Do you love exploring plants, animals, medicine and the world in which we live? The
Black Hills State University biology program has an outstanding curriculum and faculty supported by state-of-the-art facilities where you can experience great hands-on
learning.
Earning your degree in biology will open the door to a variety of engaging careers. A biology graduate may pursue a career as a physician, physical therapist, pharmacist,
marine biologist, forensic scientist and many more.
Explore the Living World
A Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from BHSU provides students the opportunity
to explore the diverse sub-disciplines of biology. Students may choose an emphasis
in Environmental Biology with laboratory and field courses that focus on ecological
principles, plant and animal biology, and conservation; or an emphasis in Cellular
Biology and Physiology with lecture and laboratory courses ranging from Cell & Molecular
biology, to Neurobiology, and Genomics. Through the rigorous curricula provided in
both emphases, students will learn to design experiments, interpret biological data
and communicate biological concepts and research findings effectively. Students completing
a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from BHSU will find themselves:
Well prepared for graduate programs in a wide variety of biological disciplines.
Well prepared for admission to medical school or other professional programs in the
biomedical sciences.
Able to compete well for jobs, whether in the biotech industry or in positions in
state or federal agencies.
Hands-on Experience
BHSU provides Biology majors with opportunities to conduct authentic research in labs
outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment. BHSU’s Western South Dakota DNA Sequencing
and Genotyping Core Facility (WestCore) and the Center for the Conservation of Biological
Resources (CCBR) support biology faculty and students conducting genetics and genomics
research on a variety of biological systems by providing both NextGen and Sanger nucleic
acid sequencing, genotyping, and other services. WestCore and CCBR provide hands on
training to undergraduate students in genetics and genomic research techniques using
cutting-edge equipment to prepare students for graduate school or for jobs in the
biotechnology workforce.
As a Biology major at BHSU, students will have the opportunity to:
Be taught by and interact with highly qualifed faculty who are committed to the highest
quality student instruction and advising to ensure students are fully prepared for
their desired career path.
Participate in authentic faculty-mentored research either through paid undergraduate
research fellowships or through independent study.
Present research findings at regional and national scientific conferences. Past students
have even published with their mentor in scientific journals!
Unique Class Experiences
Through courses designed to train the future of biologists in cutting edge research
techniques and recent advances in the various fields of biology, students are able
to earn upper division credit towards their degree while contributing new knowledge
to the scientific community. Such courses include:
RESR 498 Undergraduate Research/scholarship: Participate in a mentored research experience.
BIOL 494 Internship: Participate in an internship with a biotechnology company, campus
core facility, or public agency while receiving college credit.
BIOL 492 Topics Biology: Explore recent advances in biology through focused topic
courses.
BIOL 491 Independent Study: Expand knowledge in a particular topic of choice under
the guidance of a faculty member.
Get Involved
HSSO functions to prepare preprofessional students for a career in one of the many
health care disciplines. This organization facilitates their education in non-academic
aspects that aren't easily addressed through classroom activities. Students are strongly
urged to perform community or university service, they are provided with avenues for
health-related job training or shadowing, and are supported in their preparation for
application to the professional schools of their choice.
Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics empowers women at BHSU to
pursue and succeed in STEM careers by providing a support system, community, and mentorship
for future leaders. Become involved in local and national outreach activities and
work with area youth to help develop the next generation of successful women in STEM
fields.
Utilizing the Sanford Underground Research Facility as an impetus to teach others
about science is a natural connection for Black Hills State University. BHSU is taking
the lead in development of the Sanford Center for Science Education, which will include
hands-on science activities for visitors and tourists, classrooms for visiting high
school and university groups, and ways to view underground science in action.
The Botanical Society of America exists to promote botany, the field of basic science dealing with the study and inquiry
into the form, function, diversity, reproduction, evolution, and uses of plants and
their interactions within the biosphere. To accomplish this mission, the objectives
of The Society are to: sustain and provide improved formal and informal education
about plants; encourage basic plant research; provide expertise, direction, and position
statements concerning plants and ecosystems; and foster communication within the professional
botanical community, and between botanists and the rest of humankind through publications,
meetings, and committees.
The Paleontological Society is an international organization devoted exclusively to the advancement of the science
of paleontology through the dissemination of research by publication and meetings.
The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) was founded in 1960 to bring the varied facets of cell biology together. The Society's
objective is to provide for the exchange of scientific knowledge in the area of cell
biology. It does so through the scholarly dissemination of research at its Annual
Meeting and in its publications, and strives to ensure the future of basic scientific
research by providing training and development opportunities for students and young
investigators, and also by keeping Congress and the American public informed on the
importance of biomedical research.
The American Society for Microbiology is the oldest and largest single life science membership organization in the world.
Membership has grown from 59 scientists in 1899 to over 42,000 members today located
throughout the world. ASM represents 25 disciplines of microbiological specialization
plus a division for microbiology educators.
The Animal Behavior Society is a non-profit scientific society, founded to encourage and promote the study of
animal behavior. ABS members are from all over the world, but primarily from North,
Central, and South America. Membership is open to those interested in the study of
animal behavior.
The Entomological Society of America (ESA) is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific
needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today
has more than 6,000 members. This number includes educators, extension personnel,
consultants, students, researchers, and scientists from agricultural departments,
health agencies, private industries, colleges and universities, and state and federal
governments.
The International Union for the Stuy of Social Insects was formed to facilitate communication among social insect researchers worldwide.
IUSSI stands for the International Union for the Study of Social Insects. They are a worldwide scientific society devoted to research on social arthropods,
including: bees, ants, termites, and wasps.
The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) is dedicated to advancing biological research and education for the welfare of society.
AIBS seeks to facilitate communication and interactions among biologists, professional
biological societies, biological and other scientific disciplines, as well as to serve
and advance the interests of biology in the broader scientific community and in other
components of society.
Helpful Links
The Biology Project: This is an online interactive biology project put together by the University of Arizona.
It is a great place to get interactive multimedia tools to help reinforce learning.
Tree of Life Web Project: This site is a collaborative web project, produced by biologists from around the
world. On more than 2600 World Wide Web pages, the Tree of Life provides information
about the diversity of organisms on Earth, their history, and characteristics.
Action Bioscience: This web site provides articles by scientists, science educators, and science students
on issues related to seven bioscience challenges: environment, biodiversity, genomics,
biotechnology, evolution, new frontiers in science, and bioscience education. In addition,
the web site provides educators with lessons and resources to enhance bioscience teaching.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: This organization's mission is to enable better understanding of the earth's environment
by increasing knowledge and understanding of the plant and fungal kingdoms - the basis
of life on Earth.
TreeBASE: TreeBASE a relational database of phylogenetic information hosted by the University
at Buffalo. In previous years, the database has been hosted by Harvard University
Herbaria, Leiden University EEW, and the University of California, Davis. TreeBASE
stores phylogenetic trees and the data matrices used to generate them from published
research papers.
PLANTS National Database: The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants,
mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories. It includes
names, plant symbols, checklists, distributional data, species abstracts, characteristics,
images, plant links, references, crop information, and automated tools.
Harvard University Herbaria Databases: IPNI is a joint project with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Australian National
Herbaria to provide an online database of the names and associated basic bibliographical
details of all vascular plants.
Ada Hayden Herbarium: The Ada Hayden Herbarium has the largest collection of Iowa plants and fungi, containing
over 400,000 specimens of vascular plants, bryophytes, fungi, and lichens. Functioning
primarily as a research facility important for taxonomic studies (occurrence, distribution,
and relationships of plants), it is also used for identifying unknown plants.
Missouri Botanical Garden: Many entertaining and spectacular events take place throughout the year on the Garden
grounds and at the Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, Missouri. The Garden offers
a place of serenity amidst the hustle of the city. Thousands visit the Garden every
year for gardening tips.
The Nature Conservancy: The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve plants, animals, and natural
communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands
and waters they need to survive.
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: The Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey works with others
to provide the scientific understanding and technologies needed to support the sound
management and conservation of our nation's biological resources.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF): World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is dedicated to protecting the world's wildlife and wild
lands.
UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre: The World Conservation Monitoring Centre provides information services on conservation
and sustainable use of the world's living resources, and helps others to develop information
systems of their own.
National Geographic: This site is dedicated to different mappings available through National Geographic.
Black Hills State University Herbarium: The Herbarium maintains the world's most extensive collection of Black Hills plants.
Some specimens are over 100 years old, and provide a good record of changes in biodiversity,
as well as a storehouse of genetic information. The herbarium is also home to several
thousand specimens of fossil plants, especially fossils from the Great Plains of North
America, including a number of types of collections. These fossils are irreplaceable,
contribute to our knowledge of past environments and provide a record of climate changes
over the last 30 million years. The holdings of the herbarium include approximately
a thousand specimens of macrofungi, lichens and slime molds. Most of the specimens
are state records, and are frequently the only records of fungi from the region.
South Dakota's Homepage: The official homepage of the state of South Dakota, which contains many government
links.
The South Dakota Natural Heritage Program: The South Dakota Wildlife Diversity Program's primary goal is to inventory, protect,
and manage the species and habitats that comprise the biological diversity of South
Dakota in a manner that meets the needs and desires of the people of the state. The
Wildlife Diversity Program maintains the South Dakota Natural Heritage Program, works
to improve the public's understanding of wildlife diversity issues, and takes conservation
measures to sustain all native plants and animals and associated habitats. By taking
a proactive approach to sustaining native species, listing of species as threatened
or endangered can often be prevented.
Palaeontologia Electronica: This is a graphical site that includes many different articles about paleontology
topics.
PaleoNet: PaleoNet is a system of listservers, www pages, and ftp sites designed to enhance
electronic communication among paleontologists. While primarily designed as a resource
for paleontological professionals and graduate students, PaleoNet welcomes input and
participation from all persons interested in the study of ancient life.
Careers
Biological sciences, the study of living organisms and their relationship to the environment,
provides a foundation for a variety of careers. Some scientists conduct basic research
to increase the knowledge of living organisms, while those in applied research use
this knowledge to develop new medicines, increase crop yields and improve the environment. Work
is generally performed in a laboratory or outdoor field setting. Other biological
science graduates work in management or administration, planning programs for food
and drug testing or managing a botanical garden. Some work as consultants to business
firms, sell chemicals or laboratory instruments, or write for technical publications.
While most graduates work in a related occupation and eventually obtain an advanced
degree, others choose another direction. Many careers do not require a specific major
but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Regardless of
your career choices, it is helpful to increase your marketability to employers through
internships, responsible work experience, good grades and involvement in college activities. A bachelor's
degree is sufficient for advanced technician jobs in the medical field, lab/research
assistant positions, or testing and inspection jobs. An advanced degree is required
for most other positions in the scientific field.
A Biology Major may work in several field of research, teaching, or biotechnology,
genetics, microbiology, mycology, entomology, zoology, biomedical, marine/aquatic
biology or systematic biology. There are other careers also available in sales, extension
services, technical writing, or as a lab worker or museum curator.
Who Employs Biology Majors?
As a biology major you could work for a number of different profit and nonprofit organizations
and business or the government. Here is a list of just a few of them:
Secondary schools, Universities and Colleges
Clinics and Hospitals
Pharmaceutical, Biotech, and Chemical Companies
Public Health Agencies
Federal/State/Local Government Laboratories and Agencies
Here at Black Hills State University we are actively engaged in research throughout
the year. If you are interested in doing research contact one of the faculty members with the same interest to propose your plan.
Sensitive Herpetofauna of the Black Hills National Forest
By Nate Stephens and Brian Smith
Microbial Inhibition in Response to Treatments of Hydrogen Peroxide and Formalin on
Landlocked Fall Chinook Salmon Eyed Eggs as Determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy
By Hans Stephenson, Mike Barnes, and Mark Gabel
Brandi Wood traveled in Hawaii with Dr. Steve Anderson to assess the distribution
of pahoehoe lava flow surface morphology at Kilauea volcano, and used the results
as the basis for comparison to similar flows on the Martian surface. Brandi coauthored
a paper presented at the Lunar and Planetary Science conference and two others that
were published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters. Brandi Wood was funded by a
Nelson Scholarship.
Black Hills State University's Faculty is very active in research throughout the year.
With their broad range of research interests, the faculty can assist and guide students
in the development their own research. If a student is interested in doing research,
they should contact one of the faculty members with the same interest to propose their
plan.
David Bergmann: Bacterial oxidation of ammonia and methane, microbial ecology.
Holly Downing: Behavior, nest construction, and glandular development in social insects.
Audrey Gabel: Survey of Black Hills fungi; mycology
Mark L. Gabel: Flora of the Black Hills, systematics of Poaceae, Miocene flora of the Great Plains
Charles F. Lamb: Comparative vertebrate neuroanatomy and the ecology of aquatic insects.
