Department of Biology
The Department of Biology is the largest science department at Southern Connecticut
State University. The department offers three undergraduate degrees: a B.S. in Biology,
a B.A in Biology, and a B.S. in Biology with teaching certification. The student entering
the biology program is assigned an advisor based his or her selected area of concentration
within biology. The department offers over 40 undergraduate biology courses for
biology majors. Students must take a core biology curriculum that includes majors
zoology, majors botany, and genetics plus one course selected from biodiversity,
anatomy, and physiology, and cell and molecular biology. Students take at least 10
courses in biology, plus courses in chemistry, physics, earth science, and mathematics in
addition to the university requirements needed to meet graduation requirements.
The biology department also offers studies leading to an M.S. in Biology. Students
electing to take graduate studies can select one of three formats: 30 credits in graduate
biology courses and a comprehensive examination, 30 credits in graduate biology courses
including 6 credits of thesis working with a biology department thesis mentor, or 36
credits in biology courses including a 3 credit independent study course. The department
offers over 30 graduate level courses in biology that may be taken to complete
requirements for the graduate degree. The biology department also works closely with
the science education department to offer a teaching certification program while pursuing
the M.S. degree for students that elect this option.
The biology department includes 10 full-time faculty and 10 adjunct faculty. Some areas
of faculty teaching and research specializations include aquatic biology, cancer biology,
biotechnology, conservation ecology, molecular, cellular and developmental biology
(MCDB), herpetology, mammalogy, marine biology, ornithology, plant diversity,
physiology, taxonomy and systematics of insects, and paleontology.
Strengths of the program are evident at both undergraduate and graduate levels and focus
on quality of teaching and learning. Faculty mentored research opportunities are
available at the graduate and advanced undergraduate level. Our premedical preparation
program is in great demand and well respected. Students enrolled in this concentration
area in biology are assigned a premedical advisor to guide them through the course work
in preparation for application to medical school. Most students that successfully
complete our pre-professional program in biology go on to attend a professional school of
medicine, dentistry, veterinarian science, or physician’s assistant program. Many enroll
at the University of Connecticut but our students have been accepted at schools
throughout the United States, Canada, and many foreign schools.
Biology department faculty are involved in several key areas of biology. Dr. Sarah
Crawford heads a cancer research program which provides ample opportunities for
mentoring both undergraduate and graduate biology students. Dr. Nicholas Edgington
maintains an active and energetic laboratory research in the eukaryotic cell cycle that
centers on cellular development and the cell cycle of yeasts. Students electing to study
animals can chose the study of marine biology study with Dr. Grace, insect ecology and
the study of taxonomy and systematics with Dr. Burian who specializes in research and
publishing about benthic organisms of streams including the Ephemeroptera (mayflies)
and other aquatics, or the conservation ecology of invasive species with Dr. Smith.
Reports and interviews with Dr. Smith on his research have appeared in regional media
outlets including the New York Times Science Section. The health science section of the
New Haven Register has recently featured stories about several biology faculty members
including Dr. Edgington, Dr. Grace, Dr. Smith, Dr. Weinbaum, and their scientific work.
In addition to many scientific publications, Dr. Burian’s work and expertise has been
noted in local media. He is also a national NSF consultant regarding species level
diversity of aquatic habitats.
Biology majors come from an ever increasing broad spectrum of backgrounds. Currently
approximately half of our students are minorities or international students. The biology
department also makes every attempt to accommodate students with special needs.
Biology department faculty constantly revise course content and teaching methods to
promote an atmosphere of active teaching and learning in a constantly changing field.
We of the biology department expect that when our students have completed their studies
with a biology degree they will have attained a mastery of topics and skills necessary to
pursue academic or professional careers in biology.