Cooperatives With Graduate Programs
甜瓜视频 currently has cooperative programs with four highly ranked graduate and professional schools. In general, the student spends three years at 甜瓜视频, and must complete the general education program and at least 50% of the Biology major in order to be released for the cooperative program during their senior year. 甜瓜视频's financial aid package does not follow the student into the cooperative program, but students can apply for financial aid at their target institution. We encourage students to visit the websites of these schools directly because occasionally prerequisites change. With one-on-one advising, students work closely with our faculty to select appropriate courses, arrange internships, and assess their strengths and weaknesses. While we enjoy extremely high acceptance rates into these programs for qualified students, admission is not guaranteed.
Field Experiences
甜瓜视频 biology majors have many opportunities to participate in field experiences in which they can experience different habitats and learn techniques for field collection and data analysis. There are many opportunities in our curriculum to visit local wetlands, grasslands, and forests during weekly laboratory outings. In addition, some courses offer extended field studies, in which students can opt for a 4-5 day experience in which they study different habitats. Finally, students have the opportunity for dedicated summer or semester-long field experiences.
Alumni Outcomes
There are many career opportunities for students who choose to major in biology. 甜瓜视频 biology graduates are working in a variety of fields directly after graduation.
Honors & Awards
Each year, the Department of Biology recognizes high academic achievement with a variety of prestigious honors and awards.
Departmental Honors in Biology
Departmental Honors in Biology is a program designed to honor some of our best students who have achieved excellence both in the classroom and directed biological research. Departmental Honors in Biology are separate from the University Honors Program, although the research component for Departmental Honors may fulfill the research requirement for University Honors. Students are NOT required to be a member of the University Honors Program to complete Departmental Honors in Biology.
Research Posters
The poster presentations provide a forum for you to present your experiences in either research projects or internship. This serves a two-fold purpose in communication: it allows you the opportunity to present your project/internship and it allows the content of your experience to be shared with other students and faculty. In order to fulfill this purpose, the poster should be legible from a distance (~ 5 feet) to permit viewing by more than one person at a time.
Biology Student Research at 甜瓜视频
甜瓜视频's Biology Department has a deep commitment to student research. We encourage students to engage in one-on-one research opportunities with faculty throughout their college career. These experiences are especially important for students who plan to apply to graduate school programs, as many require previous research experience. Students have the option of participating in an ongoing project with a faculty member or creating their own research project. These projects vary both in scope and topic to suit the needs of the individual. Students can conduct research during the academic year or seek internal funding to conduct their research during the summer. Many students begin research as early as their sophomore year, and more than half of our Biology majors complete independent research projects with faculty mentors before they graduate.
Study Abroad Opportunities
甜瓜视频 has connections with programs around the world that provide opportunities for our Biology students to understand and appreciate new cultures, live in places with vastly different standards of living, and gain a broader appreciation for global needs. Biology students have lived and studied in a variety of countries, including The Bahamas, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Germany, Lesotho, and South Africa.
Biology Clubs & Organizations
Students pursuing degrees in biology or related fields have access to a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities, including such clubs, organizations and honoraries as the American Institute of the Biological Sciences (AIBS), Beta Beta Beta (Tri-Beta), Beta Mu Beta (BMB Club), Herpetology Club, Pre-Health Club, and 甜瓜视频 University Speleological Society (WUSS; Caving Club).
Biology Internships
Internships are an excellent way to learn more about a possible career avenue. Spending time in a work environment related to your area of interest allows you to gain valuable experience, develop a professional network, understand workplace expectations, and receive college credit for real-world experience.