Resources & Opportunities
Biologists of the liberal arts offer employers a broader,
more flexible outlook in approaching problems.
Think lead-scientist status.
Independent research is an important component of the major. It helps students become familiar with the process of science by investigating a specific biological problem in the laboratory or field.
Facilities and habitats
Our department has well-equipped laboratories housed with other departments in our Center for Science and Business. The CSB features an animal laboratory, a laboratory for zoology and botany, a cell and genetics lab, a molecular lab, and a human anatomy lab with a cadaver.
LeSuer Nature Preserve
This 16.5-acre plot within a mile of campus provides field-research opportunities. Rolling hills bisected by a stream offer prairie, riparian forest, upland forest and aquatic habitats for study.
Educational Garden & Farm
Our educational garden and seven-acre farm give students hands-in-the-dirt experiences on crop rotation, conservation and infrastructure.
Hamilton Pond
A freshwater environment one block from campus that is rich with aquatic animals and plants for use in laboratories.
Spring Grove Prairie
One of the finest virgin prairie plots in Illinois, the plant community of this plot remains from pre-settlement times and offers unique opportunities for research on prairie plants and soils.
Labs and equipment
We participate in the HHMI SEA Phages program, which allows first-year students to isolate, characterize and sequence novel bacteriophages. Laboratory equipment includes growth chambers, water baths, incubators, high-speed and refrigerated centrifuges, electrophoresis chambers, PCR thermocyclers, laminar flow hoods and a CO2 incubator for culturing eukaryotic cells.
Our department has a dedicated student research lab for senior research projects, as well as an aquatics lab and three-zone greenhouse. Anatomy and physiology students have access to a cadaver lab, microtomes and VR equipment.
Graduate school opportunities
A career in health sciences usually requires study beyond the undergraduate level. More management-level or research-oriented positions may require graduate study in a specific area of expertise. Opportunities for advancement are also greater with an advanced degree.
Additionally, we have an agreement with Rush (Ill.) University for students interested in nursing. After four years of study earning a bachelor’s degree in biology at Monmouth and completing appropriate coursework, qualified students are guaranteed entrance into Rush’s prestigious two-year master’s program in nursing.
Students with an interest in occupational therapy, physical therapy or physician assistant should plan on four years of study at Monmouth culminating in a bachelor’s degree and then plan to attend specialized graduate programs for these careers.