Biosciences Department
Hagen Hall 407, (218) 477-2572
Chair: Andrew "Mazz" Marry
Faculty: Michael Aho, Sara Anderson, Ellen Brisch, Jonathan Bell-Clement, Andrew Marry, Chris Merkord, Sumali Pandey, Taylor Schmit, Adam Stocker, Donna Bruns Stockrahm, Alison Wallace, Brian Wisenden, Patricia Wisenden

A Unique Place to Learn

We are the best regional choice to follow a specialized degree path to fully prepare you for careers in Human Health (Medical and Dental school, Physician Assistant School, Physical Therapy, Chiropractic School,Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy Programs, Optometry School, Public Health), Molecular Biology, Animal and Environmental Sciences (Veterinary School, Fish and Wildlife, Resource Management) and graduate school for human, animal, plant, coastal, marine, & terrestrial environmental research.

Students will receive individualized attention in classes, labs, and field work. These are taught by dedicated, accessible, faculty members and get hands-on experience using sophisticated equipment similar to that found in the job market and graduate school. You are encouraged to get involved with research, outreach, and student organizations.

Faculty-student research collaborations deepens your learning experience and result in presentations at regional, national, and international meetings and publications in international scholarly peer-reviewed journals. Our graduates are also well prepared to enter the job market within the private sector, local, state, or federal government agencies, non-profit, and academia.

The Biosciences Department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Science degree with four emphasis areas.

The B.A. degree in Biology gives students a broad foundation in the biological sciences without emphasis toward any of the areas of specialty represented by the more career-oriented B.S. degrees in Biology. This open configuration allows flexibility in designing a degree path that does not align well with any of the B.S. degrees.

The B.S. degree in Biology prepares students for a wide variety of careers in sub-disciplines in the biological sciences: 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 a post-baccalaureate 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.

For those interested in pursuing graduate school in the health science we offer:

• A 3+3 Human Health Sciences BS Articulation Agreement for Chiropractic school with Northwestern University
• An accelerated 5-year Biology (BS) Human Health Sciences and a Masters of Healthcare Administration at MSUM.
• Minnesota State University Moorhead students receive preference for acceptance into the University of Jamestown Physical Therapy Program https://ptcasdirectory.apta.org/522/University-of-Jamestown

The B.S. in Biology degree is organized into four areas of emphasis:

• 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.
  

• 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.

• 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. This is also the best path for those interested in Veterinary Medicine.

• One Health emphasis follows guidance from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization 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.

The Bachelor of Science in Life Science Education prepares students for a career in teaching biology in middle and high school. Teaching licensure is available in life sciences (grades 9-12). This licensure meets the requirements for licensure in science (grades 5-8).

In General: 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.

Our facilities include an anatomical theater where students learn human anatomy through cadaver dissection. Human Anatomy with cadaver dissection is a unique opportunity in an undergraduate setting and is an excellent preparation for all health professional schools. Our lab is shared with the University of Jamestown Physical Therapy Program allowing for informal opportunities to visit their PT program.

MSUM Regional Science Center is a ~400-acre parcel of land located 15 min east of Moorhead. The MSUM RSC is part of the Bluestem Prairie Complex – Minnesota’s largest remnant tallgrass prairie comprising lands owned by MSUM, The Nature Conservancy and the Department of Natural Resources. It provides MSUM students with a rich opportunity to study prairie, riparian forest habitat and river communities.

The MSUM Oceanarium provides students an opportunity to study marine biology, work towards a Marine Aquarists Certificate and learn how to engage K12 students and the general public in conversations about conservation of marine ecosystems.

Students from other majors can minor in general Biology or minor in Biology in one of the areas of concentration.