Biology Department

The department is committed to incorporating the best of the new into its curriculum without neglecting the classical areas of Biology, which remain critical to a broad liberal arts-based education in the life sciences.

The Department of Biology offers both major and minor programs in Biology.

The Biology Department's curriculum provides balanced instruction across all areas of biology: molecular, cellular, organismic, evolutionary and environmental. Students completing the major are prepared for entry into graduate programs in the life sciences and professional programs in medical, allied health and environmental fields. The major also prepares graduates for direct entry into clinical, industrial, research, teaching, or government careers. Because the curriculum is part of a liberal arts degree, Biology majors also have the option of pursuing a wide variety of non-science careers.

The Department's philosophy is that students learn by doing. Laboratory and fieldwork are integral to most courses. All students complete and present the results of a research project as a requirement for several courses. For qualified students who are interested in research, the learn-by-doing philosophy is extended through faculty-mentored research opportunities during the academic year and the Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) during the summer. Students participating in these programs collaborate directly with faculty conducting independent research. Departmental interns have the opportunity to work in a wide variety of off-campus research and clinical facilities. These regional and international internships are available through the Internship in Biological Sciences program and make it possible for students to gain hands-on experience in a wide range of areas.

The College supports the Biology Department's effort to remain current in fields where rapid technological and theoretical advances have become the norm. The Department is committed to incorporating the best of the new into its curriculum without neglecting the classical areas of Biology, which remain critical to a broad, liberal arts-based education in the life sciences.