Department of Biology

Christina Bauer

David Bourgaize, (Emeritus)

Jenny Link

Cinzia Fissore

Erica Fradinger, (Emeritus)

David N.M. Mbora

Monica McNamara

Cheryl Swift, (Emeritus) 

Hector Valenzuela, Chair

Sylvia Vetrone

The Biology major at Whittier College is designed to produce graduates with a strong background and appreciation of the organization and complexity of living systems with regard to the relationship between structure and function of the levels of the cell, organism, and population within the context of developing problem solving, critical thinking, experimental design, and communication skills. These skills prepare our graduating majors for post undergraduate study, and careers in education, research, public health, allied health services and professions, biotechnology, consulting, and non-profit and governmental agencies. The major emphasizes the process of “doing science” in addition to learning to use instrumentation to make measurements, to analyze and interpret data, and to place findings in the larger context of published science. Faculty work closely with students to help them develop research skills through inquiry-based learning, and outside coursework through undergraduate research. Courses regularly take advantage of the nearby San Gabriel Mountains and the Mojave and Sonoran deserts and the Pacific Coast. An extensive wildlife preserve adjacent to the college in the Puente Hills also provides an outdoor laboratory. Other courses take advantage of the well-equipped a laboratory settingsettings explore molecular to physiological research questions.

Programs

Major

Biology, B.A.

Minor

Biology Minor

Catalog

Department of Biology

Programs

Courses