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Biology Department


Mission Statement

Biology has had decades of extraordinary leadership which has served it well and has resulted in the design of holistic programs to prepare students for post baccalaureate studies, health professions, science education, and other science-related careers. The mission of the Biology Department is in consonance with the mission and goals of the University, especially as it relates to the development of tomorrow's leaders in professions utilizing biological knowledge. The major provides instruction in fundamental biological concepts, immersion in hands-on, minds-on field and laboratory exercises, and opportunities for greater specialization in emerging fields like biophysics, computational biology and genomics. Critical reasoning, intellectual inquiry, and mastery of the scientific jargon are aggressively fostered in the biology program. From the very beginning, students are involved in the practice of scientific inquiry and, in advanced courses, motivated to formulate testable hypotheses, design experiments and analyze data. These competencies are then demonstrated in the BIOL capstone course, BIOL401 Senior Seminar, in which students deliver a high quality scientific presentation and field questions which may be posed by any member of the BIOL faculty. The program promotes leadership and collaborative skills through group projects including recitations/precepts, discussions, lab experiments and reports. Advanced undergraduate students may serve as teaching and laboratory assistants. The department supports a chapter of Beta Kappa Chi, The Biology Club, and Pre-Professional Health Careers Advisory Program. These student-centered organizations offer leadership and service opportunities.

Vision Statement

The biology major is designed to: give students a broad understanding of the processes, concepts, and structures that characterize life at three basic levels: molecular/cellular, system/organism, and community/ecosystem; encourage scientific investigation and experimentation through laboratory and field experiences and independent, authentic research; and finally, prepare students for the further pursuit of graduate or professional school, or for careers in health care, public and private research, teaching, and related fields.
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DEGREE PROGRAMS

B.S. in Biology (PreHealth)

The biology core curriculum requires the completion of two mandatory introductory courses (cr. hr = 8) within the first year, after which students may select 5 to 7 advanced biological courses (cr. hr = 19 - 28) based on interests and career goals with the restriction that at least one course is taken in each of three major categories of biology (i.e., organismal/physiology, cellular and molecular, and environmental/ecology /evolution).

ÌýÌýÌýÌý1. A required "core" of nine biology courses with labs representing three levels of life processes:

  • three introductory courses with labs (BIOL120/121, BIOL230/231)
  • molecular & cell biology (BIOL250/251)
  • five biology electives with advanced content in each of the three levels

ÌýÌýÌýÌý2. Senior seminar
ÌýÌýÌýÌý3. Four required courses in chemistry
ÌýÌýÌýÌý4. Two required courses in math
ÌýÌýÌýÌý5. Two required courses in physics
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CLICK HERE TO VIEW BIOLOGY CURRICULUM

Graduate Study in Biology

The graduate study program in biology leads to the Master of Science degree. The offeringÌýof a graduate degree in biology has several purposes. One of these is to offer students who haveÌýattained the baccalaureate degree in biology or other natural sciences the opportunity to broadenÌýand increase their knowledge in the biological sciences.ÌýÌýAnother is the opportunity for students to enter into or expand their experience in the areaÌýof experimental research in biology. These objectives may be achieved through selection ofÌýelective courses offered in this department and allied areas (chemistry, agriculture, veterinaryÌýmedicine, etc.), and by the selection of a research area of concentration. The latter is with theÌýassistance of a major advisor in the department who will usually act as the student's majorÌýprofessor. All graduate students are required to teach for one (1) year in the Freshman BiologyÌýProgram.

M.S. in Biology

The biology graduate program is designed to prepare students for further graduate work leading to a Ph.D.; to provide professional biologists with advanced research and educational opportunities; and to provide students with a broad-based graduate program allowing for specialization in the diverse fields of inquiry represented by the faculty of the department. TheÌýapplicationÌýprocedure is simple!

Ph.D. inÌýIntegrative BiosciencesÌý

Advances in the life sciences that address local and global challenges require new approaches to graduate education and research. The Å·ÃÀ¸ßÇåÌýIntegrative BiosciencesÌý(IBS) Ph.D. program is designed to develop professionals who have not only technical proficiency but who also possess the flexibility and adaptability to address the complexities of current challenges. Read about our mission, vision and collaborators of this program.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Learning Resource Center

TheÌýLearning Resource CenterÌý(LRC), located in room 207 Armstrong Hall, contains a library ofÌýinformation about medical schools and their curricula, admissions requirements, and financialÌýplanning that can be accessed for reference by any student (Biology or non-Biology major).ÌýÌýSimilar information is available about other programs such as Dentistry, Optometry, Pharmacy,ÌýPhysical Therapy, Physician's Assistant, and Public Health. The Center also contains printed andÌýcomputerized information about MCAT, GRE, and other standardized examinations as well asÌýinformation on summer enrichment/research programs and post baccalaureate programs.ÌýÌýApplications for these examinations and programs are available in the Center.

PRE-PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CAREERS ADVISORY PROGRAMÌý

TheÌýPre-Professional Health Careers Advisory ProgramÌý(PHCAP) was established to assist student in the applications process for health careers.Ìý There are a series of workshops, meetings and private sessions that will ensure that each student has a well-rounded application.

MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING (MOUs)

The Å·ÃÀ¸ßÇå College of Arts and Sciences has partnerships with various medical institutions around the country withÌýEarly Acceptance Programs.Ìý

OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHÌý

TheÌýOffice of Undergraduate ResearchÌý(OUR) is focused on exposing student to research-based careers and internships.Ìý Several seminars are hosted to allow for student to have one-on-on contact with working professional and laboratory techniques that will make them successful in the future.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Research Careers Program is coordinated byÌýDr. Marcia Martinez. The purpose of the programÌýis to assist faculty engaged in biomedical research at Å·ÃÀ¸ßÇå with the developmentÌýof competitive research programs, as well as increase the number of underrepresented minoritiesÌýat Å·ÃÀ¸ßÇå conducting biomedical research. The program was establish to increase access research laboratories, attend national scientificÌýmeetings, establish biomedical seminars for faculty and students, and promote student researchÌýthrough mentoring. Students enrolled in undergraduate research can gain experience from facultyÌýmembers in Biology or from other biomedical departments on campus. Some of the researchÌýconducted on campus has emphasis in cancer, toxicology, or reproductive physiology.

TheÌý MICROBE ProjectÌýaims to enhance the exposure of undergraduate students to research in and outside of the lecture hall.ÌýÌýThis Undergraduate ÌýResearch program Ìýseeks Ìýto Ìýprovide Ìý more Ìýopportunities Ìýfor Ìýstudents Ìýto Ìýperform Ìýresearch Ìýduring Ìýthe Ìýacademic Ìýyear.Ìý

STUDENT SERVICES

  • PreHealth Advising and Test Prep (Garland Wise, Richard Whittington)
  • Career Information Forums
  • Internship Placement
  • Research Opportunities On-Campus and Abroad
  • Resume Review and Revision
  • Personal Statement Workshops
  • Mock Interview Sessions
  • Graduate and Professional SchoolÌý Application Assistance

Biology Faculty and Staff

Name Position/Interest Email address

Location

Phone

Chastity Bradford Dept. Head/ Associate Professor/Cardiovacular Physiology,
MolecularÌýPhysiology
Ìýcbradford@tuskegee.edu

ARM 107

727-8822

Richard Whittington Assistant Professor and Assistant Dept. Head/
Aquaculture, Bioethics, Microbiology
rwhittington1@tuskegee.edu

ARMÌý201A

727-4218

Deloris Alexander Associate Professor/Parasitology, Health Disparities dalexander@tuskegee.edu

BIOE70-221

727-8822

Balasubramanya Karanam Assistant Professor/Cancer Physiology bkaranam@tuskegee.edu

CARV 108

727-8822

Lawrence Cobb Assistant Professor and Lab Coordinator/
Microbiology, Microbial Food Safety
lcobb@tuskegee.edu

ARM 205

727-8079

Sheritta Fagbodun Assistant Professor/Molecular Biology, Parasitology sfagbodun@tuskegee.edu

ARMÌý209

727-8822
Chinyere Knight Assistant Professor/Mycology, Genetics cknight@tuskgee.edu ARM 206 727-8822
Marcia Martinez Professor and DepartmentÌýChair/Immunology,
Autoimmune Disease
mmartinez@tuskegee.edu CARV 17 727-8064
Archana Sharma Assistant Professor/Plant Molecular Genetics asharma@tuskegee.edu ARM 210

727-8828

Lecia Robinson Assistant Professor/Human Anatomy lrobinson@tuskegee.edu

ARM 201B

727-4219

Honghe Wang Assistant Professor/Cancer Biology, Bioinformatics hwang@tuskegee.edu

CARV 105

727-4986

Clayton Yates Professor/Cancer Signaling, Targeted Cancer
Drug Delivery
cyates@tuskegee.edu CARV 22 727-8949


CONTACT US

Dr. Chastity Bradford, Head
Department of Biology
College of Arts and Sciences
Å·ÃÀ¸ßÇå
1200 W.ÌýMontgomery Rd.
Tuskegee, AL 36088

Location: Armstrong Hall, Room 107
Telephone: (334) 727-8822Ìý
or (334) 727-8885
Fax: (334) 724-3919
E-mail:Ìýcbradford@tuskegee.edu