preparation to a successful health professions career. Upper level coursework is focused on human or other vertebrate disciplines that are instrumental in medicine and allied health or therapy. The variety of coursework also allows students to be successful if they decide to pursue related graduate work or a job after graduation.
The Bachelor of Science in Biology with concentration in Biotechnology/Molecular Biology
Biotechnology is a growing area where biological research provides technical advances for a number of growing industries. The concentration in Biotechnology/Molecular Biology prepares students to take advantage of the exciting and challenging opportunities in the expanding field of biotechnology and molecular biology. Because biotechnology is not one discipline but the interaction among several, the best preparation for work in biotechnology is training in a traditional biological science such as genetics and molecular biology with some training in business and computer science. This concentration will provide a broad foundation in the biological sciences and allow for more focused upper level courses in genetics, biotechnology and molecular biology. Students enrolled in this concentration are encouraged to enhance their skills by getting a minor in entrepreneurship, business and/or information science. Students graduating with a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Biotechnology will be competitive for entry level positions in academic and government laboratories and the bioscience industry. Students with this concentration will be well prepared for graduate work.