Aug 25, 2025  
2025-2026 Franklin & Marshall College Catalog 
  
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2025-2026 Franklin & Marshall College Catalog

Biology Major

The study of biology furnishes insights into our species, our selves and the world of which we are a part. We humans have a fascination for other organisms and the very phenomenon of life. Biology provides us the tools to address questions ranging from how these organisms function at the molecular level to how they interact at the ecological level. Biology is an exciting, expanding discipline offering a broad and advancing frontier between the known and the undiscovered, with a variety of sub-disciplines that span the molecular to organismal to ecological levels of understanding. It is a gateway to diverse and satisfying careers and it provides insights and ways of thinking critical to each individual in society.

Franklin & Marshall’s biology program, with required and elective courses in biology as well as courses in mathematics, chemistry and physics, provides students with a firm scientific foundation and enough flexibility to accommodate individual interests. The range of these interests is reflected in the many paths biology majors follow after graduation, with or without further education.

The Biology Department at Franklin & Marshall is made up of diverse and broadly trained faculty members whose research informs their teaching. As befits biology’s place in the contemporary world, courses and research provide links to many other disciplines, including chemistry, psychology, physics, mathematics, environmental science, computer science, and public policy. The department participates in several interdisciplinary programs: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Biological Foundations of Behavior (Neuroscience and Animal Behavior), Earth and Environmental Science, Environmental Studies and Public Health.

The central goal of the Biology curriculum is to provide students with the essential research and analytical thinking skills needed by practicing biologists and, indeed, by all citizens in a democratic society. Critical reading of journal articles is an important feature of courses. Beginning in introductory courses, laboratory activities often involve student-designed investigative projects. In more advanced courses, students have access to sophisticated instruments and may spend the entire semester conducting a research project. In addition to learning to design, conduct, and analyze scientific research, students learn essential communication skills as they convey their results in written, spoken, and poster form. These activities lead many students to intensive research experiences during the summer or academic year, under the mentorship of faculty members.

Biology Department Faculty

Professor Janet M. Fischer, Chair

Professor David Roberts, Associate Chair
 

Daniel R. Ardia
Charles A. Dana Professor of Biology

Kirk Miller
B.F. Fackenthal Jr. Professor of Biology

Peter A. Fields
The Dr. F. Paul & Frances H. Reiff Professor of Biology

Janet M. Fischer
The Dr. F. Paul & Frances H. Reiff Professor of Biology

Joseph T. Thompson
The Dr. F. Paul & Frances H. Reiff Professor of Biology

Jaime E. Blair
Professor of Biology

Beckley K. Davis
Professor of Biology

Pablo D. Jenik 
Professor of Biology

Robert N. Jinks
Professor of Biology

Clara S. Moore
Professor of Biology

Mark H. Olson
Professor of Biology

David M. Roberts 
Associate Professor of Biology

Daniel Metz
Assistant Professor of Biology

Aaron Howard
Senior Teaching Professor of Biology

Jorge Mena-Ali
Senior Teaching Professor and Assistant Dean of Faculty Rentention and Success

Vincent Carson
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biology

Ellie Rice
Director, Quantitative & Science Center and Senior Teaching Professor of Biology

Stephanie Stoehr
Biosafety Officer and Teaching Professor of Biology

Major Requirements:

A major in Biology consists of 14 courses:

Nine are core and elective courses in Biology

The five additional required courses are

Note:

The writing requirement in the Biology major is met by completion of the normal courses required to complete the major. The Biology Department understands that writing is an integral part of a biologist’s professional work, especially research. We believe that writing is a way of learning and provide our majors with extended practice in writing appropriate to the discipline. Our courses provide exposure to different types of writing, including manuscript-style reports based on laboratory and field research, review papers, and research proposals. We often ask students to revise and resubmit their written work. We feel that this ability to respond to criticism is an integral part of the writing process. 

To be considered for honors in Biology, a student must have a GPA of at least 3.30 in the major. In addition, a student must conduct an Independent Study project lasting more than one semester, submit a thesis, and present his or her research publicly as part of the honors defense. A faculty committee will award honors to students whose research demonstrates independence, intellectual engagement, and a deep understanding of the project.

Off-Campus Study:

Majors in the Department of Biology have studied abroad in varied programs in recent years, including: Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; University of Melbourne, Australia; University College, London, United Kingdom; School for Field Studies (in various countries); Danish International Study (DIS), Copenhagen, Denmark; School for International Training (in various countries). See the International and Off-Campus Study section of the Catalog or the “Off-Campus Study Opportunities” page of the F&M Biology website for further information.