Professors: J. Beckstead, M. Bertagnolli, W. Ettinger, H. Lefcort, P. Pauw, R. Prusch, N. Staub
Associate Professors: K. Anders, D. Boose, J. Haydock, B. Swanson
Assistant Professors: E. Addis, G. Chang, M. Poxleitner
Lecturers: S. Hayes
The Biology Department offers a selection of courses and experiences that help students understand the unity, diversity and complexity of life at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological levels using evolutionary principles as the unifying theme. Students in the biology program learn concepts in subdisciplines of biology and acquire scientific problem solving skills through lectures, discussions, laboratory exercises, and research. The program is aimed at preparing students for a broad range of biology-oriented careers, such as those in medicine, biotechnology, environmental science, research, and teaching.
The Bachelor of Science degree is designed for students preparing for a career in biology, including continued training in graduate programs in a broad range of subdisciplines of biology, as well as medical, dental, and veterinary school. Students interested in careers in biological research should consider the Research Option Concentration: see below. Students interested in biochemistry and molecular biology may consider several options. For a course of study with a more biological emphasis, students may consider a Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in chemistry. For a more biochemical emphasis, students may consider the Biochemistry degree offered in the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The Bachelor of Arts degree, in coordination with the teacher certification program in the School of Education, prepares students to teach biology at the secondary level. The Bachelor of Arts degree may be suitable for certain graduate programs that do not require physics or more than two semesters of chemistry. A Bachelor of Arts degree allows students to take more elective courses in other departments at the university, thus gaining a broader liberal arts education. A minor in biology is offered for students interested in careers that integrate biological principles with other fields, including political science, engineering, business and scientific journalism.
Biology majors from Gonzaga University are well prepared for a variety of careers or post-graduate education. Some go on to medical or dental school—recently our graduates have been accepted to Colorado State University, Creighton University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Oregon Health & Science University, Tulane University, University of Colorado, University of Hawaii, University of Washington and Washington State University, to name a few. Many of our graduates go on to graduate school—students have been accepted into programs at the University of California at Berkeley, Yale University, University of California at San Francisco, University of California at Irvine, Oregon State University, University of New Mexico, and University of Wisconsin–Madison, to name a few. Many of our students choose to participate in the Peace Corps or the Jesuit Volunteer Corps prior to pursing post-graduate education. Others work in biotech or nature conservation fields after graduation, or earn their teaching credentials and work to make the world a more scientifically literate place.
The Biology Department also participates in the inter-disciplinary major and minor in environmental studies, which is open to all students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Biology faculty teach the science portion of the environmental studies curriculum, which includes either Human Ecology (BIOL 123/ENVS 103), Ecology for Biology majors (BIOL 206), or approved sections of Core Topics (BIOL 199), followed by Case Studies in Environmental Science (ENVS 200). Members of the Biology Department also advise environmental studies students, and collaborate in teaching the concentration’s capstone course, Symposium in Environmental Studies (ENVS 499).
The biology curriculum is designed to provide students with a broad background in biology. In the first year, all students receive a foundation in basic biological principles by taking Information Flow in Biological Systems (BIOL 105) and Energy Flow in Biological Systems (BIOL 106), classes that expose them to the core concepts of evolution, structure and function, information flow, exchange and storage, energy pathways and transformations, and systems. The introductory laboratory (BIOL 105L) gives them an authentic scientific experience. At the intermediate level students take integrative courses in Physiology and Biodiversity (BIOL 205), Ecology (BIOL 206) and Genetics (BIOL 207) that build on the core concepts. Courses in General Chemistry (CHEM 101) and Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 230) are required for students to understand the structure and function of biological molecules and how these molecules interact in living systems. Students earning the B.S. Major in Biology are also required to take Organic Chemistry II (CHEM 331), Intro. to Bioanalytical Chemistry (CHEM 240) and a year of physics (PHYS 101 and 102). Students are encouraged to choose, in consultation with their advisor, a set of upper division courses. Students must complete an Advanced Topics course (BIOL 399), preferably in their junior year. Students are required to complete the Senior Colloquium (BIOL 499) in their senior year, which provides practice in the application of students’ mastery of biological knowledge through discussion of a broad range of literature.
Some courses are specifically designed to fulfill requirements for non-science majors. These include courses that fulfill the laboratory science requirement for the core curriculum of the College of Arts and Sciences: Human Ecology (BIOL 123 and BIOL 123L), Field Botany (BIOL 140 and BIOL 140L), Field Studies in Biodiversity (BIOL 159), and Core Topics (BIOL 199 and BIOL 199L); and those that fulfill the mathematics or natural science requirement of the core curriculum of the College of Arts and Sciences: Biological Concepts (BIOL 100).