Welcome to the WLU Department of Biological Sciences where you get the advantages of a smaller university; with many opportunities equal to or exceeding that of many larger colleges.  WLU is located in a rural area in the northern panhandle of West Virginia, but our reputation for a quality education in Science and Mathematics at an economically friendly cost is becoming well known throughout the tri-state area and beyond.

And our Graduates are going places….. In the last few years our graduates have continued their education at:

Alderson-Broaddus College in the Physician Assistant Program
Chathem University in the Physician’s Assistant Program
Cornell University in Biological Chemistry
Duquesne University in Pharmacy
Marietta College in the Physician Assistant Program
Marshall University in Medical School, Forensic Science, & Environmental Science
NOVA Southeastern University in Osteopathic Medicine, & Optometry
Ohio State University in Dental School, Organic Chemistry, & Biochemistry
Ross University in Veterinary Science
University of Charleston in Pharmacy
University of Georgia in Veterinary Science
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Osteopathic Medicine
West Virginia University in Dental School, Medical School, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, Chemistry, & Environmental Science

The majority of these students have commented that the education they received in their WLU Biology Program has enabled them not only to succeed at these institutions but on many occasions be more prepared than their fellow classmates.

Advantages of WLU:

• You have a name, not a number
• Smaller class size
• Your professors get to know you and can give you one-on-one instruction
• Fellow students can offer help, encouragement, and advice

Opportunities at WLU:

One of the most beneficial opportunities the WLU Department of Biological Sciences offers its students is undergraduate research.  Each year freshmen through seniors are actively doing research.  These students are not only rewarded monetarily but they also gain research experience, and have the opportunity to present their findings at a state, national, and international level.  In the last few years our student researchers have traveled throughout West Virginia; gone to New Orleans, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, and even Slovenia and Japan.

Listed below are some of the research areas available to undergraduate students at WLU:

Biology

• the role of statins (e.g. Lipitor) in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and inflammation
• genetic analysis of heirloom tomato varieties
• the transduction of ischemic pain
• conservation assessment and distributional survey of West Virginia’s Crayfishes
• conservation assessment of all G1-G3 listed crayfish species in West Virginia