Future Undergraduate Students
Welcome
Biology is the scientific study of living systems and all their complexities, and there has never been a more exciting time to be a biologist. Astonishing new advances in the ability to detect and understand changes in genetics and cellular functions are now available. We can edit DNA sequences within genomes of a wide range of species to test the function of specific genetic variants. Advances in microscopy and analytic techniques now allow biologists unprecedented… ▶︎ Read More
Why study biology at the University of Mississippi?
Degree Choices
The department offers two degree paths in biology – the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degree. See information about our biology major and these two degree pathways. Our faculty also support various interdisciplinary minors that offer great choices to combine with your major, such as neuroscience and environmental studies. See all your choices of majors and minors in the College of Liberal Arts.
Faculty Expertise
The UM biology faculty have areas of specialization that include
- Cell and Molecular Biology
- Conservation and Restoration Biology
- Evolution, Biodiversity, and Systematics
- Freshwater, Marine, and Wetland Ecology
- Microbiology
- Neurobiology, Behavior, and Physiology
- Symbioses and Species Interactions
Beyond the Classroom
Biology majors achieve an understanding of living systems and develop the ability to design and conduct experiments, operate sophisticated instruments, think critically, interpret data, and communicate complex ideas. A diversity of courses and a great variety of habitats in north Mississippi provide opportunities for both laboratory and field studies, including a 740-acre field station, a national forest, and flood-control reservoirs.
Beyond the Campus
Adventurous students can explore diverse environments through our programs in South Florida, Grand Canyon, Belize, Costa Rica, and the Galapagos Islands. There are department resources to help students participate in these unique programs. Some recent travel courses included:
- Caribbean Ecology and Conservation
- Ecology and Evolution of Sky Island Biodiversity
- Californian STEAM: Microbial Science, Conservation, and Society
- Hawaiian STEAM: Microbes, Symbiosis, and Culture
State-of-the-art New Science Building
The Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation is projected to be one of the nation’s leading student-centered learning environments for STEM education. Among other building highlights, students will enjoy technology-enabled active learning, or TEAL, labs and a visualization lab, similar to a small IMAX theater for 3D visualization in this 202,000-square-foot facility. ▶︎ Read More
