Biology

Learn more about the Department of Biology at Valpo online.

Professors Eberhardt (chair), Scaglione-Sewell, Swanson, Watters; Associate Professors Bouyer, Bugajski, Dick; Assistant Professors Berberoglu, Kenney-Hunt, Nakamoto, Orozco-Nunnelly.

Biology is the disciplined study of living organisms. It is also a vital part of liberal education, enabling students to develop an appreciation of their own biological nature as well as of the great variety of organisms and communities of organisms with which they come into contact and upon which they are dependent.

The study of biology may be at many levels: molecular, cellular, organismic, population, community, ecosystem, evolutionary. The department offers instruction at each of these levels designed to meet the requirements for graduate study, for professional schools, and for teaching careers in biology or for working in industrial or governmental positions.

The Biology Department is housed in both the Neils Science Center and the new Center for the Sciences, teaching-research facilities with state-of-the-art equipment. Nearly all biology courses have a laboratory component and all field or laboratory classes are taught by professors or other experienced faculty. The department makes extensive field trips for its organismal biology laboratory courses to the Indiana Dunes National Park, which ranks third of all national parks in species diversity, and at other distinguished natural history institutions in the Chicago area. Biology majors are encouraged to conduct research under the supervision of faculty members. Majors also have opportunities to study abroad at the University’s overseas centers or at affiliated institutions as well as at recognized programs sponsored by national laboratories and other distinguished institutions.

Pre-Medical Arts Programs

A major in biology is an appropriate preparation for admission into professional schools and programs such as medicine, dentistry, hospital administration, medical technology, optometry, physical therapy, podiatry, public health, veterinary medicine, and other allied health fields. Further information may be obtained from the chair of the department or members of the Committee on Pre-Medical Arts.

Field Station

Valparaiso University has a partnership with a biological field station in southern Michigan called Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. Funding is available through PCCI for student/faculty summer research collaborations at the field station. See the department chair for more information.

Biology Club

Students with an interest in biology are invited to join the Biology Club.

Senior Assessment Examination

All graduating seniors will take the Biology Assessment Examination during their final semester of biology instruction. See the chair of the department for details.

Approval of Schedules

All students taking majors or minors in biology and all students planning to teach biological subjects must have their schedules approved by their academic advisors at the beginning of each semester.

Note: Entering students who satisfy requirements for BIO 171 and BIO 172 or equivalent by passing the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examination in Biology or the Advanced Placement Examination (AP) in Biology are granted 8 credit hours toward graduation. Students who pass the International Baccalaureate (IB) Examination in Biology are granted 4 credit hours for BIO 171 .