NSU's biology major emphasizes hands-on activities and critical thinking to bring you to a better understanding of the study of life.
About The Program
As a student in Northern's Bachelor of Science in Biology program, you'll work on-on-one with caring, supportive faculty who encourage independent thinking skills that will prepare you to become a leader in your biological field. Most upper-level courses have no more than 25 students. Northern's biology faculty members teach their own labs - they'll get to know you as a person.
Northern biology students work in science labs with the latest equipment, including a DNA analyzer, confocal microscope, and anaerobic chamber. And the new Jewett Regional Science Education Center will advance educational and research opportunities for the university and region.
In NSU's biology program, you're encouraged to explore your interests and dive deeper into your studies with our focus of hands-on research. Here, you can work with professors on research projects, and present your results in publications or in public at Northern's Undergraduate Scholarship and Activity Forum or elsewhere.
Our program has even been recognized on this national list of universities with the best biology degrees!
Many biology majors work at for-profit businesses and corporations. Others teach in educational institutions; work for government, nonprofit foundations and research organizations; or operate their own business or consulting service.
Potential jobs include health technologist and technician, nurse, pharmacist, dietitian, therapist, physician assistant, farmer, forester and salesperson (non-retail).
Many students pursue careers in allied health -- such as medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, mortuary science, dentistry, and optometry -- and organismal biology professions including zookeeper, naturalist, and biologist.
Northern's placement rate the past five years was 82 percent for medical school and 83 percent for dental school - learn what our graduates have to say about the advantages of earning their undergraduate degree at Northern in this article!
For more information on careers in your major or help choosing a major, contact Career Services.
We'll work closely with you and our connections to find internships and field experiences that accord with your scientific interests.
For more information about this degree, contact Jessica Ness, or call 605-626-2272 or 605-626-7900. Or, contact NSU Admissions at 605-626-2544 or admissions@northern.edu.
Our Faculty
Ph.D. Montana State University
M.S. Montana State University
B.S. State University of New York
Dr. John Long joined the NSU faculty in the summer of 2015. He has a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from the State University of New York, a master’s degree in environmental and ecological statistics and a Ph.D. in ecology and environmental sciences, both from Montana State University. His area of expertise is the mathematical and physical aspects of the environment.
Dr. Long is a part of the SEA-PHAGES team trained by Howard Hughes Medical Institute to discover new viruses in environmental samples and to sequence their genome. Dr. Long is a retired U.S. Air Force major with 21 years of service as a B-52 electronic warfare officer.
Courses Taught
Introduction to Physics I and II
University Physics I and II
Biological Statistics I and II
R Programming
Geographic Information…
B.S. Biology, minor Psychology, University of North Dakota
A.A. Exotic Animal Training and Management, Moorpark College
Ms. Kelly Pulis, hailing from Vinton, Iowa, joined Northern in 2019 as biology lab manager.
Ph.D. University of South Dakota
M.S. North Dakota State University
B.S. North Dakota State University
Ph.D., Nutrition Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.S., Nutrition Science, Indiana University-Bloomington
Courses Taught
- Genetics
- Cell and molecular biology
- Nutrition and disease
- Human health and biology
Research Interests
- Mechanisms of type II diabetes and diet-induces obesity in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
- Development of biological reasoning skills in undergraduate biology majors and non-majors
Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of North Dakota
B.S., Molecular Biology, Muskingum University
Courses Taught
Biology Survey
Biochemistry Lab
General Microbiology
Microbiology
General Biology I Lab
Freshman Seminar
Research Interests
Molecular mechanisms of early brain development