Undergraduate Programs

The Developmental and Cell Biology major is intended to provide students with intensive training in cutting edge approaches to understanding the structure and function of cells and how they interact to produce a complex organism, starting with a fertilized egg. The focus of the B.S. in Developmental and Cell Biology is to provide students with intensive training aimed at preparing them for graduate programs in modern Developmental and Cell Biology or other biomedical sciences. In-depth training in the molecular basis of cell and developmental biology will be coupled with integrating knowledge obtained from the recent explosive advances in genomic technology to provide a strong working understanding of how to approach problems in basic research.

Genetics is an inescapable part of modern society; it features in intellectual news articles and popular talk shows, in discussions of topics from health care to reproductive cloning, in conversations about how CRISPR genome modification will change life as we know it, to how much Neanderthal DNA you have. With human genome sequencing widely available, it is more important now than ever for biology students to have a broad background in the study of heredity and evolution. The Genetics major enables undergraduates interested in molecular, developmental, and evolutionary genetics to explore how genetic mechanisms contribute to understanding human development and disease. Genetics majors in their Junior and Senior years meet with faculty advisors who help plan their curricula, select appropriate Bio 199 research labs and provide career advice. The Genetics major provides training in the skills necessary to pursue graduate degrees in biomedical research, teacher-training programs, medical school, and veterinary school. Genetics majors may also use their backgrounds effectively in planning careers in law, business, education, and public affairs.