The JWU Advantage: Biology

What makes JWU’s biology program stand out?

“The science department faculty are committed to both science education and their area of expertise,” said faculty member and science department chair Christos Dimos, Ph.D. “They genuinely care about the students and want to help them grow as a person and professional.” If that wasn’t enough, here are three areas where JWU biology students get the edge:

Individual attention and advanced knowledge

Better yet, our students get the benefit of learning from faculty members who teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. That means that while students are gaining foundational knowledge, faculty also expose them to the advanced ideas and theories they’ll encounter in future study. Combined with one-on-one attention in a small class setting, it’s no surprise that JWU biology students are more prepared for the next step in their academic or career path.

Stellar facilities

We know that along with providing excellent instruction we must also give our biology students access to cutting-edge facilities to enrich their learning experience. The biology program is housed in the newest academic building on campus. In the Bowen Center, you’ll find classrooms designed to promote active learning, common areas for groups or individuals to collaborate and share what they’re working on, along with a whiteboard wall to capture ideas. The laboratory spaces are equipped with modern industry-relevant equipment. Dimos explained that this is essential because it “allows students to apply the concepts they are working on in lecture. These laboratories try to mimic the experiences students will have in the industry or graduate school.” For example, the Coastal Ecology, Molecular Biology and Integrative Biology lecture and laboratory courses are designed to prepare students for entry-level jobs at biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, federal agencies, healthcare organizations, non-profit foundations, and academic institutions.

Flexible program, tailored to goals

Since our biology students have a variety of exciting plans for their careers after earning their undergraduate degree, we’ve established a flexible program to help them achieve their goals. Dimos notes that, “We integrate career advice and help students explore various careers in the field of biology. Students have the option of declaring a specialization in Biomedical Science or Environmental Studies, or picking their own combination of biology electives to prepare for a specific career.

Potential Biology Careers

Some careers biology students go into include:

Agricultural and Food Scientists

Biological Scientists

Biological Engineers

Environmental Scientists and Specialists

3+3 Program

Additionally, students interested in pursuing graduate degrees in physical therapy, occupational therapy, medicine and similar fields benefit from our Pre-Health Advising program to help determine all the steps they will need to take to build a successful application. “Students interested in health professions are assigned a pre-health adviser and can participate in a Pre-Health Professions Club that helps students meet professional and graduate school requirements, such as patient contact hours, shadowing hours, and volunteer work,” explained Dimos.

Both the coursework and individualized advising provided in the program thoroughly prepare students to enter health-related graduate programs, or to pursue entry-level jobs in governmental, industrial, or academic settings.

Want to learn more?

Learn more about earning your bachelor’s degree in biology today at Johnson & Wales.