The Department of Biology at Mount Mercy aims to deepen your appreciation for the life sciences and to increase concern for living things and their environment. Another goal is to help you develop the intellectual competence and the technical skills necessary in your chosen career.

Your education in biology will build upon a foundation that emphasizes fundamental principals, evolution of organisms, genetics, ecology, chemistry, mathematics, and statistics. Because diversity is encouraged, the department accommodates students who double major and/or minor in other fields. We support a wide variety of career goals, such as physician assistant, physical therapist, medical technologist, educator, lab technician, and students who hope to attend medical school or graduate school in biology-related fields.

With the addition of our newest building, Basile Hall, you will have the opportunity to learn in new, state-of-the-art biology labs, as well as a new computer lab. You will have access to the lab 24-hours a day, as well as to current technology in the biology and chemistry laboratories.

Mount Mercy also offers several pre-professional tracks through the biology program.

  • Pre-Medicine: Pre-medical and pre-dental students should pursue a biology major and a chemistry minor with two courses in physics.
  • Pre-Physician Assistant: Students pursuing admission to physician assistant programs should follow a similar program to the pre-medical students, but they should take MA057 as their mathematics, and more courses in psychology.
  • Pre-Physical Therapy: Most physical therapy programs require a BS degree, which our biology major satisfies. Courses needed include: BI 273, BI274, BI327, two courses in physics, and additional psychology classes.
  • Pre-Occupational Therapy: Admission requirements for occupational therapy programs differ depending on whether the degree sought is graduate or undergraduate. Graduate programs require a BS degree, preferably with a major in biology, but other majors are also a possibility. Students wishing to pursue a graduate degree in occupational therapy should carefully plan a four-year course of study with their advisor that is based upon programs to which they will apply.
The biology section of the current catalog will outline, more specifically, the course work required for these career paths.

In addition to academics, the department sponsors the biology club. It is designed to help students, interested in pre-medical programs and other biology-related areas, meet and express their ideas. Students join the club to fulfill an interest, show concern for the environment, or provide useful experience to their major field of study. The club raises awareness of our fragile environment by bringing speakers to campus and encouraging hands-on involvement, as well as providing opportunities for students interested in spending time in the great outdoors.

What classes should I take to enter the program?
What will it take to graduate?
Four-Year Plan for Biology
How will I gain experience?
What can I do with a degree in biology from Mount Mercy College?
Who can I talk to?