Program Overview
The Department of Biology at West Chester University provides a high quality, personalized educational experience for all of our students. Our classes are small and are always taught by full time faculty (never teaching assistants), so you’ll get to know your professors as well as your classmates. Nearly all of our courses have a laboratory component, creating hands-on learning opportunities throughout your entire academic career. Several focused concentrations within the undergraduate curriculum offer options of either specializing for immediate employment upon graduation, or preparing for postgraduate education. Get Involved: Darlington Biological Society (Biology Club) American Society of Microbiology Animal Behavior Club.
Tracks
Cell and Molecular Biology
The B.S. Biology: Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration provides a strong background in both biology and chemistry with an emphasis on lab-oriented courses, and is designed to prepare students for graduate study or employment in modern Cell and Molecular Biology. This program is a great choice for students anticipating a career in medicine or other health professions. Several faculty members are actively engaged in research, and opportunities exist for qualified undergraduates to obtain hands-on research experience working in one of these laboratories.
Microbiology
The B.S. Biology: Microbiology Concentration prepares students for careers in the areas of bacteriology, immunology, virology, mycology, microbial ecology, and parasitology through extensive laboratory experience with the techniques that are most useful and important to modern biomedical sciences. Students learn the characteristics, genetics, cultivation, metabolic properties, and host interaction of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, intracellular and extracellular parasites, and viruses, as well as the identification and characterization of such microorganisms. Students also learn to evaluate and technically interpret results obtained.
Ecology and Conservation
The B.S. Biology: Ecology and Conservation Concentration emphasizes skills obtained in biology, chemistry, and mathematics to provide training in field biology and the conservation of natural systems.
Integrative Biology
The B.S. Biology: Integrative Concentration is for students who wish to earn a general degree in Biology. Students may select from a variety of courses that provide skills needed to achieve a number of different career goals.
Marine Science
The B.S. Biology: Marine Science Concentration focuses on field and laboratory work to form the foundation for techniques in biological sciences, oceanography, chemistry, physics, and mathematic. This concentration provides a strong educational background in marine biology and other topics in a field that stretches from marine organisms to biotechnology and even oceanography interests from the coastal waters to deep oceans.
Medical Laboratory Sciences
The B.S. Biology: Medical Laboratory Science Concentration focuses on the techniques and instrumentation used to evaluate disease processes. Students complete their undergraduate requirements in three years and spend their fourth year onsite in an internship training program at one of the several affiliated hospitals.
BSEd in Biology
This program is designed to prepare the student for a career in teaching in Secondary Schools.
Program Highlights:
Professional certification in Biology is awarded to the student who completes the program satisfactorily. Each student is strongly advised to seek certification in a related area to enhance employment potential. Related areas include the following: General Science, Health Education, Athletic Training, and Environmental Education. Students in this program have two Academic Advisors, one for Biology and one for Secondary Education.
Program Highlights
- Opportunities for funded research and published papers in high visibility journals.
- Teaching and research laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities including greenhouses, a biosafety level 3 facility, The Robert B. Gordon Natural Area for Environmental Studies (120 acres of woodland, old field, and wetland habitat), The William Darlington Herbarium (is the second oldest collection of preserved plant specimens in the United States, including 20,000 specimens from 185 to 1860).and The B. Harry Warren Ornithological Collection contains approximately 2000 bird specimens dating back to the late 1800's.
- Study abroad opportunities
What can I do with this degree?
With hands-on technical knowledge as well as communication and analytical skills, biology graduates are prepared for nearly any path they choose—whether it’s education; environmental consulting; health care; law; pharmaceuticals; publishing; industrial, microbiological, biomedical or biotechnological research; or graduate study.
Our graduates have gone on to work at many distinguished companies including:
Accugenix AmeriCorps, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Cahill Associates, Cooper Biomedical, DuPont Environmental Protection Authority, Environmental Resources Management, Inc. GlaxoSmithKline Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Lankenau Hospital, Marine Conservation Biology Institute Merck, Sharpe and Dohme Smith Kline Beecham Sterling Drug University of Alaska, Juneau Whitehead, Institute Wyeth Ayerst
Graduates have pursued advanced study at many distinguished academic institutions including:
Cornell Medical School, Duke University, East Carolina University, North Carolina State University, Penn State University, Pennsylvania College of Osteopathic Medicine, Princeton University, Rutgers University, Texas A&M University, Temple University, Thomas Jefferson University, Tufts University, University of California, Davis University of California, Santa Cruz University of Guelph, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Kentucky, University of Maryland, University of Massachusetts, University of New Hampshire, University of North Carolina, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Schoo,l University of Pittsburgh