Many of today's most pressing issues are fundamentally biological, from understanding disease to conserving endangered species. The FLC Biology Department provides students with a broad range of options to explore our living world, from the small scale of individual cells to the overall structure of ecosystems.
Our program prides itself on our students' ability to develop critical skills in generating and interpreting scientific data, testing hypotheses, and developing the ability to communicate our scientific understanding to others through writing and speaking. We encourage active learning and facilitate close student-faculty relationships to prepare our graduates better for workforce entry or additional training through graduate or professional programs (e.g., D.D.S., D.V.M., M.D., M.S., P.A., Ph.D.).
Whether your interests lie in the bottom of a river or a Petri dish, you’ll have opportunities to design and execute research projects that contribute to solving real-world problems—not just rote lab assignments to learn procedures. Students work closely with faculty on their own research and support faculty projects already underway.
Opportunities to engage in research include course-based research experiences (CUREs), independent studies, and through our Senior Seminar/Thesis program – a two-semester sequence in mentored research required by all Biology majors. The analysis allows you to develop your skills as a scientist in ways that traditional classwork can’t. Many students can present their findings at local, regional, and national conferences, connecting them to the scientific community and extending their professional network.
Contact one of our faculty members for potential research opportunities or learn about research opportunities through the Undergraduate Research Program.
"At FLC, field-based study is accessible and exciting. In many Biology courses, our laboratories have the sky for a roof and trees and rivers for the walls."
Biology student you can access a variety of departmental, foundation, and other scholarships, including the MARC U*STAR scholarship to support cultural diversity in research fields.
Apply for Scholarships