NGCSU - Biology Department, Home Page

Graphic Banner of various biological sciences

Ten reasons to study Biology at NGCSU:
1.	A faculty dedicated to teaching
		NGCSU is a teaching institution. Our faculty is active in research, as well as service to the campus and community, but we are primarily focused on teaching. This is often not the case at other institutions.

2.	Small classes
		A typical biology class has 20-25 students. Freshmen classes are larger but are still smaller than you would probably find elsewhere. This allows us to provide plenty of individual help and attention.

3.	Biology laboratories are taught by faculty, not students
		Except in a few sections of freshmen-level biology, the faculty that teach students in lecture also teach those same students in the lab. This is often not the case at other institutions. The result is careful dovetailing of the laboratory and lecture experiences.

4.	Balanced curriculum
		Our curriculum is designed to provide students with a broad background in biological sciences while still allowing upperclassmen to explore specialized areas within the field. Freshmen take Principles of Biology I & II--the sequence provides a solid foundation for further study. Sophomores and juniors typically take courses in microbiology, botany, zoology, genetics, cell biology, physiology, and ecology to develop their analytical abilities and become well versed in organismal biology. Seniors take specialized biology courses to pursue specific areas of interest.

5.	Excellent preparation
		Our biology courses are very challenging. We make this point clear when writing letters of recommendation, so outstanding students truly do stand out. Our students graduate knowing how to work hard, expect to continue working hard to succeed throughout life, and are well prepared for future academic challenges.

6.	Free tutoring
		Our faculty go out of their way to be available to students outside of the classroom. Nevertheless, sometimes students prefer to get help from other students. Our tutors are seasoned, accomplished biology majors who are regularly available to provide free tutoring.

7.	Focused advisement
		Students are advised by faculty who advise only students in specific career paths. Some faculty specialize in advising pre-medical students, others advise only pre-physical therapy students, etc. Advisors can truly be experts when they are dedicated to advising students in just one or two career paths.

8.	Modern laboratories
		Our facilities include well-equipped microbiology, genetics and cell biology laboratories, and a physiology lab that truly qualifies as "state-of-the-art." Most of our biology courses have a laboratory component; this enables students to engage in active learning, develop analytical skills, and practice critical thinking.

9.	Field experiences
		Students studying enrolled in ecology, plant taxonomy, or marine biology may enroll in additional courses termed "extended field studies" which provide field experiences in off-campus locations such as the Okefenokee Swamp and Sapelo Island. A recently developed field station at the nearby Hurricane Creek Tract Wildlife Conservation Area allows convenient access to a variety of ecosystems for students engaged in independent research projects. Ecology laboratories also typically include field experiences in which students collect data for analysis.

10.	New building
		Since May 2002 the Department of Biology has been housed in the new Health & Natural Sciences building. This large, modern facility provides plenty of space so we can serve our students even better.

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How do you prepare for a college degree program in Biology?

Biology, today more than ever, is largely an application of chemistry, physics, and mathematics to life processes. We offer a rigorous program that requires knowledge of basic science concepts to understand biology, along with a reasonable amount of quantitative analysis in the form of probability, statistics, graph interpretation and other mathematical applications.

We recommend that our majors begin their first biology course with at least some background in chemistry, and we encourage students to take college chemistry soon after entering our department. We favor mathematics and physics over additional biology courses in high school (e.g. anatomy). This is not only a recommendation for our department, but all NGCSU science courses, and any university science program in general.

In other words take as many chemistry, physics and mathematics classes as you can in high school.

If you need any other information about our programs at NGCSU, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Click Here to see our Biology FAQ and information about areas of specialization and advisement

Ten reasons to study Biology at NGCSU: