Biology is one of the most important disciplines today, with research at the frontiers of biotechnology, medicine and engineering. A degree in Biology is an excellent entry point into many professions.

The Biology undergraduate program offers a wide range of courses, an emphasis on lab research, and two degree options. In addition, and new for 2007-2008, the Biology Department will offer a series of recommended tracks that allow a student to gain depth and breadth in a particular area.

The Department of Biology houses more than 60 research groups, located in the Koch Biology Building, the Center for Cancer Research, the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, and the Broad Institute. The faculty includes four Nobel laureates and 29 members of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.

Research programs in the Department include:

These studies use theoretical and computational approaches as well as experimental model systems, including human, mouse, frog, fish, fruit fly, worm, plant, yeast, bacteria, and in vitro cell culture.

Biology Department undergraduates benefit from these broad research areas through an extensive course curriculum that leads to sophisticated understanding of fundamental principles and current approaches to Biology. Emphasis is given to Molecular and Cell Biology.

All Course VII majors participate in laboratory research, with focus on experimental design, data evaluation and scientific presentation. Many research opportunities are provided, through the Project Laboratories and Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP).

This training provides excellent preparation for careers in the biomedical and many other professions, particularly research in academia or industry, medicine, management or finance in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, intellectual property law, high school- or college-level teaching, forensics, and bioethics.

Dates to Remember

Also see the MIT Academic Calendar and the Biology Calendar for more details.