Biology Department Homepage

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Related Programs:

• Biochemistry
• Biological Psychology
• Environmental Studies
• Premedical/Predental

The Biology Major's Handbook

The Biology Department at Holy Cross offers students a rigorous education in all aspects of modern biology. Course offerings and faculty research interests span all the major sub-disciplines and experimental approaches of biology at scales of organization from molecules to ecosystems. In addition, the department hopes to expand its offerings in the near future to include geology.

Classes are small and students have ample opportunity to receive individual attention. Biology is one of the two majors at the College with competitive admission. No more than 80 students are accepted into any one class. Typically 45 to 50 students graduate as biology majors with the difference being students who have decided to move to other majors.

We are especially proud of our active undergraduate research program where students have the opportunity to do significant semi-independent research under the direction of the faculty. Approximately 70% of our graduates go on to receive advanced degrees, the majority of which are in bio-medical sciences.

The Department is housed in O'Neil and Swords Halls which are part of the College's Science Complex. O'Neil Hall underwent extensive renovation in 1999-2000 and a new addition containing additional teaching and research laboratories and faculty offices were added at that time. Our facilities are state-of-the-art: all classrooms, offices and laboratories are networked; computer projection systems are present in all classrooms, and we possess an impressive array of modern instrumentation for teaching and research. The College is presently in the planning stage for a major renovation of the Science Complex. Although this will primarily affect the physics and chemistry departments, biology students will also benefit from the College's constant efforts to offer top-notch education in the natural sciences.

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