Department of Biological Sciences

Excellence in Teaching!

Our main priority as faculty members in the Department of Biological Sciences is to offer students courses and opportunities that enhance their abilities to succeed as biologists!

A Spectrum of Coursework

Whether it is a course on forensic molecular biology, herpetology, endocrinology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, ethology, mycology, marine biology, outdoor survival, electron microscopy, or tropical ecosystems, our professors are interested in integrating traditional approaches with innovative techniques to offer students exciting and challenging opportunities to learn. This commitment, in combination with our small class sizes, allows us to offer undergraduates a premier education in the biological sciences.

Outstanding Facilities

Wubben Hall and Science Center

In the fall of 2010, an 18 million dollar expansion of the Wubben Science Complex was completed. With the new facilities and state of the art equipment, we have continued to increase our breadth of offerings in terms of teaching facilities and research opportunities for undergraduates. This has translated into classrooms that are more conducive to learning, laboratories that are better designed for hands-on experimentation and observation, and more resources for undergraduate research projects. In addition, our special collections in botany, entomology, mammalogy, ornithology, and herpetology now have increased room and access.

Opportunities Outside of Regular Coursework

Undergraduate Research

Participating in research is an important way in which students can immerse themselves in the process of science. Many of our undergraduates work with faculty mentors on collaborative research projects in areas such as cell biology, molecular genetics, plant pathology, systematics, microbiology, and tropical ecology. Some of our students have even spent semesters doing research in the tropical rainforests of Ecuador. Faculty mentors and their undergraduate collaborators in our Department have gone on to win grants and recognition for their work.

This summer, 4 undergraduate researchers and their faculty collaborators will be awarded internships to conduct 10 weeks of full-time research. If you are interested in applying for this opportunity, please travel to the Internship & Independent Study section of the Biology website:

Apply for the St. Mary’s Saccomanno Research Institute/Colorado Mesa University Summer Internship Program in Biological Research NOW!

Internship and Independent Study

Working as interns or doing independent studies allow undergraduates to become more familiar with areas of knowledge that may relate to their career goals while earning college credit. Internships are usually student-driven; while advisors may help guide students toward opportunities, the responsibility for gaining the internship is on the shoulders of the student. Students then work with faculty advisors to complete the appropriate paperwork. Independent study credit is earned when students work on a semester-long project under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Students are responsible for approaching faculty in order to begin the process.

For more information on the Department, please contact Dr. Denise McKenney at 970.248.1015 or at dmckenne@coloradomesa.edu.

The Kelley Herbarium

As many of you have come to learn, Dr. Walt Kelley, Professor Emeritis of Biological Sciences, passed away on December 31st, 2010 in Costa Rica. Dr. Kelley was a beloved member of the faculty here at Colorado Mesa University and was responsible for the growth of the herbarium and the greenhouse during his thirty years as a professor here. He began his professional career working on the systematics of junipers and then transitioned to the study of Cryptantha populations. But, his love of plants culminated in his studies of tropical plants in the genus Piper. It was among the pipers in beautiful Costa Rica that he passed away. Dr. Kelley will be remembered for his love of his family and his plants. He "spoke for the plants" as no one else did and inspired his peers, his students, and his community in doing so. To honor his contribution to the herbarium, the CMU Board of Trustees has recently approved the renaming of the CMU Herbarium to the Walter Almond Kelley Herbarium!

Field-oriented Courses

Many of our professors take advantage of the spectacular habitats offered by the Western Slope by taking students out and about on field trips. The Colorado National Monument, the Bookcliffs, and the San Juan Mountains are some of the areas that serve as sites for fieldwork. Field courses are also an important part of our offerings. Tropical Field Biology is held each year in Ecuador during the January term. Marine Invertebrate Communities is offered every so often in the summers.

Pre-professional Preparation

Quite a few of our students successfully continue their educations in Medical Schools, Nursing Programs, Dental Schools, Physician Assistant Programs, Pharmacy Schools, and Physical Therapy Programs. Just as many have been admitted into Graduate Schools where they pursue their Master's degrees or their doctorates. We take our job in preparing them for success very seriously by working with them on an individual basis--we advise them on the required coursework, help them make the necessary contacts, and follow their progress closely. Qualified pre-health students may also participate in the Rural Health Scholars Program.