Welcome to the Department of Biological Sciences at the Íæż½ã½ã! At Íæż½ã½ã, undergraduate education in the biological sciences prepares students for various careers. Our courses are designed for the development of a new generation of research biologists, educators, physicians, dentists, and veterinarians with B.S. degrees in Biological Sciences.
While doing so, students earn credits for biology and general electives which will count towards graduation; please see courses numbered BIOS 2002, 2092, 3092, and 4091 in the general catalogue. Our full-time faculty, instructors, and adjuncts have research and teaching expertise ranging from molecular genetics, to animal and plant physiology, biochemistry, conservation biology, population biology, community ecology, systematics, and much more.
One measure of the success of any department is the number and amount of projects which are funded from federal, state and private sources. Currently, members of the Department have multi-year grants and contracts from NSF, NIH, HHMI and other federal and state agencies. We encourage our undergraduate students to work with these grant holders AND earn credit towards graduation!
The Department currently offers graduate training leading to a Ph.D. degree in Integrative Biology and the Master's of Science (MS) degree in Biological Sciences. Students work closely with their major professor, selecting appropriate courses, and conceiving, designing and executing research projects. Many of these projects are funded from the extra-mural sources described above. Projects can often be done in collaboration with scientists located at other institutions in the New Orleans area. In addition, we have a new one-year MS program consisting of coursework and a health science related internship for students who are interested in preparing themselves for various programs (like medical or dental school).
We also devote considerable effort and energy to introductory biology courses for non-biology majors. These courses prepare students of the liberal arts, business, engineering and education to understand important environmental and health issues that they are likely to confront in the coming years. Additionally, we offer introductory and higher level courses to prepare students entering the allied health professions, such as Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Dental Laboratory Technology, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Ophthalmic Medical Technology, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Counseling and Cardiopulmonary Science.
