Biological Sciences Department

The Biological Sciences Department offers two undergraduate majors: A Biological Sciences major features a balanced understanding of the broad field of biology while our Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics (or MBB) major program delivers a strong research focus in the fast-paced field of molecular biology and bioinformatics.

Whether you are interested in continuing your education in professional or graduate school, or plan to begin your career immediately following degree completion, research experience is a valuable asset you will get at UW-Parkside. That experience will help to differentiate you from others and offer you a competitive edge.

Our programs lead to successful careers. Upon graduation, many of our students find employment in this region and the majority of our MBB graduates go on to graduate and/or medical school. Over 85 percent of our master's students work in their chosen field upon graduation.

Many of our students are part of UW-Parkside’s successful Pre-Health program. If you are considering a health profession for a career, you can schedule appointments with a pre-health adviser through our Pre-Health Program Assistant Lisa Lee (located in Greenquist Hall, room 302) to learn about career options and ways to prepare yourself for different health professions.

The Biological Sciences Department office is located in Greenquist Hall, room 344. Contact the Biological Sciences Program Associate Katy Aiello if you have questions.

Freshwater Camp 2022

As the 2022 school year was just cooling down, the collaborative Freshwater Camp at UW-Parkside and UW-Whitewater was heating up. High school juniors and seniors from Wisconsin and northern Illinois arrived at the UW-Parkside campus early Monday morning to start a week-long exploration of freshwater careers while enjoying recreational opportunities that Wisconsin's waterways provide.

After dropping off their gear in the dorms, the students headed for the Root River Environmental Education Community Center (REC) for kayaking and water testing.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Biological Sciences Major Program Objectives

1. Biological complexity and evolution: students demonstrate expertise regarding the nature of living organisms and biological processes.
2. Inquiry and research methods: students develop analytical and critical thinking skills, including hypothesis generation and testing, and engage in the practice of biology.
3. Scholarship and communication: students develop the capacity to engage in current thinking, discoveries and methodologies via reading the scientific literature and communicating (discussion, writing, presentation).

Molecular Biology & Bioinformatics Program Objectives

Molecular Biology & Bioinformatics Major
Program Objectives

1. Knowledge of the Natural World: Breadth of scientific knowledge, specifically, the ability to think beyond one’s area of concentration.
2. Critical and Creative Thinking Skills: Experiential and problem solving skills as well as higher order qualitative and quantitative reasoning.
3. Effective Communication Skills: Competence in speaking, reading, and writing abilities.
4. Individual, Social and Environmental Responsibility: Civic knowledge and engagement (both local and global), ethical reasoning, and action; ability to interact and work with people under standard civility and professional norm.

MBB seniors complete a full year of independent research culminating in a written thesis and public seminar. We also offer a research-focused master's-level program in applied molecular biology. There is an accelerated "3+2" program available to qualified MBB majors in which they can attain both a bachelor of science degree (in molecular biology and bioinformatics) and a master of science degree (in applied molecular biology) in as little as 5 years.