Mission & Learning Outcomes
Mission
The Department of Biology is dedicated to developing broadly educated biologists who are prepared to ask informed questions about nature and obtain meaningful answers across all levels of organizations. Through mentoring our students in the core biological concepts and competencies, and by modeling the behavior of scholarship, we cultivate investigators and prepare scholars for their personal paths toward careers as biology educators, research scientists, health care professionals, and many other professions. The department advocates for an anti-racist and nondiscriminatory environment that supports an academic program focused on removing barriers to access and inclusion and promoting the success of all students regardless of visible and non-visible differences.
Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation our students will be able to:
- Explain and apply the core biological concepts including energy and matter, structure and function, information flow, systems, and evolution
- Articulate an understanding of the core competencies including the process of science, quantitative reasoning, and modeling and simulation of biological phenomena
- Demonstrate biology’s interdisciplinary nature which requires communication and collaboration
- Recognize the ethical, historical, societal, and legal implications of biology
- Recognize that diverse perspectives and ideas enhance biological investigation and broaden scientific knowledge