Department of Biology

Associate Professor Brown, Chairperson; Professors Combs, Cook, Hayslette, Kissell; Associate Professors Gunderson, Hurt, Krosnick, Murdock; Assistant Professors Beck, Carver, Cohen, Hall, Wheeler; Senior Instructor Pirkle; Senior Lecturers Panter, Swallows

The Department of Biology offers two majors, both leading to a Bachelor of Science degree: Biology and Wildlife and Fisheries Science (WFS). Within the Biology major, there are seven concentrations: Botany; Cellular & Molecular Biology; Environmental Biology; Health Sciences Biology; Marine Biology; Microbiology; and Zoology. Within the WFS major there are three concentrations: Conservation Biology; Fisheries Biology; and Wildlife Biology. Departmental offerings vary from strongly organismally-based concentrations to strongly lab-based concentrations, and prepare students for a wide variety of careers in biologically-focused areas, both in the field and in the lab. Students in both majors are also well-prepared to continue their education at the graduate level.

Students majoring in Biology and interested in one of the health-related professions (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physical therapy, optometry, occupational health, physician’s assistant) typically choose either the Health Sciences or Cellular & Molecular Biology concentration, and may declare a Career Tracks in their chosen professional field.

Tennessee Tech University is affiliated with the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. This affiliation permits students to enroll in marine biology courses that would otherwise be unavailable this far inland. The Biology Department is unique in Tennessee for its Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit supported jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and Tennessee Tech University. A primary function of the unit is to strengthen the graduate fisheries program; however, undergraduates interested in fisheries biology often find opportunities for valuable experience through association with Unit activities.

Programs

Bachelor of Science