Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biological Research Loras College

Follow your passion for the cutting edge of science and research by majoring in Biological Research. Your experience will be unlike that provided by any other private institution in the Midwest. Choose from a major in biological research or biology while customizing your specialty. Gain hands-on experience using a DNA sequencer, collecting samples out in the field, and conducting your own research projects. You’ll expand your knowledge and professional network in biology J-Term classes in Florida, Texas, or Costa Rica.

Student experience

The biology research degree at Loras will provide you with an understanding of fundamental concepts as well as specialized knowledge in the study of life on earth. You’ll be ready to tackle exciting challenges in areas like health science, education, and conservation – or expand your expertise in graduate or medical school. Earn substantial experience in the field prior to college graduation with an internship in your area of interest.

The program also serves as a source of expertise, both research and instructional, for the local community, State of Iowa, and beyond, and provides students the opportunity to learn through participation in this service experience. In both instances, this access and service are afforded in a Catholic atmosphere where moral and ethical implications of biological knowledge and earth’s stewardship are raised to the students and various public entities.

Loras College Biology and Biological Research Internship Opportunities

The following are some of the opportunities Biology and Biological Research students have pursued to gain valuable experiences.

• Summer Research Program in Microbiology at the University of Iowa
• Various programs at the Biosciences Summer Research Program at the University of Iowa
• Fellowships in Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation — Willowbrook Wildlife Foundation, Glen Ellyn, IL
• Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program (IBS-SRP) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Summer Laboratory Science Program at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
• Summer Undergraduate Research Program at the Center for Protease Research at North Dakota State University
• National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network summer research experience for undergraduates at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURP) Program at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
• Iowa DNR seasonal natural resources aide positions with the Multiple Species and Monitoring Project
• Marine Biology Summer Research at Grice Marine Lab, College of Charleston, SC
• Summer Internships with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
• SeaWorld College Experience internships

The Biology Curriculum at Loras has Proven Effectiveness

Many Loras Biology graduates have used their experiences here to find challenging and rewarding positions in education, health science, graduate school, and many other jobs.

The Biology Program exists within the framework of a liberal arts college and is dedicated to:

• Providing access to fundamental concepts of biology for all students and
• Providing access to specialized biological knowledge for Biology majors and minors

Small class sizes and personal attention from our faculty will help you not only learn biology but experience it, question it and internalize it. Majors get hands-on, up-close learning opportunities. Our curriculum will help you prepare for a specific field of interest but will also give you the chance to learn about many aspects of the natural world from biomolecules, genes, and cells to plant and animal ecology and human physiology. Almost all of our courses have laboratory experience with them. These labs are student-centered, focused on asking questions and using the Scientific Method to answer them.

Student Learning Outcomes – Biological Research

1. Articulate scientific results and interpretation effectively in an oral presentation.
2. Write effectively to communicate scientific information.
3. Design valid and appropriate experiments to answer biological questions.
4. Accurately interpret and analyze biological data and statistics.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the botany of plants.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the rules of genetic inheritance.
7. Describe important molecules and pathways that allow cells to function in tissues.
8. Apply ecological and evolutionary theory to current ecological problems.
9. Compare normal physiological body functions with diseased body functions.

“What can you do with a Biology Research degree?”

As a biology research major, you will be prepared for a variety of interesting careers in the field of biology and research. Here are some examples of fields our alumni have entered:

• Medical school and other health professions
• Research and development
• DNR Representative
• State, Federal, Local, or County Conservation Agencies
• Government Agencies (Wildlife, Fisheries, Habitat Management)
• Pharmaceutical Sales
• High School Biology teacher