Biology

Majors & Courses

The Biology major provides entry to a wide variety of postgraduate pathways. If you are interested in Molecular Biology or Environmental Biology, we offer special tracks within the Department that emphasize those areas. Our curriculum, coupled with pre-professional advising, enables students to enter professional schools in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, optometry.

You will discover a variety of course patterns available for Biology majors that allow you to tailor a program that matches your interests. The “basic” major is the starting point for all.

• Biology Major


• Biology – Specialization in Environmental Studies (elective courses in Environmental Policy, Economics, Statistics)


• Biology – Specialization in Molecular Biology


• Biology – Mathematics Dual Major

Minors & Focus Areas

• Biology Minor
• Biology with Education Minor
• Elementary level (grades 1-6) Certification (MD)
• Secondary level (grades 7-12) Certification (MD)

Faculty

Meet the professors of McDaniel’s Biology Department, all of whom are full-time:

Associate Professor and department chair Randall Morrison

(Ph.D., University of Kansas), is a cell biologist whose students in Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Vertebrate Diversity have traveled with him to the islands of San Salvador and Andros in the Bahamas and to Madagascar to research the production and use of skin color in lizards, particularly the combinations of pigment cells used to generate color in lizard skin and the ways color change is accomplished. Visit Dr. Morrison's faculty page.

Assistant Professor Cheng Huang

(Ph.D., Washington University), is a molecular geneticist whose research has focused on identifying and characterizing novel genes implicated in fundamental biological problems and embryonic development using zebrafish as a genetic model organism and teaching interests include current genetics and cell biology, biochemistry and genetics.

Assistant Professor Molly Jacobs

(Ph.D., University of Washington), is an invertebrate/marine biologist who teaches Invertebrate, Marine and Larval Biology and whose fascination with the life histories of marine organisms takes her and her students for intensive summer research excursions to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and other field stations. Visit Dr. Jacobs' faculty page.

Assistant Professor Brett McMillan

(Ph.D., Old Dominion University), an environmental biologist who teaches Ecology, Environmental Health, Botany, and Field and Taxonomic Botany, includes students in his research on the interaction between soil and nutrient cycling, plant diversity and competition, invasive species and soil invertebrates and considers it his life’s work to inspire a generation of students to appreciate plants and the environment. Visit Dr. McMillan's faculty page.

Associate Professor Ralene Mitschler

(Ph.D., Kansas State University), is an experienced parasitologist and protozoologist whose courses include Epidemiology, Immunology and Parasitology and research with students finds them investigating the protozoan parasites that live in insects or heading to her farm to study the reputedly infection-resistant, rare and primitive Jacob sheep she raises. Visit Dr. Mitschler's faculty page.

Assistant Professor Susan Parrish

(Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University), is a molecular biologist who teaches advanced Molecular Genetics, Genomics and Molecular Biology takes an active role in her students’ research in her areas of interest, genomics and the biochemical properties of Nudix enzymes from a variety of viruses and an amoeba.

Resources

The Biology faculty are broadly-trained educators and mentors who care about their students. Part of that teaching involves fostering research experiences, from campus locations to the Gerace Research Centre in the Bahamas or at the myriad of laboratories to be found in the Baltimore-Washington region.

Learn more about student-faculty research from the Adventures in Biology Research blog.

On campus, Biology majors will study in Eaton Hall which houses state-of-the-art biology and chemistry laboratories, faculty offices, and three research labs dedicated for student use to take their science to a new level. Many Biology students find employment and enjoy successful careers with a bachelor’s degree. They enter a variety of fields such as genetics, marine science, cancer research, environmental analysis, or work as laboratory research associates.

A sample of recent student–faculty research collaboration includes:

Beta Beta Beta Honor Society

Established in 1932, McDaniel’s chapter of Beta Beta Beta, honor society in Biology, is one of the oldest in the nation. Its goals are to stimulate interest, scholarly attainment, and investigation in the Biological Sciences, and to inform students of the possibilities for achievement in the Biological Sciences. Associate members must complete 4 credits in Biology with a 3.0 GPA in Biology courses and a 2.75 overall. Active members must complete 12 credits in Biology with a 3.25 in Biology courses and a 3.0 overall.

After McDaniel

Recent biology graduates have pursued advanced degrees such as the following: