The Department of Biology is a small, research-active department in which students are known by the faculty, and interact with the faculty regularly. Courses are taught by faculty who take their teaching duties seriously, and faculty are readily available for consultation outside of the classroom.

Graduate students, under the direction of faculty, serve as teaching assistants in the laboratory portions of courses, but do not teach the courses. All our students have the opportunity to conduct research within the department or at locations in the Washington, D.C., area.

The atmosphere within the department is one of collegiality. Each semester social events (dinners, ice cream socials, etc.) are held that foster interaction among the students and faculty, and which are intended to foster the sense of community within the department. Students are fully encouraged to participate in all aspects of the Biology community.