One of the largest departments at Miami University, our Department of Biology provides a rich education in fields ranging from molecular to global biology. Our faculty will take you beyond the lecture hall to learn hands-on in the laboratory and in the field. Our graduates go on to pursue careers in health, biotechnology, and plant and environmental sciences, leading innovations that change the world for the better.
Students majoring in the biological sciences who are interested in a co-major typically pursue one of the following:
This minor enables students to pursue in depth a multidisciplinary study of the nervous system. It provides a basic framework for students planning advanced work at the graduate level.
The Humanities Engagement Certificate is designed for degree-seeking students of all majors who wish to position themselves as global citizens who research, write, and think critically about the most pressing and urgent human experiences of the twenty-first century. Course work in the humanities supports research in interdisciplinary themes and topics, while also providing an opportunity for students to think broadly and deeply about professional skills. Engagement with the programs and events of Miami University’s Humanities Center provides opportunities for all students to apply humanities perspectives to their major course of study.
We offer an array of areas of focus that will assist you in the persuit of an advanced degree or ready you for your career after graduation.
The faculty in the Department of Biology, in collaboration with graduate and undergraduate students, investigate a wide range of research questions in the biological sciences. They test hypotheses in the realms of animal behavior; biotechnology; ecology and environmental biology; evolutionary biology; molecular, cell and developmental biology; physiology and neuroscience; plant biology and botany; and organismal biology.
Majors in the Department of Biology gain invaluable research experience collaborating with faculty and graduate students. Over 70% of majors in the department are involved in conducting research at some point during their time at Miami.
Explore Research Areas and OpporunitiesDiscover the 11 learning centers with our department. Each serves as a common area where students and faculty alike converge to gather data and disseminate their findings to a worldwide community.
CAMI serves the microscopy needs of both the biological and materials communities. Available for use without charge to the Miami University community, the center was designed specifically to best meet the environmental needs for advanced microscopy.
Participating faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates at CAB collaboratively study all areas of behavioral biology — from measuring the activity of single nerve cells to field work that observes how animals behave in their natural environments.
CAWS supports research and education on the linkages between watersheds and aquatic ecosystems. CAWS brings together faculty, students and staff from several departments in a collaborative environment to address these and many other related questions.
CBFG is a state-of-the-art research and training facility available for all members of the university but is most heavily utilized by students in the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Geology, and Microbiology.
The ERC is home to ecological field research at Miami University and provides educational opportunities for middle, high school, and university students. This 175-acre field station contains sites and facilities supporting both aquatic and terrestrial research and also houses a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Department of Energy (DOE) meteorological station.
The Hefner Museum of Natural History uses exhibits, collections and specimens, and interactive programs to teach visitors of all ages about animal biodiversity, conservation, and ecology. Now over 60 years old, the museum houses more than 53,000 specimens and is a favorite local fixture for area school children, in addition to Miami students.
At the Mallory Wilson Center, students are the focal point and can receive pre-health academic advising while exploring the nature of healthcare as a profession. Programs and services include seminars in healthcare, a pre-medical living learning community, internships, symposia and scholarships.
Miami's CNB is an interdisciplinary research center with a mission to promote neuroscience research as well as to train graduate and undergraduate students for a career in developmental, cellular, molecular, and/or behavioral neuroscience. State-of-the-art laboratory facilities are available for faculty and student research.
Open to all Miamians and local communities, our thousands of acres of conserved land serve as a greenbelt around our campus, including the Bachelor Wildlife and Game Reserve, Silvoor Biological Sanctuary, the DeWitt Homestead and popular Peffer Park, and others.
Ohio's largest herbarium, the Turrell center houses more than 600,000 specimens of vascular plants, bryophytes, algae, lichens, fungi, and fossil plants.
Help us prepare the next generation of leaders in the biological fields—and our society as a whole. We have numerous scholarships, grants, and programs accepting contributions from donors like you.
Students in undergraduate and graduate programs learn biological concepts taught by dedicated faculty and gain hands-on research experiences in the laboratory and field using first-class equipment, centers, and facilities. Our graduates pursue a wide variety of career paths in health, biotechnology, the environment, and plant science.
