Student Resources
Student Resources
A variety of activities are available for biology majors to explore topics of interest, learn about career opportunities in the biological sciences, and serve the university and their community. Students who excel in their classes and demonstrate an interest in helping others learn may be invited to serve as workshop leaders or teaching assistants. The Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society organizes campus events, field trips, and other activities that enable biology and life science majors to interact with one another and with others in the University and surrounding community. Students can gain practical experience, deepen their understanding and appreciation of biology, and serve the community through a variety of internships and volunteer opportunities.
Student Engagement
At the University of Portland students have extensive opportunities to engage in research activities with the faculty. These opportunities may occur during the academic year or during the summer. During the academic year, students may participate in research projects as part of their regular course load. In the summer, research opportunities are available working with individual faculty in faculty-funded research or as part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Typically student researchers have an opportunity to share their findings at local, regional or national scientific meetings.
Sophomores, juniors, and seniors may serve as teaching assistants for laboratory courses. Teaching assistants are employed by the biology department to assist professors in preparing materials for lab demonstrations and experiments, setting up labs, supervising students and answering questions in lab courses, and maintaining a safe, clean working environment in the laboratory. Opportunities also exist for freshmen to be employed by the biology department.
Teaching assistants acquire additional experience and advanced skills in specific areas of biology while helping fellow students learn new laboratory techniques and understand the underlying investigative principles. To apply for a position, contact the instructor responsible for the lab in which you are interested. In most cases a student is expected to have completed the course in which they assist.
One or more courses offered by the biology department may be supplemented by a peer led team learning (PLTL) program. The PLTL program involves selected students serving as leaders of weekly discussion groups made up of small groups of students. Peer leaders do not re-teach the lecture material to those students, but rather use a variety of active learning strategies to clarify and reinforce concepts in ways that are suited to different student learning styles.
Peer leaders are selected by the biology faculty from among student applicants who have excelled in their courses. Students selected as peer leaders receive training in active learning teaching strategies and must enroll in the Service Learning in Biology course (BIO 387). In this course they meet weekly with the course instructor to plan activities and discuss student progress and responses.
The department is often looking for student worker support for classes - everything from TAs to student van drivers. Check out the student worker job board for current available postings in the department by searching for the word "biology."
Two-Year Course Schedule
- BIO 205 - Foundations of Biology (SONHI Only)
- BIO 207 – Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
- BIO 277 – Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology Lab
- BIO 208 – Introduction to Ecology and Evolution
- BIO 278 – Introduction to Ecology and Evolution Lab
- BIO 305 – Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIO 365 – Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
- BIO 306 – Anatomy and Physiology II
- BIO 366 – Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
- BIO 359 – Microbiology for Nursing (SONHI Only)
- BIO 379 – Microbiology for Nursing Lab (SONHI Only)
Fall 2026 Courses with Labs*:
- BIO 301 - Microbiology
- BIO 361 - Microbiology Lab
- BIO 318 - Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation
- BIO 358 - Mammal Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation Lab
- BIO 340 - Ecology
- BIO 343 - Ecology Lab
- BIO 354 - Cell and Molecular Biology
- BIO 372 - Cell and Molecular Biology Lab
Fall 2026 Lectures*:
- BIO 341 - The Nature of Plants
- BIO 391 - Andes to Anchovies
- BIO 420 - Kinesiology and Functional Human Anatomy
- BIO 428 - Neurobiology
- BIO 477 - Human Anatomy Dissection
Fall 2026 Capstone Courses*:
- BIO 410 - Capstone: Advances in Biomedical Science
- BIO 487 - Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy
- BIO 499 - Senior Thesis
*This anticipated schedule may change.
Spring 2027 Courses with Labs*:
- BIO 325 - Plants and Civilization
- BIO 350 - Plants and Civilization Lab
- BIO 330 - Genetics
- BIO 333 - Genetics Lab
- BIO 400 - Immunology
- BIO 470 - Immunology Lab
Spring 2027 Lectures*:
- BIO 309 - Parasitology
- BIO 347 - Animal Behavior
- BIO 418 - Biology of Exercise
- BIO 447 - Cancer Biology
Spring 2027 Capstone Courses*:
- BIO 430 - Capstone: Biology of Health and Disease
- BIO 491 - Capstone: Advances in Biology
- BIO 499 - Senior Thesis
*This anticipated schedule may change.
Fall 2027 Courses with Labs*:
- BIO 301 - Microbiology
- BIO 361 - Microbiology Lab
- BIO 312 - Freshwater Ecology
- BIO 313 - Freshwater Ecology Lab
- BIO 336 - Developmental Biology
- BIO 376 - Developmental Biology Lab
Fall 2027 Lectures*:
- BIO 348 - Conservation Biology
- BIO 354 - Cell and Molecular Biology
- BIO/EXS 420 - Kinesiology and Functional Human Anatomy
- BIO 428 - Neurobiology
- BIO 477 - Human Anatomy Dissection
Fall 2027 Capstone Courses*:
- BIO 410 - Capstone: Advances in Biomedical Science
- BIO 487 - Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy
- BIO 499 - Senior Thesis
*This anticipated schedule may change.
Spring 2028 Courses with Labs*:
- BIO 330 - Genetics
- BIO 333 - Genetics Lab
- BIO 345 - Vertebrate Biology
- BIO 375 - Vertebrate Biology Lab
Spring 2028 Lectures*:
- BIO 353 - Evolution
- BIO 400 - Immunology
- BIO 447 - Cancer Biology
Spring 2027 Capstone Courses*:
- BIO 430 - Capstone: Biology of Health and Disease
- BIO 491 - Capstone: Advances in Biology
- BIO 499 - Senior Thesis
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