Biology, the study of life, is the fastest growing of the scientific disciplines, and is likely to be a dominant issue in the coming century. The Department of Biology is one of the largest departments at the University of Akron, and is moving to meet this challenge. Our goal is to help provide the biologists of the future with the skill necessary to address important issues ranging from environmental concerns to health care. In our research we adopt an integrated approach, crossing the traditional boundaries between subdisciplines, from the cellular to the ecosystem level. This research forms the basis for much of our teaching, since our faculty routinely include cutting edge research findings in the classroom. Teaching in our department is innovative and interactive. Members of our department have won a number of teaching awards, been active in teaching issues on the national level, and worked hard to improve learning in their classroom through active learning and multi-media technology. Biology professors instruct the majority of biology classes, and the professor:student ratio is low.

Currently, the faculty consist of 19 full-time professors, ranging in interests from molecular biology to evolutionary ecology (see Research interests). The department offers four Areas of Specialization for undergraduate degrees; Ecology and Evolution, Microbiology, Animal physiology, and Zoology. Also, the department offers courses designed to prepare students for specific careers, namely Pre-professional and High School Biology areas of interest.

The Department of Biology offers the degree of Master of Science in Biology. There are currently 35 graduate students pursuing various research interests, including hypertension in rats, immunology, cell physiology in fish, pollination biology, ecological physiology, biological systematics, the evolution of mating systems in crustaceans, and community/ecosystem ecology. Students interested in pursuing graduate work in the Department of Biology are encouraged to contact faculty with whom they share interests and to request additional information about the application process by sending e-mail to Dr. Monte Turner meturner@uakron.edu.