Biology

Department of Biology
College of Science

Science Building 330 ~ 260-481-6305

Mark Jordan, Chair and Lead Advisor
Tanya Soule, Associate Chair
Jordan Marshall, Graduate Director
Bruce Kingsbury, Environmental Resource Center Director
Marcy Ball, Academic Advisor
Colleen Krohn, Administrative Assistant
Karen Morthorst, Administrative Assistant

Biology is one of the most interdisciplinary of all the sciences and its study prepares students for a range of careers in health and medicine, the environmental field, agriculture, research, and education. The Department of Biology helps students pursue their educational goals by delivering a modern curriculum rooted in scientific inquiry. Faculty with expertise in many specialties of the discipline teach and actively conduct research with students. Students have the opportunity to pursue areas of concentration within the discipline, earn an Honors degree in Biology, or earn a Research Certificate in Biology. More than half of all graduates earning a bachelor’s of science degree in Biology from Purdue University Fort Wayne continue on to pursue graduate degrees or professional certifications.

For details on pursuing a secondary education second degree (BSEd) to teach Biology in middle school/high school, click on the links to the Secondary Education - Second Degree Program and the School of Education page in this catalog. Note: The BSEd as a second degree in these programs cannot be earned without completion of the bachelor’s degree in the content area from the College of Science.

See Program Descriptions in this catalog for more information on the Biology programs:

Bachelor of Science degree
Concentrations in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Genetics, Cellular, & Molecular Biology; and Microbiology & Immunology
Second major in teaching secondary education Biology
Research Certificate in Biology
Minor

Pre-professional Study

Those seeking careers in dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, forestry and agriculture should consult with their preprofessional advisor before deciding what specific elective courses in biology to take. Detailed and early planning is necessary.

Departmental Honors Degree in Biology

You may earn an Honors Degree in Biology by achieving an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher and a Biology GPA of 3.50 or higher while completing at least 6 research credits. Research credits should be composed of BIOL 59500, although BIOL 29500 credits will be accepted if it can be demonstrated that the BIOL 29500 research was conducted on the same topic as the BIOL 59500 research. A senior thesis committee of three faculty members must be established at least one semester before graduation. Students must prepare a plan of research, senior thesis, and give a public oral presentation of the thesis research for review by the thesis committee. Students earning the Departmental Honors Degree in Biology are not eligible for the Biology Research Certificate.

Special Assignments

Students who qualify may elect to do an independent project supervised by a faculty member. With the permission of the faculty member and the department chair, the student can enroll in BIOL 19500, BIOL 29500 or BIOL 59500. The student must work closely with the faculty member to design and complete the project. Each faculty member will define how the grade will be earned each semester, but typically students write papers or give a presentation over their research project. Credits earned in these courses cannot be used to satisfy A/B and concentration elective requirements, and a maximum of 6 such credits can be used toward graduation as general elective credits.

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program

The co-op program is designed to provide employment experience in an area of your academic interest while you are still enrolled in school. A co-op experience may be repeated. You may earn up to 2 elective credits toward your degree.

Special Regulation for Biology Majors

Time Limit: All biology courses applied toward graduation must be completed within 10 years from the time the first biology course was completed.