Biosciences Department
Hagen Hall 407, (218) 477-2572
Chair: Andrew Marry
Faculty: Sara Anderson, Ellen Brisch, Andrew Marry, Chris Merkord, Sumali Pandey, Taylor Schmit, Adam Stocker, Donna Bruns Stockrahm, Alison Wallace, Brian Wisenden, Patricia Wisenden
The Biosciences department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Science degree with four emphasis areas.
The BS degree prepares students for a wide variety of careers in a biological sub-discipline such as human health, medicine, evolutionary biology, conservation biology, natural resource management, public health, and environmental health. Students gain skills relevant to field work, lab work in clinical or industry settings, research, and data analysis. Graduates can seek employment within the private sector, local, state, or federal government agencies, non-profit organizations, and academia. This degree is suitable for students planning to pursue an advanced graduate degree or apply for admission to a pre-professional school such as medical, physician’s assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, dental, chiropractic, or veterinary school.
One Health emphasis reflects a growing awareness and advocacy from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization of the need to holistically integrate the study of human, animal, and environmental health to effectively address zoonotic infectious disease and environmental change challenges at the local and global levels.
Human Health Sciences emphasis prepares students for professional schools in a variety of fields in human health including physical therapy, occupational therapy and chiropractic medicine, among many others.
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology emphasis prepares students for careers in natural resource management, organismal and ecosystem processes and preparation for advanced study in these areas.
Medical and Cellular Biology emphasis provides an excellent preparation for students for pre-health professional schools such as medical school and/or graduate school in biomedical and cellular biology programs.
The Bachelor of Science in Life Science Education prepare students for a career in teaching biology in middle and high school. 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. There is a 3 + 3 articulation agreement between MSUM and Northwestern Health Sciences University for entry into the NWSU Doctor of Chiropractor program.
Students from other majors can minor in general Biology or minor in Biology in one of the areas of concentration. 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 required courses in other disciplines makes it important that students consult early and often with a member of the Biosciences faculty.
Transfer students wishing to complete a Biology major must complete at least 6 credits selected from approved 300-400 level courses in the Biosciences Department at MSUM regardless of the number of transfer credits accepted toward the major.