About the Department
The most important feature of
the Biology Department is its excellent faculty, all
members of which hold the doctorate. They are dedicated to
excellence in teaching and are active in basic and applied
research and other scholarly activities. The department
currently has more than $1 million in private foundation,
federal and international research grants. Another
attractive feature of the department is its small class
size. This allows students to interact frequently and
effectively with instructors both within and outside of
class. It also permits instructors to easily identify
students in need of additional assistance, and to supply
such assistance.
The
Biology Department's teaching and research facilities are
modern and well equipped. Special facilities and equipment
that are available for student use include a transmission
electron microscope, a tissue culture laboratory,
controlled temperature rooms, a vivarium, a greenhouse and
a 20-acre nature preserve. In addition to on-campus
facilities, students may study marine biology and desert
biology through the use of facilities available in the
Southern California Ocean Studies Consortium and the Desert
Studies Consortium. Excellent computer and library
facilities also are available.
Since the Biology faculty maintains several diverse
research programs that are well supported with public and
private funds, the department can provide both
undergraduate and graduate students with unusual
opportunities to actively participate in research. Biology
students have been successful, not only in conducting
research, but in presenting reports at scientific meetings,
publishing their findings and in receiving national
recognition for the high quality of their
work.