The Biology Major is an exciting, dynamic course of study, and one I believe you will find very rewarding. Students in the department readily interact through social and academic activities, and many are engaged in projects with the faculty in the department. All of our faculty members welcome the opportunity to help you meet your academic and professional aspirations.
Now how do you find us? The Biology Department is housed in the Donnelly Science Center, a state-of-the-art facility with teaching, research, and student space. An addition to the building was completed in January of 2000 and houses our newest teaching and research laboratories, classrooms and offices. We also have a Biology Student Learning Center that is available to our students around the clock. This facility has a student research lab and a multi-purpose room with computer workstations, comfortable chairs for reading, and table space for group learning or microscope use. Perhaps most importantly, this is one of the best locations to find peers with the same interests shared by you.
The curriculum for biology majors starts with an introduction to the hierarchy of biology by introducing students first to Cellular and Molecular Biology in the first semester, followed by Organismal Biology (plant and animal structure and function) in the second semester. During the sophomore year, biology majors take their final foundation course in ecology and evolutionary biology. We offer a wide range of upper-level courses in each of these three areas including courses in biochemistry, cell ultrastructure, immunology, physiology, genetics, microbiology, plant-animal interactions, conservation biology, invertebrate zoology and evolution. In addition, we offer senior seminars on a variety of topics, including evolution of sex, brain research, primate biology, and organization of the nucleus. We also offer a spring semester course called Exploring Ecosystems that includes an end of semester 2-week field trip; in the past 3 years, students have traveled to the Amazon rainforest, desert southwest (Arizona and parts of Mexico), and Belize to study coral reef ecology.
In addition to our standard curriculum, we offer several Interdisciplinary majors. Popular interdisciplinary majors include Biochemistry, Biology/Mathematical Sciences and Biology/Psychology. These majors not only allow students to combine their interests but also help to prepare them for the interdisciplinary nature of the modern world. You will be assigned an advisor after formal declaration of major at the end of your first year, but before that time, please feel free to talk with your core advisor or with any of the biology faculty about any of these options.
In addition to course work, other opportunities abound for students. Many are actively engaged in the diverse research programs of the biology faculty. In recent years, students have presented their research findings at both local and national meetings. In addition, many students take advantage of the many internship opportunities available in the Baltimore area. Students have completed internships at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, the National Institutes of Health, the Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland professional schools, among numerous others.
After graduation, more than half of our majors go on to medical, dental, or graduate school while others find employment in the fields of education, healthcare, the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, or non-profit or governmental fields. Loyola enjoys an excellent reputation among regional professional schools, a fact that accounts for the high acceptance rate of our graduates.
Nine faculty members who all hold doctorates from many fine institutions guide our program for biology majors. We have built a strong, caring and supportive community within the department and attempt to immerse our students into that community. If you have additional questions, you are welcome to call and arrange an appointment to speak with me or another member of our department. You may even want to arrange to sit in on a class to get an idea of what topics are pursued in a typical classroom situation. I can be reached at 410-617-2057 or E-mail Me!. Monika Matthews, our departmental administrative assistant can be reached at 410-617-2642.
I wish you the best in choosing a college and program that suits your needs, and hope to meet you as a member of the Biology Department at Loyola College.
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