Department of Biological Sciences

Butler University

4600 Sunset Avenue

Indianapolis, Indiana 46208

Phone: (317)940-9411
Fax: (317)940-9519
E-mail: lamoore@butler.edu

Butler University’s Department of Biological Sciences strives to provide students with broad training in biology and a solid foundation of core courses in the liberal arts. With a strong emphasis on student research, the department provides students with lab and field opportunities where they may explore at the molecular, cellular, organismal and population levels of biological organization.

Students are also able to participate in the Butler Summer Institute, a nine-week program that allows students to work closely with a faculty mentor to design an independent project.  Students may then choose to present their research and results at Butler’s Undergraduate Research Conference, an annual event that attracts approximately 500 students from around the Midwest.

Students may also elect to participate in Special Programs with the department. The Center for Urban Ecology (CUE@B) educates and engages Butler students and citizens in the local community about the discipline of urban ecology and to create “citizen scientists” dedicated to continued stewardship of the natural world. The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama is dedicated to understanding tropical biodiversity. The Butler-STRI partnership includes opportunities for students to serve as paid interns in Panama for existing research projects conducted by STRI scientists and for students to engage in new research initiatives with Butler faculty in Panama.  Further, the partnership includes two field-based courses taught on-site in Panama by Butler biology faculty.

Many biology students pursue graduate studies, teaching careers or technical careers. Students also pursue post-graduation studies at professional schools in medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy and veterinary medicine. Students are individually advised by a faculty member in the department regarding the selection of courses to fulfill minimum entrance requirements and prepare them well for the graduate or professional school of their choice.