A new experimental forest is underway to help NAU researchers understand interactions betweens genetics and community level ecosystem processes.
Welcome to the NAU
Department of Biological Sciences!
Our mission is to build scientific literacy for all citizens, advance and apply biological knowledge, and educate our students for professions in the life sciences.
Message from Maribeth Watwood,
Professor and Chair -
There has never been a better time to pursue a career in the Biological Sciences! New industries are emerging in the areas of biotechnology and medical research, while growth continues in traditional fields such as health care and environmental sciences. This translates into many interesting and expanding opportunities for students at Northern Arizona University in the Department of Biological Sciences!
The Department of Biological Sciences offers five different Bachelor of Science degrees: Biology, Microbiology, Exercise Science, Biomedical Science, and Secondary Education. We offer the MS and PhD degrees in Biological Sciences.
Our programs feature an ideal balance between strong academic rigor and flexibility so that students to tailor a degree to meet their specific personal and career goals.
Our faculty are a diverse group of scholars and teachers who excel at classroom instruction and conduct a wide range of cutting edge research programs. Areas of expertise include stream ecology, bioinformatics, animal behavior, infectious disease, genes-to-ecosystem studies, anatomy and physiology, botany, exercise science, evolutionary biology, biology education, cancer biology, clinical and environmental microbiology, climate change ecology, cell and molecular biology, and human genetics and genomics. Current directions in several of these fields have been shaped heavily by research findings in our faculty laboratories.
Students have many opportunities to get involved in cutting-edge research. In fact, we encourage all of our undergraduates, including freshmen, to conduct research before graduation and we provide various sources of funding to support their efforts. Numerous state-of-the-art research facilities provide support for these activities. 
With over 1,100 undergraduate majors, over 130 MS and PhD students, more than 50 faculty, and a large and vigorous team of staff, we represent one of the largest academic units on campus. Although our size provides many unique benefits, students still receive personal attention from our faculty and staff. We are committed to working with students of all levels to insure they receive the skills they will need when entering the workforce or entering further educational programs.
Congratulations to our 2008 Undergraduate Award and Scholarship winners!
NEW BS DEGREE PROGRAM IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
Department of Biology,
P.O. Box 5640
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011-5640
Phone#: 928-523-2381
Fax#: 928-
523-7500
