Sample Courses
- Cell Biology investigates eukaryotic cell nuclear structure and exchange, protein trafficking, endocytosis, chaperones, cytoskeletal functions, intercellular junctions, extracellular materials, signaling, cell division mechanics and controls, and aging and death.
- Plant Diversity and Physiology examines the structure, development, and physiology of the major plant divisions, including adaptations essential for colonization and survival in various aquatic and terrestrial environments.
- Investigations in Medical Physiology focuses on human physiology with research and clinical medicine applications. Topics include neuroendocrinology, addiction medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, immunology, reproduction, fertility, and pediatric diseases.
- Animal Behavior examines how and why animals behave, and how animal behavior is studied. Topics include mechanisms of behavior, behavioral ecology, and sociobiology.
- Developmental Genetics emphasizes genetic regulation of development, including investigations of molecular mechanisms and studies of developmental mutants. Topics include molecular biology of eukaryotic chromosomes, genetic mosaics, and models of gene regulation.
Hands On Learning
The Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (OIMB), the UO’s marine laboratory, is located in the coastal town of Charleston, approximately 120 miles from the main UO campus in Eugene. Located at the mouth of Coos Bay, OIMB has sandy beaches to the north, rocky intertidal beaches to the south, and the Coos Bay estuary to the east.
Students in the Neotropical Ecology program take a field course in Ecuador. Students visit research stations and field sites in several ecosystems, including high elevation paramo, cloud forest, and the Amazon basin.
You can also assist faculty members in their research, or spend summers conducting research in on-campus labs by participating in the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR). “We’re delighted that more than 50 percent of our students who graduate with biology are involved with research,” says Director of Biology Advising Pat Lombardi. “They’re not doing dishes; they’re actively doing research. We’ve had undergraduates hold patents on molecules.”
If you’re interested in pursuing a medical career, the UO’s pre-med club, Asklepiads, will provide support for students on this difficult academic path. There are also internships available to undergraduates at the local or even international level. One biology student, Jeremy Arnold, worked in Tanzania. He spent his first week observing, the second assisting, and by the third week he was performing surgery.
Interdisciplinary Opportunities
Because biology spans so many fields, you’ll have ample opportunity to create your own focus. You can combine your biology curriculum with studies in chemistry, physics, anthropology, mathematics, computer science, journalism, political science, and environmental studies. This flexible major allows you to be as technical or creative as you want to be.