The Biology Department is located in Heckert-Wells Hall just across Joplin Street from the stadium and on the east side of the oval. The department provides quality education in the life sciences for southeast Kansas and the surrounding region.
Biology occupies the top two floors (with a roof-top greenhouse). The building contains faculty offices, the departmental office, and numerous teaching and research labs. Classrooms in surrounding buildings are used for lectures as are some of our lab rooms.
Through its faculty and facilities, the Department meets instructional needs for students: (1) on a variety of career tracks within biology, (2) as support for other disciplines, and (3) as a basic body of shared knowledge for general education.
Our programs in pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-vet, pre-optometry, pre-physical therapy, medical technology, field biology, and secondary education have the reputation of being among the best in the state.
There are over 400 students in the undergraduate program and about 20 in the graduate (masters) division. The majority of undergraduate students are in the pre-health and laboratory sciences area, but the department maintains significant interest and activity in the area of field biology and ecology.
The Department has 14 full-time faculty with a wide range of interests. The faculty are dedicated and committed to the University and the Department, but most importantly, to the students. Most faculty are actively engaged in research activities, national professional organizations, and in professional consulting work.
The practice and instruction of biology depends on equipment, supplies, and facilities. Although there is much to be learned by reading, biology must be expressed as a "hands-on" science. The Biology Department's physical facilities and equipment provide opportunities for both field biology and laboratory/health science teaching and research. Today, both undergraduate and graduate students use these facilities and equipment as a part of classroom instruction or research.
Degrees Offered
We offer five major degrees: four at the
baccalaureate level and one at the graduate level. The degrees
offered include: Bachelor of Arts in Biology (BA), Bachelor of Science
in Biology (BS), Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology (BSMT), Bachelor
of Science in Education (BSEd), and the Master of Science (MS).
Within the BS and BA degrees are specific program areas of studies called emphasis areas. These include programs related to the broad areas of "health and laboratory sciences" and "field biology and environmental studies".
A degree in Biology prepares students for
career opportunities in lab, health, education, and field biology.
These include science education, industrial microbiology, medical
technology, medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, veterinary
medicine, optometry, quality control analysis, interpretive naturalist,
park ranger, tropical biology, wildlife management, fisheries
biology, environmental management, and plant and animal sciences.
The coursework you take here will reflect your interests and
allow you to develop your interests. We have a web page with
links to help career exploration in various areas of biology.
The Biology Department is located in Heckert-Wells Hall just across Joplin Street from the stadium and on the east side of the oval. The department provides quality education in the life sciences for southeast Kansas and the surrounding region. 