Biology and Agriculture

Agriculture

Department Chair - Sherell Byrd
Professor - Philip E. Shuler
Visiting Instructor - Beth A. LaShell

Several programs of study in agriculture are available for students at Fort Lewis College.

As a cooperative effort between the Agriculture Program and the School of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Arts degree program is available for those students who are interested in professional careers in the agribusiness sector. See the School of Business Administration “Agricultural Business option” section of this catalog for more information.

A second agricultural option is a two-year program at Fort Lewis College leading to an Associate of Arts degree in Agricultural Science. This program is designed to fill the needs of students pursuing an agricultural career on a farm, ranch, or other agriculture-oriented business. Students may elect to concentrate in animal science, agricultural business, or agronomy.

Students also have the option of developing a student-constructed major leading to a baccalaureate degree. This option is for students who plan to continue in a four-year program and combine agriculture with a second field of study, such as biology, economics, or chemistry, that would lead to a degree in Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural Science, or Organic Agriculture.

Minors are available in Agriculture and Agroecology/ Sustainable Agriculture for students majoring in other disciplines.

Biology

Department Chair - Sherell Byrd
Professors - Sherell Byrd, Deborah M. Kendall, J. Page Lindsey, Joseph C. Ortega, and Thomas P. Sluss
Associate Professors - John M. Condie and Catherine P. Ortega
Assistant Professors - Cynthia E. Dott, Ginny Hutchins, and Julie Korb
Visiting Instructor - Cathleen Hartney

Both government and industry have considerable demand for people trained in the biological sciences and for which a bachelor’s degree is sufficient. Administrative and professional careers may be found in government service and with a variety of conservation and recreation agencies at both state and federal levels. Laboratory and technical work is available with industry and with several government agencies. Some sales positions, especially with pharmaceutical houses, require a biology background. There is a considerable demand for secondary school teachers with certification in biology. Many positions for biologists require a graduate degree, for which a liberal arts major in biology is an excellent background.

The various biology curricula are designed to meet the different needs of students considering the broad field of biology. Although all of these curricula lead to a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, there are four options available: General Biology, Environmental and Organismic Biology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Biology for Secondary Education.

The General Biology option provides exposure to all the major conceptual areas of biology. It is intended for students wishing to tailor a program to match their interests. It prepares students for professional careers in veterinary medicine or graduate school in a broad area of the biological sciences. It is also recommended for those students who are undecided about specific career goals in biology.

The Environmental and Organismic Biology option provides a broad exposure to the principles and practices of ecology, environmental conservation, and management of natural resources. Thus, this option is particularly valuable for those students who plan to work for the many private firms and state and federal agencies involved in natural resource management and environmental impact assessment. This curriculum also provides appropriate preparation for students interested in graduate study in ecology, organismal, and environmental science.

The Cellular and Molecular Biology option is designed to prepare students for graduate study in cell and molecular biology or to find employment in the biotechnology and health care industries. Students with this major are highly sought after in forensics technology, pharmaceutical development, and industries involving bioinformatics and gene discovery. This option is ideal for students preparing for post-baccalaureate careers as physicians, physician’s assistants, dentists, or in naturopathic medicine.

The Biology for Secondary Education option is designed to prepare students to teach in secondary schools. To obtain requirements for teacher certification, please contact the Teacher Education Department.

A minor in biology is available for students majoring in other disciplines. All minors must be arranged in consultation with the student’s biology advisor.