Our Mission
The Department of Biology seeks to further the aims and purposes of Freed-Hardeman University by: - making the student more conscious of God and design in natural phenomena;
- furthering the student’s general education by contributing to his or her cultural background and helping him or her to enjoy the aesthetic qualities of the natural world;
- imparting some understanding of the methods of scientific investigation, thus building a foundation for further research and advanced study in biology and various related fields;
- preparing students in the health-related preprofessional fields and offering a sound background for those desiring to teach biology; and
- preparing students for positions in industry, civil service, etc., that require a background in biology.
The Department of Biology offers a baccalaureate minor in Biology, the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Biology, and the Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Science.
Requirements for teacher licensure in Tennessee and most states may be met in biology and general science.
Why study here?
Freed-Hardeman University's Department of Biology offers a wide variety of class options—from substance abuse to natural resource conservation—that cater to your academic curiosities. We believe the relationship between you and your instructor is an essential connection in improving the desire to learn and the atmosphere for growth. If you choose to make Freed-Hardeman your home, there is no doubt you will find instructors who will answer your questions about biology and its real-world applications. Our faculty members have studied everything from bats and snakes to cancer cells, and each instructor is prepared to address your individual needs. In fact, all of our upper-division biology professors are very qualified, each possessing doctorates in their respective fields.
Facilities
The Associates Science Center has held all of the Department of Biology's classrooms and laboratories for nearly four decades, but in the summer of 2010, the department will welcome the construction of a new science building featuring brand new laboratories and equipment for all the sciences on campus, including general biology, microbiology, human anatomy and physiology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, and environmental chemistry. The 20,000-square-foot workspace will almost double the size of the current facility and is only the first half of a 40,000-square-foot project to be completed in the near future.
Research Center
While we want our students to enjoy the most state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories. We also want them to possess real-world practice of their studies. The Research Center is one way we work to reach this goal. The facility, affectionately known as the “RC,” is an outlet for ambitious students to pursue their own scientific interests with the support of mentoring professors, following a model that is usually exclusive to the graduate level. No matter your research field, you are sure to learn more about the natural world and the God who created it.
Success after Graduation
Of our 2010 biology graduates, approximately 53% are planning to pursue a medical doctorate (M.D., D.D.S., Pharm.D. or O.D.), 13% are planning other graduate studies (M.S. in biology, CRNA, etc.), 6% will continue in undergraduate studies and 27% are seeking other employment as teachers, parks workers, or laboratory and research technicians. Graduates of FHU’s School of Sciences and Mathematics enjoyed 100% acceptance rates into medical, veterinary, pharmacy, dental, and physician assistant schools in 2008, and since 2000, our graduates’ acceptance rates into most of these programs have been at or above 90%, with many at 100%. For over a century, Freed-Hardeman has dedicated itself to students and strives to help them find academic and spiritual success well beyond the classroom.