UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS IN BIOLOGY

Angela DiBenedetto and a student work in the lab.

The Biology program promotes the skills and spirit of inquiry necessary for life-long learning. You'll graduate well positioned to pursue a master's or doctorate in biology, or a professional degree in the health sciences, research, teaching, law, or business.

In your studies here, you acquire a comprehensive knowledge of biological patterns and processes, from the subcellular to the ecosystem levels. You learn to communicate your ideas in the language of science, using effective written and oral presentation skills. You discover how to use observation, experimentation, and deductive reasoning in the application of the scientific method. Studying biology here also offers the valuable opportunity to get involved in laboratory research, field study, and scientific seminars.

WHY BIOLOGY?

Career Preparation

With a bachelor's in biology from Villanova, you are well positioned to pursue a masters or doctorate in biology, or a professional degree in the health sciences, law, or business. In addition, you can enter a career position in research, teaching, the health sciences, or environmental science.

Hands-on research experience

The Department of Biology supports research in a wide range of subdisciplines and from the molecular/cellular through the organismal to the ecological/evolutionary levels. Many opportunities exist for undergraduate students to work closely with an individual faculty member. Faculty and students present their research at regional, national, and international conferences, and publish in peer-reviewed publications.

Diverse and inclusive learning

The Department values a multicultural student body and our diverse faculty are committed to teaching, scholarship and service that promote the exchange of different ideas and perspectives and provides. The program promotes the skills and spirit of inquiry necessary for life-long learning.

FOLLOW THE BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT

WHO WE ARE

CATHERINE IMPLICITO '21 CLAS

"Throughout the pandemic, Dr. Stark’s lab has been a pillar of normalcy,” says Catherine Implicito ’21 CLAS, a Biology major. She’s been a member of the Animal Morphology lab with Alyssa Stark, PhD, since her freshman year. Catherine's work examines the temperature’s impact on the adhesive system of the black carpenter ant. “I’ve had the unique opportunity to lead my own project, present at a national conference and am now working toward my senior thesis. I’ve also formed meaningful friendships and collaborated with other lab members.”

OUTDOOR RESEARCH WITH ADAM LANGLEY, PhD

As a global change ecologist, Adam Langley, PhD, studies “the way everything works together.” “Everything,” in this case, being “the flux of matter and energy through the ecosystem." In his Global Change Ecology class, Dr. Langley's students learn about how this flow is impacted by climate change. The students set up chambers made from PVC piping and transparent film to simulate the warming that is expected for this area in the coming decades.

TEACHING THE IMPORTANCE OF BIOLOGY

"Science should be for everyone, and these days it is more international, and arguably more important, than ever. In my classes, I try to describe this truth as a dynamic, ever-changing thing. I like to highlight some of the history of science, so that students can see how ideas evolve over time as more and more data is collected," says Megan Povelones, PhD. Dr. Povelones focuses her research on cell biology and she loves to teach metabolism.