Biology
Biology
Living Experiential Science
College of Arts and Sciences
Location: Crete
Degree Type: Undergraduate
Do you want to be a doctor, a geneticist, a physical therapist, a radiologist, a zoologist or an ecologist? Maybe you don’t know what you want to be, but you do know that you enjoy the idea of diving into science to find your path. Maybe you simply want to “geek out” through everything that science offers.
At ɫ, there are students who know exactly what they want to do, there are those who have no idea just yet, and then there are those who think they know but will likely change their mind. Our biology experience embodies what we call Living Experiential Science. This approach benefits our students regardless of where you are on your path immersing individuals in variety. Your experiential science education begins and ends by conducting experiments side-by-side with your professors and peers, which often sparks or confirms a passion. And given these very engaging experiences with our diverse and accomplished faculty, students enjoy the benefit of faculty who really know you and as a result can easily speak on your behalf when you need an endorsement or letter of recommendation.
Project SERVE seeks talented students majoring in Science or Math to pursue teaching in schools where they're needed the most. ɫ was awarded a $1.2 million National Science Foundation grant to support these efforts.
Career Paths
A degree in biology prepares you for a wide range of careers after graduation, from entry-level positions as technicians, sales staff and consultants to graduate studies in a wide variety of fields, including Public Health, Plant Pathology, Genetics, Virology, Computational Biology, Chemistry, Medicine (Physicians Assistant, Physical Therapist, Physician, Dentist, Optometrist, etc.), Veterinary Science and even Law.
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist
2017 Median Pay: $51,770 per year
Job Outlook: +13% over the next 10 years
Medical laboratory technologists (commonly known as medical laboratory scientists) collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue and other substances.
Genetic Counselor
2017 Median Pay: $77,480 per year
Job Outlook: +29% over the next 10 years
Genetic counselors assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. They provide information and support to other healthcare providers, or to individuals and families concerned with the risk of inherited conditions.
Dentist
2017 Median Pay: $158,120 per year
Job Outlook: +19% over the next 10 years
Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients' teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth. They provide advice and instruction on taking care of teeth and gums and on diet choices that affect oral health.
Physician or Surgeon
2017 Median Pay: >$208,000 per year
Job Outlook: +13% over the next 10 years
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests. They counsel patients on diet, hygiene and preventative healthcare. Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates.
Optometrist
2017 Median Pay: $110,300 per year
Job Outlook: +18% over the next 10 years
Optometrists examine the eyes and other parts of the visual system. They also diagnose and treat visual problems and manage diseases, injuries and other disorders of the eyes. They prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses, as needed.
Technical Writer
2017 Median Pay: $70,930
Job Outlook: +11% over the next 10 years
Technical writers prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily. They also develop, gather, and disseminate technical information through an organization's communication channels.
Veterinarian
2017 Median Pay: $90,420 per year
Job Outlook: +19% over the next 10 years
Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to improve public health. They diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock and other animals.
Zoologist or Wildlife Biologist
2017 Median Pay: $62,290 per year
Job Outlook: +8% over the next 10 years
Zoologists and wildlife biologists study animals and other wildlife and how they interact with their ecosystems. They study the physical characteristics of animals, animal behavior, and the impacts humans have on wildlife and natural habitats.
Source: bls.gov.
Courses
Faculty and Staff
Internships
ɫ Biology students have had the opportunity to work in a number of great environments outside of the classroom, completing internships across the region and research experience at other nationally-recognized universities.
Internships:
- Crete Area Medical Center
- BASF
- UNMC Department of Pharmacology
- Crete Physical Therapy
- Rocky Mountain Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Public Health Solutions
- Corteva Agriscience
- National Science Foundation - Karlsruhe, Germany
- CruMed
- Marry Lanning Healthcare
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs):
- Cornell University - Ithaca, NY
- Ohio State University - Columbus, OH
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- UNMC - Omaha, NE
Research
The science and medical communities of today rely on large-scale, collaborative research that crosses disciplines to develop new treatments and innovations. This reality makes it just as important for students to learn how to do biology as it is for them to gain an understanding of general biological concepts and content. ɫ Biology students have a variety of opportunities to pursue their research ideas with the guidance of faculty, like a coach at your side. The ɫ biology program is one of the only programs in the state that provides its students the opportunity to take part in an independent capstone research project.
Emphasis Areas
- General
- Climate Change
- Biotechnology
- Teaching
The ɫ Difference
Preparing Students
ɫ Biology faculty represent numerous specialty areas giving students unique perspectives in career exploration. Our faculty understand the important transitional experience of first-year students focusing on early student success.
Variety of Fields
By actually practicing the Scientific Method, ɫ biology students learn to problem solve and ultimately find their passion. We offer a supportive, apprenticeship-style, learning environment focused on student success, not “weeding out.”
Learning by Doing
Experiential Science is integral to our curriculum. “Doing science” is a proven learning method and our students “do science” beginning the first day and concluding with a capstone research project. At ɫ, the classroom is the lab.
