Department of Biology & Microbiology

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Department of Biology and Microbiology2024-04-03T14:46:17-06:00

Welcome!

The Department of Biology and Microbiology offers several comprehensive programs that prepare students to enter into the job market competitively at the bachelor level or to further their education in either graduate or professional school.

Degree Offerings

The Applied Microbiology curriculum starts with a “microbiology core curriculum” consisting of two general biology survey courses and two general microbiology survey courses with companion laboratories.  These survey courses provide students with a broad and basic understanding of the fundamental fields of modern biology and microbiology.  Additionally, students complete a series of more directed courses focused on environmental regulations, biochemistry, and microbial genetics and physiology.  All students must take a capstone and scientific communication course and three semesters of chemistry (general and organic) with their companion laboratories.

Microbiology majors must choose one of the following two concentrations to allow students with different interests to obtain the proper training necessary to pursue their specific career goals:

Environmental and Applied Microbiology (619C) –For those interested in pursuing employment or graduate degrees in food, industrial, or environmental microbiology or quality assurance technology.

Medical and Health Profession (619B)– For those interested in employment or graduate degrees in medicine, dentistry, allied health sciences, pharmacy, or biomedical/microbiological research.

The Biology curriculum starts with a “core biological sciences curriculum” consisting of two survey courses with companion laboratories and two senior-level courses. The survey courses provide students with a broad and basic understanding of the fundamental fields of modern biology including cell and molecular biology, anatomy and physiology, genetics, microbiology, botany, invertebrate and vertebrate zoology, ecology and evolution. The senior-level courses focus on applying the knowledge that students have gained to develop and complete a senior project and then learning how to communicate findings with other scientists and the general public.

Upon completion of the two survey courses, each biology major must pursue one of the following five concentrations to allow students with different interests to obtain the proper training necessary to attain their specific career goals:

Agribusiness (618U) – For students who seek employment or want to pursue graduate degrees in agricultural business.

Biomedical (618M) – For students interested in pursuing employment or graduate degrees in the medical field (medicine, dentistry, allied health, biomedical research).

Clinical Laboratory Sciences (618T)– For students who are interested in pursuing employment in medical technology.

Forensic Investigation (618Q)– For students who would like to work as an investigator in the office of the coroner, office of the medical examiner or law enforcement agencies.

General Biology (618W) – For students who require the flexibility of an online degree, and wish to pursue employment or graduate degrees in the field of biology.

Wildlife Biology and Conservation (618X)– For students who are interested in pursuing employment or graduate degrees in natural resources, wildlife management, ecology or zoology.

Veterinary Technology (618V) – For students who are interested in pursuing employment or graduate degrees in veterinary medicine.

Student Information

Pre-Professional School Advising Committee (PPSAC)

The committee understands the difficulty and anxiety that comes along with completing professional health school applications and preparing for the formal interview. To aid our students, we have established a Pre-Professional School Advising Committee to help you through this process.

The Department of Biology and Microbiology is a part of the School of STEM.

STEM News

NSU will participate in upcoming events to promote AMT program

Northwestern State University will participate in two upcoming events to promote the Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) GeauxFAME program, a partnership between NSU, Central Louisiana Technical Community College and Natchitoches Community Alliance.

Students participate in RockOn! workshop

A student and faculty team from Northwestern State University participated in a research event hosted by NASA earlier this summer at Wallops Flight Facility on the eastern shore of Virginia.

Paper co-authored by Hossain wins award

A paper co-authored by Md Shahriar Jahan Hossain won the Best Track Paper Award from the Third European International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management.

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