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The Biology Department
Incoming Students 2024-2025
Are you an incoming WWU student for 2024-2025? Check out the Incoming Biology Students page to learn how to declare a Biology Major, the application process, and other helpful advising tips.
The Biology Department encompasses areas ranging from molecular biology to ecosystem ecology. This breadth is reflected in our curriculum and in faculty and student research. Our joint mission of teaching and research strongly complement each other and provide students with an educational experience of very high quality.
In support of the mission of Western Washington University and the College of Sciences and Engineering, the mission of the Biology Department is to provide an outstanding learning environment that integrates education, scholarship, and service in order to actively engage students in the biological sciences and foster their development as lifelong learners.
The faculty in the College of Science and Engineering has established a fund to provide support for Black students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Black people face unique and systemic barriers to succeeding in STEM, contributing to historical and ongoing underrepresentation in undergraduate and graduate STEM programs, and in STEM careers. The impetus for the fund is the 2020 protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Through this scholarship we can, together, make an impact on the educational goals of Black students at WWU for generations to come.
To donate, go to the WWU Foundation page.
The Biology Department Summer 2024 Main Office (BI315) Hours:
- Monday-Thursday 9:00 - Noon and 1:00 - 4:00
We are available to answer your questions via phone and email:
- Monday - Friday 8:00 - 5:00
Biology Main Line - 360.650.3627 or email biology@wwu.edu
Biology Staff Advisors - 360.650.6165 or email biologyadvising@wwu.edu
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Biology News Spotlight
Celebrating spring '24 commencement, student awards and scholarship recipients
Western’s Biology Department celebrated on the front steps of the Biology building post commencement on Friday, June 14.
Bridging Worlds Through Mammal DNA and Photography
For her graduate research, Victoria Vinecke works with many collaborators - but she spends the most of her time with Goggles, a harbor seal. She studies harbor seals via environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling while tracking the seal population.
Nearly 500 visitors take a tour of WWU's Insect Collection
On March 2, Western’s Biology Department hosted its second Insect Collection Open House, inviting community members to explore the 75,000 specimens in the ever-growing WWU Insect Collection.
Despite a surprise snowfall that hit Bellingham, nearly 500 people attended the all-ages event, which focused on teaching visitors about the lives of insects and the ecological roles they play.