Biology Program

The biology program at UMF is housed in the Department of Natural Sciences. We offer two degrees in Biology; a Bachelor of Arts in Biology (for students interested in pursuing a technical career or further graduate or professional studies) and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education/Biology (for students interested in a career in science education). We also offer a minor in Biology for students majoring in other fields.

Students enrolled in our programs participate in a curriculum designed to provide them with a broad background in the biological sciences, while allowing them the flexibility to specialize in their area of career interest. Small class sizes, close faculty-student relations, and a relaxed learning environment are among the advantages enjoyed by UMF students. The biology faculty have a wide range of teaching and research interests, and professors actively involve students in their research programs. Modern well equipped labs and a variety of nearby forest, freshwater, and marine locations provide students with ample opportunities to engage in independent research or internships in ecology, aquatic biology, animal behavior, microbiology, physiology, and genetics.

Some of our graduates have pursued Masters or Ph.D.'s at institutions such as Cornell University, the University of North Carolina, Ohio State University, Arizona State University, and Marquette University, among others. Other graduates have used their UMF education as a stepping stone to professional schools and careers that include: physicians, physician assistants, nurses, dentists, optometrists and opticians, chiropractors, medical technologists, pharmacists, and physical and occupational therapists. Some students choose to enter directly into teaching at the secondary school level, while others begin technical careers with employers such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Department of Public Health, and private laboratories and consulting firms.