Biology
Offered by the Biology department.

Biology encompasses the study of all living things, from cells and molecules to organisms and ecosystems. Wheaton biology majors conduct and present research, guided by expert faculty members, in well-equipped facilities. A rooftop greenhouse filled with diverse plants and on-campus woodlands are living labs for students, especially those interested in ecology and botany. A biology major provides a solid foundation for medical, dental, optometry, or veterinary school, as well a range of master’s and Ph.D. programs. If you’re interested in the health professions, Wheaton’s pre-med advising program will keep you on the right track.

Programs

Faculty

Susan Barrett

Visiting Instructor of Biology

Deborah Cato

Instructor of Biology

Betsey Dexter Dyer

Professor of Biology, Emeritus

Laura Ekstrom

Associate Professor of Biology

Jessie Knowlton

Assistant Professor of Biology

Jennifer Lanni

Associate Professor in Biology; Visiting Scientist, Boston Children's Hospital

S. Shawn McCafferty

Associate Professor of Biology

Robert L. Morris

Professor of Biology; William & Elsie Prentice Professorship (2015-2020)

Shari Morris

Teaching Associate in Biology

Scott W. Shumway

Bojan Jennings Professor of Biology; Chair, Biology Department

Internships

Garrett Maggio

2021, Biology

The Conger Family Internship Fund

Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, MA

This internship provided me with my first out-of-the-classroom biology experience and included the kind of hands-on work with animals that I hope to do in a career in conservation.

Caroline Genther

2021, Biology

Martha Van Cott Singdahlsen '57 Wheaton Fund Career Exploration Fund

Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, CT

Interning with the Animal Rescue Program at Mystic Aquarium helped me to further my career goals in marine animal rehabilitation by giving me knowledge, skills and mentors in the field.

Thomas Erickson

2021, Biology, Political Science

Merit Scholarship

Faculty-led Trip: "From the Andes to the Amazon: Intersections of Culture, Food Systems and Biological Diversity", Quito, Ecuador

My summer experience encouraged me to become a more versatile learner. The trip allowed me to see firsthand connections between disciplines and will continue to help me understand the similarities and differences between subjects.

Camille Beckwith

2021, Biology

Dorothy Yeomans Flanagan P'71 Fund for Co-Curricular Learning

Faculty Led Trip: From the Andes to the Amazon: Intersections of Culture, Food Systems and Biological Diversity, Quito, Ecuador

Through the experiences of this faculty-led trip, I learned that I am way stronger than I thought I was, mentally and physically, and I have a much greater respect for the people of Ecuador that we met and learned about.

Outcomes

97% of Biology majors from the past five years have found employment or achieved a service opportunity within six months of graduation *

97%
of Biology majors

Recent Graduates


Sample First Jobs

  • Biological Technician, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Clinical Research Technologist, Boston Children’s Hospital
  • Health Informatics Program Assistant, University of New England
  • Research Technician, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
  • Veterinary Assistant, North Country Veterinary Clinic


Sample Graduate Schools

  • Cornell University
  • Harvard University
  • Massachusetts College of Pharmacy
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • University of Texas

*outcomes data is based on a knowledge rate of 64% for the classes of 2014-2018