Melissa DeMotta, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology
I hope that students learn to appreciate the world around them and the wonder of their own bodies so that they realize science is not scary but fantastic.
Biology
Bachelor of Science
Biology is a rapidly expanding, widely diverse discipline, embracing all aspects of life. Biology is a natural science that involves the study of living organisms with a focus on their structure, formation, growth, distribution, taxonomy, and evolution. As a Biology major at Clarke University, you will have the opportunity to design your own experiments from the introductory course through your senior capstone course, using advanced equipment and unique techniques in our state-of-the-art biology laboratories. Clarke is viewed both locally in Iowa and nationwide as one of the best colleges for Biology.
Our Biology Program provides a challenging yet supportive learning environment to foster your personal and intellectual growth. We educate our students to be scientifically literate as well as socially and environmentally responsible citizens. Majoring in Biology prepares students to pursue a career in research, teaching, or the allied health sciences. It is also relevant to careers as diverse as environmental policy, law, public health, creative writing, and textbook development.
The Bachelor of Science in Biology degree requires a lab research class as well as more advanced supporting courses in math, chemistry, and physics to prepare you for the work force or continued study in medical school, vet school, dental school, physician’s assistant school, and other Ph.D. programs.
Your Experience as a Biology Major
As a Biology Major, you will be:
- Working one-on-one with a Ph.D. biology faculty member to learn the proper use of lab equipment, technology, and materials appropriate to the discipline.
- Actively engaging in an investigation to solve authentic problems and challenges.
- Developing scientific skills, including hypothesis formation, critical reading of scientific literature, and communication.
- Developing an awareness of ethical issues in the life sciences.
Facilities
Those seeking a bachelor’s degree in Biology will use Clarke’s 46,000-square-foot, three-story science building, the Marie Miske Center for Science Inquiry, which provides flexible and modern spaces designed to seamlessly integrate lecture and laboratory. Clarke offers the biology major a 10-table gross anatomy laboratory. This many cadavers in the lab increase the probability of finding the results of interesting surgical procedures and observing anomalies, which enhance learning. The greenhouse at Clarke is fully automated to consistently water plants and shade them on sunny days. This makes it easier to maintain a diverse array of plants for teaching and research.
Program Details
As a Biology major, you will develop skills important to the scientific process including hypothesis formation; critical reading of the scientific literature; and collection, interpretation, and dissemination of results. Your learning will be hands-on and visual. You will see and do, not just listen. In addition to 33 to 36 hours in class and performing lab work, students will produce a capstone project which may involve experimental lab or field research, or development of a research proposal.
Biology is an increasingly complex and thrilling field that incorporates other acute subdisciplines such as anatomy, pathology, ecology, chemistry, genetics, botany, and ecology. Medical and scientific modernism continue to drive biology into new and advanced directions. This indicates that your bachelor of science in Biology will focus on issues that influence human, animal, and plant life and include subjects like genetic engineering, transhumanism, GMO farming, and global climate change.
Your biology degree could lead to a career in academics, laboratory research, pharmaceuticals, or zoology, and more. A bachelor’s degree in biology is an essential educational beginning point if you eventually plan to practice a medical career. A biology degree provides you with the foundational knowledge and undergraduate credentials to enter both a medical profession or medical school.
Earn A Minor For Major Impact
Adding a minor to your resume is a great way to develop specialized skills and experience that help you stand out from the crowd when seeking a job. With a minor in Biology, you’ll gain a practical understanding of this core natural science and the research methods that are instrumental to success in a variety of fields. To earn a minor, you must complete 20 hours of Biology courses with at least a C-, including Biology 115 and 116, as well as additional higher-level courses of your choosing.
Clubs
The Biology Club is for Biology majors and well as other majors, and it participates in a wide range of activities, including a plant sale from which they donate the profits, hiking in a local state park, and educating the campus community through fun, hands-on activities. Students in the Hippo Society invite local health professionals to campus to talk about their educational and career pathways.
Admission to Clarke University
Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Apply to Clarke today to begin your journey.
Cool Classes as a Biology Major
FUNDAMENTALS OF CELL BIOLOGY AND GENETICS — Unifying concepts of biology, including cell structure and function, metabolism, and genetics.
SUBTROPICAL ECOLOGY — Travel to Florida for two weeks to study the subtropical ecosystems including the ocean.
HUMAN GROSS ANATOMY — Utilizing dissection as the major learning method, the fascinating and complex regions of the human body are studied.
Pretty Sweet Jobs
The type of career you select will determine whether you should take the Bachelor of Art or Bachelor of Science degree program, which varies slightly in course requirements. Career options for Clarke biology degree graduates include:
- Professional biologist with graduate training
- Teaching or performing research in an academic setting
- Clinical or industrial laboratory technician
- Natural resource management
- Various health professions including the following areas:
- Medicine
- Dentistry
- Veterinary Medicine
- Physical Therapy
- Pharmacy
Program in Pictures
Biology Major Students Engaged in Hands On learning
Biology Majors in Cadaver Lab-Gross Anatomy Lab
Biology Major Students getting one on one professor instruction
Shaun Bowman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
I attempt to relate the coursework to the students’ lives and future career aspirations, while having a lot of fun along the way.
Laura Hecker, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
It is my goal to create a classroom environment that encourages curiosity. I like to remind students that it’s the questions they can’t answer that sometimes end up teaching them the most.
Michelle Slover, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology
The integration of lab and lecture in my anatomy courses works well. The two components complement each other and provide multiple ways to learn.
There’s more to college than going to class.
The Classroom and Beyond
Study Abroad
Clarke University offers several faculty-sponsored study abroad experiences to destinations such as Spain, Scotland, Ireland, and Japan. Study abroad trips encourage you to experience different cultures, broaden your mind, and discover your own passions.
Internships
You will learn by observation and participation at off-campus laboratories or field settings through internships and experiential education ventures. Internships often facilitate entrance into the job market and are highly recommended for acceptance into some graduate programs.
Facilities & Equipment
Clarke’s modern science building and 10-table cadaver lab provide a unique and hands-on learning environment.
Clubs & Organizations
Life at Clarke is living traditions, being proud, participating in the campus community, and being an active member of our greater community.
But don’t take our word for it…
Our Students & Alumni
Logan Koopman
Biology/Pre Physical Therapy '18
My biology degree was critical for improving my understanding of the human body, so that I can better understand the anatomy and pathology needed to successfully treat my patients. My biology degree helped me tremendously throughout PT school, because I felt like I had a great foundation for scientific reasoning. I use my biology degree all day every day, especially when it comes to chart reviewing patients.
Giana Michels
Biology '23 and Pre-Medicine
I am grateful for my experience doing primary research pertaining to prostaglandin analogues as an undergraduate student with two well-accomplished Biology professors at Clarke University and to see how research can impact patients in the clinical setting. The experience has also strengthened my ability to decipher research findings and results, as well as communicating this knowledge to others through papers and presentations. I feel well prepared for my physician’s assistant program.
Sydney Herzmann
Mathematics, Biology and Pre-Veterinary Medicine ’26
All of my experiences have prepared me for the next step with Iowa State’s Veterinary School, but it’s about more than that. My involvement has connected me with people who will be my best friends for the rest of my life. It has opened doors I hadn’t even considered before Clarke.
8
%
Job growth
Percent increase in the number of jobs for biologists from 2022 to 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
$75,000
Annual earnings
The median yearly wage earned by general biologists, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
1 on 1
Student to faculty ratio
Work one-on-one with faculty on an undergraduate research project – an important criterion for entering graduate school.
Other Programs to Explore
Experience Clarke Biology for Yourself