Majoring in Biology at SOU can take you where you want to go, whether your interests are in environmental biology, preparation for health professions, or biotechnology.
Graduates of our program go on to careers ranging from land and resource management to teaching, from laboratory work to agriculture, and from research to medical, dental, veterinary, and physician’s assistant schools. We emphasize both field work and modern molecular techniques to provide a strong biological science background which will serve you well whatever career path you choose.
The Klamath/Siskiyou bioregion surrounding Southern Oregon University is an inspiring learning environment for students of Biology. Field excursions take place in the heart of some of the most diverse terrain accessible from any university in the United States. Coastal rainforest, tide pools, alpine meadows, evergreen forests, wild rivers, and uninterrupted desert views are all within a day’s drive of campus. Biology professors bring their classes into the heart of these ecosystems and provide tailored learning experiences for students. The Biology department offers opportunities for field research and collaborative internships with land management agencies.
The Biology department has strengths in zoology, botany, and ecology, which provide a strong basis future research undertakings and careers in conservation and natural resource management.
We have remarkable facilities for Biology field studies including a greenhouse, herbarium, and extensive museum-quality collections of vertebrates and invertebrates.
SOU’s excellent pre-Medicine program draws heavily from our strength in the sciences. Our students are very competitive for medical school admission. The Biology department offers to advise in all areas of medicine and preparation for diverse health care professional schools. Students who complete this program of study will earn a B.S. in Biology and be poised to gain entrance to post-graduate schools that train doctors and other health care professionals.
The Biology department has significant strengths in cellular and molecular biology for students who are considering careers in research, biotechnology, and advanced laboratory science. Students interested in biotechnology have the opportunity to do research in our Biotechnology Center with professors who have active research programs that involve DNA analysis, protein purification, and other tools of biotechnology.
Student researchers have the opportunities to present at national meetings and even to publish their work, providing them significant advantages in applying for graduate and professional schools.