Department of Biology

Are you fascinated by the natural world? Have you always wondered why we are made the way we are? If you have a desire to study life and all of its physical properties, the Department of Biology wants you. You’ll learn and understand the physiology of plants and animals big and small, from the largest mammals to the smallest bacteria and viruses.

Overview

PLNU offers both a B.A. and a B.S. in biology. The lower division courses are the same and include cell and animal biology, organic and general chemistry, and a calculus class. The B.S. also includes courses in general physics.

Students have the opportunity to focus on specific curriculum tracks. The organismal emphasis includes courses on marine zoology, animal behavior and vertebrate biology. The cell and molecular emphasis focuses on microbiology and includes cell biology, biomathematics and ecology, among others.

Special Features:

• Biology is a major that has been designed to prepare students for graduate study or careers in biochemistry, immunology, molecular biology, pharmacology, physiology, medicine, and dentistry.
• Biology students have the opportunity to work side-by-side with their professors doing faculty-assisted research projects, and may become co-authors on scholarly papers in national and international scientific journals.
• Many students present research at scientific conferences. Students also have sophisticated instrumentation and computational resources at their fingertips for use in science courses and research labs.
• Many projects on which students participate are made possible by generous grants from governmental agencies.
  

Career Opportunities:

• Biotechnology Specialist
• Environmental Consultant
• Laboratory Technician
• Public Information Officer
• Sales Representative and Advisor for the pharmaceutical, chemical, petroleum, and agricultural industries.
• Ecological Specialist
• Horticultural, Agricultural, and Nursery Personnel.
• Secondary School Teacher
• Veterinary Assistant, Animal Care Specialist, or Zoologist
• Medical and Dental Professional