Welcome to the biology major.  We hope that this handbook will be helpful whether you already have chosen or are considering a major in biology. A major in biology can prepare you for a broad range of careers, not limited to those discussed here. There has been no more exciting time to study the life sciences.  Your studies here will be demanding, but should also be exciting to you, with numerous opportunities to explore new ideas about how the living world functions.

A student graduating with a major in biology should be well educated in the history of scientific discovery in biology, the logical and statistical procedures used to formulate and to test biological hypotheses, and technical skills needed for conducting contemporary biological research.  Majors should appreciate the hierarchical nature of biological complexity, and the major structures and functions emerging at the molecular, cellular, organismal, populational and ecosystem levels.  At least one dimension of contemporary research should be understood in sufficient detail that the student could describe the major hypotheses currently being tested and demonstrate familiarity with techniques used to test those hypotheses.  Mastery of the material will be evident in a student's ability to critique published data, identifying ambiguities and uncertainties in conclusions drawn from those data, and in understanding the societal importance of the research.  A student attaining these goals will be prepared to make creative contributions to biology through independent research and/or teaching, and will be ready for graduate training in biological research, education, health care, industrial biotechnology, and the computational, legal and business careers related to biotechnology.  A major should appreciate the importance of biological knowledge for solving societal problems.