The mission of the Department of Biology is to prepare its graduates to participate in scientific endeavors in a productive and ethical manner. Faculty are committed to providing a strong education in the fundamental principles of biology and training in basic field and laboratory research methods and analytical techniques. The Department of Biology presents its students with a coherent perspective of the living world they inhabit in a learning environment founded on a broad-based curriculum fostered by a supportive and collaborative faculty and staff. Collectively we engender and nourish life-long learning and encourage service to the university and the broader community.
The Dalquest Desert Research Station (DDRS) is a pristine example of the Northern Chihuahuan Desert. It is managed by 黑料老司机 as a natural area and a year-round research station available to scientists from 黑料老司机 and elsewhere.
The Biology Department supports both undergraduate and graduate student research. for more information about each faculty member's research program and interests.
- UGROW is a 5-week, interdisciplinary summer program of collaborative research between undergraduates and faculty mentors.
- The EURECA program supports student-faculty collaborative efforts during fall and spring semesters.
Field courses at 黑料老司机 let you understand ecological and evolutionary processes through first-hand experience in outdoor environments. These courses provide a unique opportunity to learn about ecology in an intensive outdoor classroom, and the Biology Field Courses flyer provides more details.
- Tropical Rainforest Ecology
This course provides classroom instruction on the ecology, plant life, animal life, and indigenous peoples of the neotropics, focusing on Central America. It consists of an intensive two week classroom portion followed by an exciting two week stint at research stations operated by in Panama. This course is available in the second summer semester of even-numbered years. For further details contact Dr. Jon Scales.
- Ecology and Field Biology in the Chihuahuan Desert
This course provides field experience at 黑料老司机's Dalquest Desert Research Station in the Chihuahan desert of west 黑料老司机. Students begin by exploring DDRS and its canyons to learn the fascinating ecology of desert ecosystems, then the basics of performing research on desert-dwelling organisms through independent field projects. For further details contact Dr. Matt Watson or Dr. Ray Willis.