Dr. Joanna B. Mott, Department Head
Phone: (540) 568-6225
Email: mottjb@jmu.edu
Dr. Kyle Seifert, Undergraduate Coordinator
Location: Bioscience Building, Room 2001C
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/biology
Professors
M. Gabriele, N. Garrison, H. Griscom, C. Lantz, C. McMullen, J. Monroe, J. Mott, M. Renfroe, C. Rose, K. Seifert, B. Wiggins, R. Wunderlich, G. Wyngaard
Associate Professors
S. Babcock, M. Bechtel, T. Bloss, J. Brown, C. Cleland, D. Cocking, S. Cresawn, J. Daniel, K. Gobetz, S. Halsell, J. Herrick,
C. May, T. Rife, K. Slekar
Assistant Professors
I. Cooper, K. Cresawn, R. Enke, J. Harsh, K. Kubow, P. Ludwig, D. McLeod, M. Parker, M. Steffen, D. Strong, P. Vasudevan, B. Velayudhan, G. Vidal, M. Walker, L. Wurch
Visiting Assistant Professor
K. Roth
Lecturers
B. Cage, E. Doyle, O. Hyman, T. Hynd, P. Kilkenny, A. Pesce
Mission Statement
The Department of Biology holds as its primary core value a commitment to providing superlative teaching for students. To accomplish this mission, we will create an environment for learning that will include opportunities for undergraduate research, a broadly based academic program, a supportive, diverse and collaborative faculty, an understanding of the process of science and a recognition of the importance of community outreach and involvement.
Career Opportunities and Advanced Fields of Study
- Anthropology
- Aquatic Science
- Biodiversity
- Bioinformatics
- Biotechnology
- Botany
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- Dentistry
- Ecology and Environmental Science
- Epidemiology
- Forensic Science
- Forestry
- Genetic Counseling
- Graduate School in the Biological Sciences
- Immunology
- Landscape Architecture
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Microscopy
- Neurobiology
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Optometry
- Pharmacology
- Physical Therapy
- Physician Assistant
- Physiology
- Research Assistant
- Scientific Writing
- Secondary Education
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Veterinary Medicine
- Virology
- Zoology
Students interested in pursuing any of these career opportunities should contact the biology office. An appropriate adviser will be assigned for mentoring and course selection.
Co-curricular Activities and Organizations
Biology majors participate in activities such as:
- Weekly departmental seminars
- Tri-Beta, a national biology society
- Pre-professional health clubs and honor society
- EARTH, an environmental action club
- Summer and academic-year research opportunities
- Summer courses at biological field stations
- Internships with various organizations
- Aiding in teaching as student assistants
- Presenting papers at meetings
- Volunteering at Rockingham Memorial Hospital and with the rescue squad
Special Requirements
To be used as prerequisites for biology courses, grades of “C-” or higher should be earned in the following: BIO 140 , BIO 150 , BIO 240 , BIO 250 , CHEM 131 , CHEM 131L , and CHEM 132 . It is the student’s responsibility to provide evidence to demonstrate that the subject content of the sequence taken is the same as BIO 140 and BIO 150 combined. In order for BIO 270 and BIO 290 credit to be transferred, both semesters of an Anatomy and Physiology course (A&P I and A&P II) must be completed at the “C” or higher level. A single semester of either of these sequences transfers as BIO 000. Practical hands-on experience in the field and/or laboratory is important content of laboratory based courses.
Transfer credit for courses including laboratories will only be awarded for those having skill and application content comparable to that of JMU courses. Upper division biology credits applicable toward the major or minor are transferred as specific courses or as BIO 300 or BIO 426 . Credits not applicable toward the major or minor, but applicable toward the 120 hour degree requirement, are transferred as BIO 000. A maximum of eight credit hours of first year (100) level BIO courses may be applied to the biology major or minor requirements.
Students who declared a major in biology before fall 2016 should consult with their adviser about course requirements.
Degree and Major Requirements
The biology department offers a concentration within the biology major for students with interest in ecology, field biology, natural resources, environmental biology, conservation biology, evolution, animal behavior and organismal biology.
Students choosing a concentration in ecology and environmental biology must meet all of the requirements for the biology major as well as the following additional requirements. Courses for this concentration can also satisfy biology major requirements.
Concentrations
Concentration in Ecology and Environmental Biology
The biology department offers a concentration within the biology major for students with interest in ecology, field biology, natural resources, environmental biology, conservation biology, evolution, animal behavior and organismal biology. Students choosing a concentration in ecology and environmental biology must meet all of the requirements for the biology major as well as the following additional requirements. Courses for this concentration can also satisfy biology major requirements. 1. Students must complete at least 20 credit hours from the following list. With prior approval from the concentration coordinator, BIO 426 and/or BIO 427 may be substituted. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss their career interests with an adviser who can help select courses best suited to their needs. In addition to the courses listed below, a maximum of eight credits of BIO 495, BIO 496, BIO 497 and BIO 499 can be counted toward the EEB concentration.
