Providing the hands-on knowledge and skills students need to launch scientific careers
The mission of the Department of Biology, Marine Biology, and Environmental Science is to provide a high-quality education to our students, to advance and promote scholarly research, and to serve the greater academic and non-academic communities in support of our teaching and scholarship missions. We value an environment for learning that includes a broadly-based academic program; opportunities and support for undergraduate research; a collaborative and diverse faculty; an understanding of the process of science; and recognition of the importance of outreach to the greater Rhode Island community.
At RWU, students publish papers, present at conferences, and contribute to scientific advances. Lab-based courses ensure all majors are proficient in research skills, and many continue working 1:1 with faculty on research leading up to senior theses. Our graduates go on to succeed in medical professions, work on the forefront of climate change research, and make a difference through science in action.
Along with teaching courses, our faculty members maintain active research programs and are committed to providing opportunities for students to become involved in undergraduate research in Biology, Marine Biology, and Environmental Science.
The Department of Biology, Marine Biology and Environmental Science offers both Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Biology, Marine Biology, and Environmental Science. Bachelor of Science degrees can be obtained in Aquaculture and Aquarium Science and Biochemistry. Additionally, an undergraduate certificate is available for Biotechnology.
Minors are also offered in Aquaculture and Aquarium Science, Biology, Environmental Science, and Marine Biology.
Students earn academic credit for doing research, developing proposals, and competing for small grants to fund their projects. They present their findings at regional, national, and international conferences, where they network with experts and gain important connections for careers and graduate study opportunities. Our programs focus on how scientists' work positively impacts society. Students test new anti-amoebic drug candidates, explore animal microbiomes, study evolution of photosynthesis in plants, and identify genes involved in aging, among many others.
The Department is housed in a large, new building offering modern teaching and research laboratories, a spacious wet-lab with running seawater, several greenhouses, and state-of-the-art instrumentation for cell and molecular biology. Also available is the Luther Blount Shellfish Hatchery and the Aquatic Diagnostic Laboratory. The facilities house advanced research instruments including including real-time PCR machines, fluorescence and confocal microscopes, cell culture facilities, and a flow cytometer.
We offer our students opportunities, information, and guidance on potential careers and available positions. Students can search for job openings, internships, volunteer positions and graduate school opportunities.
The Department of Biology, Marine Biology and Environmental Science offers pre-professional preparation for a wide variety of health science fields. Students develop skills and gain foundational knowledge for admission into professional programs.
Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) is an honor and professional society for students of the biological sciences and those interested in the biological sciences.
Learn More About the TriBeta Honor SocietySummer Marine Program students learn about coastal ecosystems, food webs, productivity of the sea, plants and animals in the coast, current events in marine biology, and much more.
Learn More About Marine Biology CampEach January, RWU biology students and faculty take advantage of the Winter Intersession to leave the cold of New England and venture to the tropics for a course in Tropical Ecology.
Learn More About Studying Abroad
At the 2024 Summer Research Showcase, dozens of students across numerous disciplines presented innovative solutions to pressing global and local issues.
Through hands-on research opportunities at RWU, senior Joshua Sears contributed to a study on sea robins that has garnered national attention, showcasing the university’s commitment to providing students real-world research opportunities.
As the EPSCoR Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program’s home, RWU strengthens its commitment to advancing undergraduate research and fostering collaboration among Rhode Island’s scientific community.
The annual RWU camp offers high school students an immersive introduction to the study of Marine Biology, featuring hands-on fieldwork and laboratory experiences.
Through work on real-world research, “RWU excels at providing meaningful engagement, and our students' publications are a testament to that commitment,” said Andrew Rhyne, Professor of Marine Biology.
