Biosciences Department
Hagen Hall 103, (218) 477-2572
Chair: Brian Wisenden
Faculty: Sara Anderson, Ellen Brisch, Chris Chastain, Andrew Marry, Daniel McEwen, Donna Bruns Stockrahm, Alison Wallace, Patricia Wisenden, Adam Stocker

The department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Bachelor of Science degree in Life Science Education. In addition to the B.A. in Biology, two emphases are available for students majoring in Biology: a Health and Medical Sciences Emphasis that may be appropriate for prospective health professionals in a variety of fields, and an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Emphasis that may be appropriate for students interested in natural resources, ecology, and evolution. Biosciences faculty advise students in a number of pre-professional areas such as pre-medicine, pre-optometry, pre-veterinary medicine, pre-physical and occupational therapy, pre-physician’s assistant, pre-chiropractic, and pre-respiratory care. Minors in Biology, Botany, Health and Medical Sciences and Zoology are designed to support other fields of study such as art, psychology, education, chemistry and certain business majors. Teaching licensure is available in Life Sciences (grades 9-12). This licensure meets the requirements for licensure in Science (grades 5-8). The sequential nature of the biology curriculum and the necessity to coordinate certain biology courses with courses required in other disciplines makes it important that students considering any of the majors in the Biosciences Department consult a member of the Biosciences faculty early in their college career.

Transfer students wishing to complete any Biology major must complete at least 6 credits selected from approved 300-400 level courses in the Biosciences Department at Minnesota State University Moorhead regardless of the number of transfer credits accepted toward the major.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Understand fundamental biological concepts at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecosystem levels.
• Recognize evolution as a unifying theme across biological disciplines.
• Demonstrate competence in general lab and field skills and be introduced to discipline-specific skills and their professional applications.
• Apply critical thinking skills and quantitative tools to evaluate biological information.
• Practice effective oral and written communication of scientific ideas in the manner of professional biologists.
• Acquire basic research skills in introductory courses and refine these skills in advanced courses including independent research.
• Recognize the value of multicultural and ethical perspectives in the advancement and application of science in human society.