Biology Department // Northern Michigan University

Biology Department - Mission Statement

The mission of the Biology Department takes its direction from the mission of the University. The specific portions of the University mission statement (1996-1998 Undergraduate Bulletin) which provide direction to the Department are reproduced below:

The university will be predominantly an undergraduate institution, emphasizing a core of liberal arts programs and professional degrees that build on that core.... The university shall offer selected master's degree programs and continue its special role in teacher education, continuing education, and public service. For the region it shall serve as the major educational, economic, cultural, and recreational resource.

The Biology Department contributes to the mission of the University by offering:

Undergraduate biology programs appropriate for a regional, state supported university, which meet the needs of the students we serve.
A major in Biology for the secondary education curriculum.
Courses to support professional and Liberal Arts degree programs in other departments, and Liberal Studies courses for all students at the University.
A program of graduate study which awards the Master of Science Degree.

Undergraduate Program

The central mission of the Biology Department is undergraduate education. The Baccalaureate degree in Biology emphasizes the fundamental principles of biology: matter, energy, and organization in living systems; the cellular basis of life; the mechanisms of inheritance; biological evolution; the function and behavior of organisms; and the interdependence of organisms within ecosystems.

The curriculum focuses on the nature of scientific inquiry and how the scientific method is used to analyze and interpret data. Courses in biology stress critical thinking and effective communication skills, and include laboratory experiences designed to foster investigation and understanding. The Department encourages undergraduates to participate in faculty- supervised research projects.

Graduate Program

The graduate program in Biology is another essential component of our Department, providing advanced training and faculty supervision for graduate students doing original research in selected areas. The graduate students, as role models, encourage and foster undergraduate students who participate in joint investigations.

Research

Original research is conducted by many faculty members in the Department for two purposes: to provide society with new information on biological processes and to enhance the education of undergraduate and graduate students who actively participate in research projects.

Departmental Focus

The philosophy of the Department differs between undergraduate and graduate education. A broad-based undergraduate program is needed to prepare students for employment or further education, while graduate students require specialized programs and conduct original research for their professional preparation. To meet the needs of both groups of students, the Department maintains a broad-based undergraduate program while focusing graduate efforts in two areas. One focus is on ecological relationships, and the other focus is on the function and development of cells and organisms. In many cases, research interests in these areas overlap. Graduates from the Biology Department will be able to contribute to a democratic society as professional biologists and scientifically literate citizens.

10/28/97