Biology Department

Professor Waltzer, Chair
Associate Professor Brandon
Associate Professor Neiswinger

The department of biology at Belhaven University seeks to encourage students to develop an appreciation for the created world, to make an impact academically, and to use their knowledge in service to society. Students are expected to develop a broad background in biological science as preparation for teaching, graduate school, and the health-related professions, government, and industry.

Recommended for students majoring in Biology: PHY 241 -PHY 242 , PHY 243 -PHY 244 ; and CHE 216 and CHE 218 . Biology majors are required to take one semester of non-majors science: either SCI 125 or SCI 126 . Students who enter having taken algebra and with an ACT 25 in the sciences may take BIO 105 -BIO 106 , BIO 107 -BIO 108 concurrently with CHE 111 -CHE 112 , CHE 113 -CHE 114 .

In order to obtain a degree in Biology (or a minor in Biology) from Belhaven University, a student must take a minimum of 16 hours in Biology from Belhaven University. In order to declare a major in Biology, a student must have completed eight hours in Biology at Belhaven University. For recommendations for professional, graduate school or jobs, see instructions given under “Pre-Professional Programs.” Within the Biology major, anatomy and physiology and nutrition will count only as elective credit.

All rising juniors must take the Educational Testing Service Major Field Test in Biology. The test should be taken after completion of a minimum of 12 hours in biology at a time during the spring semester to be selected by the department chairman. The test will be used to aid in the advising and course selection process of the student. This test must be retaken during the senior topics course as part of the course grade.

Students will be required to have completed one semester of internship or research or mentoring to gain real-world experience. This may or may not involve course credit and may be fulfilled a number of ways; i.e. Health Careers Development Program; undergraduate research; internships at Voice of Calvary or Museum of Natural Science; Summer research programs; research at UMMC. Students may work with the chairman beginning as early as the end of their freshman year.

Pre-Professional Programs:
The Biology Department advises students for a number of programs in the health-related professions: Medicine, Dentistry, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Pharmacy. These programs and the prerequisite requirements are listed in the current catalogue at http://www.belhaven.edu/academics/Programs/preprofessional.htm.