Biology at F&M

Biology is an exciting, expanding discipline offering a broad and advancing frontier between the known and the undiscovered. 

Through the links on this page, you will be able to explore the majors available to students at F&M who are interested in the biological sciences, as well as learn more about the department’s faculty and our research interests.  We are excited to have students work with us in the lab or the field, and we welcome your questions about the department, our curricula, our resources, and our research.

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Our Majors

Biology

The BIO major provides students the opportunity to develop a holistic understanding of the structures and processes of living organisms, through access to introductory and advanced courses covering a wide range of topics.  

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Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The BMB major is directed towards students who have a strong interest in biological processes at the molecular and sub-cellular levels.  The BMB major combines core and elective courses from both the Biology and Chemistry departments.

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Biological Foundations of Behavior

Students pursuing the Neuroscience and the Animal Behavior majors through the BFB program make significant contributions to our collective understanding of the nervous system and behavior through biomedical and non-invasive behavioral research and course work. 

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Public Health

Public Health is an interdisciplinary major offered by the Biology and Government departments. Public health is linked to the formulation and implementation of public policy, thus connecting science and government at its core. 

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Environmental Science/Environmental Studies

The Environmental Science and Environmental Studies majors are based in the Department of Earth and Environment; as interdisciplinary programs, they include a number of core and advanced courses from the Biology Department.  

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Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics is a new and rapidly-expanding field at the intersection of biology, chemistry, computer science, and applied mathematics.  The Bioinformatics program at F&M represents a collaboration between the Biology and Computer Science departments, and students interested in bioinformatics can follow a joint major to attain a degree in the...

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Special Majors

There are a number of additional possibilities for a student interested in biological sciences and wishing to tailor a major focusing on a particular subject or connections between two or more disciplines. 

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Information for Students

Resources for Current Students

Find guidance about career paths, off-campus study opportunities, departmental policies, and other information for students interested in the biological sciences...

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Research Opportunities

There are a wide variety of research opportunities for students majoring in, or interested in majoring in Biology and our associated programs.  Learn about both summer  and academic-year research opportunities with F&M faculty, as well as off-campus research programs.

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News and Events

Seminars and Newsletters

Visit this page for a list of upcoming departmental seminars. Past issues of the departmental newsletter are also available on this page.

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Learning Outcomes in Biology 

Learning outcomes for students graduating from the Biology Department at F&M...

The Pulse
Story 2/18/2019

How Water Captured by Leaves Mitigates Storm-Water Runoff

Inside a Franklin & Marshall biology laboratory, junior Karisa (Yiting) Liu and first-year Ann Medina work with a “fog box,” a perspiring, mist-filled plexiglass container in which a small sycamore...

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Story 1/30/2019

F&M Professor Elected Field Ornithologists Association...

Franklin & Marshall Professor of Biology Daniel Ardia, whose research focuses on the interactions of birds and mammals in the environment, has been elected president of the Association of Field...

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Story 1/29/2019

F&M Receives $1.5 Million Grant for College-City Initiatives

The Endeavor Foundation has awarded Franklin & Marshall College a grant of more than $1.5 million to fund several programs in concert with Lancaster City and the surrounding region that would focus...

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