Biology

Department Chair: David Blake and Cynthia Dott a
Email: blake_d@fortlewis.edu and dott_c@fortlewis.edu

Professors: Sherell Byrd, Cynthia Dott, Julie Korb, and Joseph Ortega
Associate Professors: David Blake, Steven Fenster, Erin Lehmer, Ross McCauley, and Heidi Steltzer
Assistant Professors: Caroline Kulesza and Ryan Schwarz
Senior Lecturer: 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, as well as jobs affiliated with a variety of conservation and recreation agencies at state, federal, and municipal levels. Laboratory and technical work is available with industry and with several government agencies. Some sales positions, especially with pharmaceutical or medical device companies, require a biology background. There is 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 curricula in the Biology Department 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 three concentrations available: Cellular and Molecular Biology, Environmental Biology and Ecology, and Organismal Biology. In addition, students can earn a Biology degree without a concentration.

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.

The Cellular and Molecular Biology concentration 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. Many students find that this option fulfills the requirements for postgraduate work leading to careers in health care, from medicine to naturopathy. This is a laboratory intensive concentration revolving around current recombinant DNA technology, cell culture, and biomolecular analysis.

The Organismal Biology and Environmental Biology and Ecology concentrations provide broad exposure to the principles and practices of ecology, the biology of particular taxa, environmental conservation, and management of natural resources. These concentrations are particularly valuable for those students who wish to pursue careers in environmental consulting, resource management, or environmental biology and many students who pursue these options will also seek out careers working for state or federal government agencies involved in natural resource management. These concentrations also prepare students interested in pursuing graduate studies or professions like wildlife biology, botany or veterinary medicine

The General Biology option allows students to earn a Biology degree without specializing in any one of the areas described above. This type of Biology degree is intended for students wishing to tailor a program to match their interests, as it lets you choose the greatest number of elective biology courses. It prepares students for professional careers in veterinary medicine, graduate school in a broad area of the biological sciences, or for teaching at the secondary level. It is also recommended for those students who are undecided about specific career goals in biology.

With upcoming changes in the Teacher Education Licensure Program at Fort Lewis College, students interested in becoming Secondary Teachers (grades 7-12) in Biology should first obtain a degree in Biology. Then, students should work closely with the Teacher Education Department at Fort Lewis College, and read the Baccalaureate Teacher Education Licensure Program .

Major in Biology

Biology Major

Minor in Biology

Biology Minor