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Welcome to the Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University. The faculty and staff of the Department of Biological Sciences is committed to providing an outstanding undergraduate experience that includes formal classroom instruction and opportunities for undergraduate research for passionate undergraduate majors in biology. In addition, we have opportunities for cooperative education and internships are available from various groups and organizations across the country.
The department offers weekly seminars that introduce undergraduate and graduate students to outstanding local, national, and international investigators from a variety of disciplines. Undergraduate and graduate students can participate in affiliated societies like the Beta Beta Beta Biological Sciences Honorary Society and Sigma Xi Research Society. The faculty and staff are considered approachable and always have time for students. Our faculty and staff strive to become the programmatic standard by which other institutions will measure the success of their undergraduate curricular and experiential programs. The Bachelor of Science (with concentrations in Biology, Secondary Education and Biochemistry) prepares students for the workforce, professional schools (Medical, Veterinary, Pharmacy) and graduate schools.
The faculty have active research programs, attend national and international meetings and conferences, and regularly publish technical articles. The department maintains a viable Master of Science (MS) graduate program (with concentrations in Biology, Microbiology, Paleobiology and Biomedical Sciences), and participates in a joint PhD program with the Quillen College of Medicine that offers an assortment of courses in a variety of concentrations.
The Department of Biology maintains well equipped teaching and research laboratories with a wide variety of facilities including greenhouses, a herbarium, and the ETSU “on campus” arboretum. The department is a significant contributor to the ETSU General Shale Brick Natural History Museum and Visitor Center in Gray, TN, the Institute for Quantitative Biology, the Center of Excellence in Paleontology, and the Center of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education. In addition to the research equipment and resources available through the Department, the University makes equipment and resources available to aide faculty and student research (http://facilities.etsu.edu).
We encourage you to explore the outstanding educational opportunities at ETSU and the Department of Biological Sciences. If you have any questions concerning our programs do not hesitate to contact me.
Michael S. Zavada, Ph.D.
Professor and Chairman
Department of Biological Sciences
