Biological Sciences

The Department of Biological Sciences offers the Bachelor of Science in Biology.  This degree is designed to meet the needs of students with a variety of career goals.  Many of our students intend to enter professional programs in medicine, physician’s assistant, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy or occupational therapy after they complete their bachelor’s degrees at LSUA.  Others plan to attend graduate school or pursue employment in one of the biology sub-disciplines such as cellular and molecular biology, microbiology, botany, zoology, physiology, or ecology.  Another subset of the students is interested in the applied biological fields of wildlife biology, fisheries, or forestry.  For more information about the broad career options for Biology graduates, please refer to .

 

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In partnership with the Alexandria Zoo, LSUA offers one of the only programs in the south where students can gain real-world, on-site zoo animal experience in an AZA-accredited zoo setting. The Zoo Sciences concentration provides the expertise necessary for a rewarding career with a zoo, aquarium, nature preserve, or in captive animal care and management programs.  Click for more information.

 

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Mission Statement

The Department of Biological Sciences at LSUA is dedicated to cultivating a dynamic learning environment that supports student growth through high-quality instruction, hands-on research, and mentorship. With small class sizes, we prioritize meaningful faculty-student engagement, where biology is explored not only as a field of knowledge but as a process of discovery and inquiry.

Students gain a strong foundation in biological concepts and applications within a liberal arts framework, developing critical skills in communication, analysis, and collaboration. Our faculty integrate experiential learning opportunities in both laboratory and field settings, encouraging students to think deeply, apply scientific principles, and make informed decisions as scientifically literate professionals.

We are committed to creating an environment where all students are treated with equal dignity and respect. Through research, innovation, and personalized instruction, we prepare students for success in graduate programs, professional schools, and careers in the life and natural sciences.

 

SURE Program

The LSUA Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) offers an eight-week program from June 2 – July 25, 2025, designed to provide students with hands-on research opportunities under the guidance of faculty mentors. The program combines academic and professional development through seminars and workshops on research methods, scientific writing, the graduate school application process, and career planning. This eight-week experience includes faculty mentorship, a $3,000 stipend, and opportunities for excursions and social activities. For more information, contact Dr. Cheryl Bardales cbardales@lsua.edu To apply:

 
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Department News

LSUA Department of Biological Sciences Receives $432K Grant

May 27, 2020, 10:10 AM
Funding will be utilized for enhancing curriculum and equipment

The Louisiana State University of Alexandria has been awarded a $432,033 grant by the Board of Regents of the State of Louisiana. The grant is part of the Departmental Enhancement Program and will be utilized for enhancing the biology curriculum through undergraduate research productivity.

Dr. Nathan Sammons and Dr. Carol Corbat, both professors in the LSUA Department of Biological Sciences, co-authored (with contributions from all of the faculty within the Department) the grant proposal submitted last fall for review by a discipline-based panel of out-of-state consultants. Of the 173 proposals submitted to the Board of Regents, LSUA was pleased to be ranked second, just behind Tulane University.

鈥淚鈥檓 still so stunned,鈥� said Corbat. 鈥淚 never in the world thought we鈥檇 receive this award the first year we applied.鈥�

The grant is to be awarded over the next five years and, per the Board of Regents final report, will enhance the undergraduate research program at LSUA through curriculum modification, infrastructure changes to support cellular-molecular biology research, and the creation of a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE).

The Department faculty will spend the first year developing the curriculum logistics and purchasing research equipment. Implementation of the programs will begin in year two.

The upgrade to equipment in the Department will provide more opportunities for students and faculty to have research published in high-profile research journals. Current LSUA equipment has been a hindrance because of its age. The instrumentation to be purchased is the 鈥淣ext Generation鈥� of its kind which includes the ability to sequence and quantify DNA at a high level of precision.

The revamp in the undergraduate curriculum seeks to attract those students who aren鈥檛 initially research driven.

鈥淭he goal is to reach a new demographic. As a University, we will always have students who know they want to do research before they ever come to campus. We want to attract those students who don鈥檛 realize this is something they can do, or have interest in, until they get here,鈥� said Sammons.

The first step in implementing this new curriculum includes a modification to the introductory biology course which will incorporate a research component. Students can then choose to take a research intensive path throughout the rest of the degree program.

Another one of the driving factors for the creation of this advanced program derives from data.

鈥淒ata has shown that increasing the opportunities students have for undergraduate research, increases student success. This includes higher graduation rates, deeper engagement in science, and the continuation to advanced degrees,鈥� said Sammons.

The grant funding will have a significant impact on the students and faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences, but also the University as a whole.

Per the consultant鈥檚 comments, 鈥淚t (the proposal) directly supports the departmental and institutional missions to provide quality instruction, experiential learning, and innovative teaching to LSUA students, to ensure student success and to provide a robust academic environment.鈥�

Additional Resources

If you would like to know more about the Biological Sciences department, please give us a call at (318) 473-6431 or drop by and see us in the Science Building 127.

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