College is a fantastic time to travel to far flung parts of the country or the world, and the Biology Program offers students great opportunities to adventure beyond the Iowa State campus.

Field Trip Courses

Field trip courses or travel courses are offered by a variety of departments on campus, and those offered by the Biology Program provide a unique opportunity to learn about biology through hands-on experience.  These experiences may be within North America (BIOL 393) or international (BIOL 394), and count directly towards Biology degree requirements.  

Enrolling in field trip courses requires completing an application, and there are additional course fees or costs.  Each field trip course has a seminar that introduces the biology, environment, and culture of the location to be visited.  The field trips themselves occur over break periods or during the summer.  The Biology Program currently offers the following field trip courses:

International Field Trips (BIOL 394)

Course Name	Credits	Location	Instructors	Availability	Application Deadline
Caribbean Marine Biology	2	Roatan Island, Honduras	Don Sakaguchi & Jeanne Serb	Planned for March 7-15, Spring 2024	October 19, 2023
The Tropical Ecology, Marine Biology, and Cultural Diversity of Belize	3	Belize City, Belize	Corinna Most & Andrew Somerville	Summer 2019	January 3rd 2022
ISU on the Mediterranean	6 to 9	Valencia, Spain	various	Summer (every year)	March 1st 2022

Additionally, the following field trip courses offered by other departments may also be of interest to Biology majors:

Other Field Trip Courses

Study Abroad

The flexibility of the Biology major makes it easy to study abroad and have those experiences count towards our degree requirements.  Start with the Study Abroad Center and identify programs of interest, then work with your advisor on a plan for fitting the experience in to your degree program.  If you’d like a starting point, we also have this spreadsheet (Download Study abroad courses Biology Jan 2016.xlsx) listing a few international institutions and some courses that can count for advanced biology credit at Iowa State.  

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Study Abroad Programs
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Study Abroad Programs

Additional Adventures Beyond Iowa State

Many institutions across the country offer summer research laboratories where students can have immersive field or lab experiences.  Students are welcome to investigate all such programs and work with their advisor to make it part of their program of study.  

One such program that Biology has a partnership with is the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Mississippi.  These summer courses focus on marine biology, and you can learn more information about the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory here.  

Iowa State also has a partnership with the School for Field Studies (SFS).  They offer full semester and summer programs in Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Tanzania, and the Turks & Caicos Islands.  

Students can also take advantage of the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.  Founded in 1909, the 147-acre wilderness area near Okoboji Lake provides opportunities to study nature in nature on topics ranging from ecology to mammalogy.  Check out the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory website for more information.  

Students in the Biology Program are encouraged to seek out and participate in internships or jobs that have a clear biological science focus.  This supplements their academic course work at Iowa State University with "real world" experience that will make a student a more desirable and competitive applicant for post-graduate studies and future careers.  Participation in a biology-related internship, whether it is arranged with a government agency, non-profit organization, for-profit business, or other entity, counts as advanced biology credit when a BIOL 494 is arranged in conjunction with the experience.  

In order to arrange a BIOL 494, students must first identify and secure an internship.  The internship must have a biological science focus, and may be paid or unpaid.  After securing the internship, the student must then identify a faculty or staff member who will serve as their BIOL 494 instructor.  The potential instructor will assess the nature of the internship and determine if it qualifies for BIOL 494 credit.  Instructors are typically faculty members in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (EEOB) or the Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology (GDCB).  Students may wish to consult with their academic advisor or Biology Student Services staff for assistance in identifying a BIOL 494 instructor.    

Requirements

BIOL 494 courses are taken for 1 to 2 credits, typically in the fall following a summer internship experience.   The BIOL 494 course is repeatable, but only 6 credits may be applied as advanced biology coursework*, and no more than 9 may be applied towards graduation.  The number of credits received depends on the activities agreed upon by the BIOL 494 instructor and the student.

* A maximum of 7 credits total from BIOL 480, BIOL 481, BIOL 490, BIOL 491, BIOL 494, and BIOL 499 can be applied towards advanced biology course requirements

Activities

1 credit. Students complete a daily journal documenting and reflecting on the activities of the internship experience.  They also develop an electronic poster related to the experience.  The poster theme is determined by the student and the instructor; the theme should be either a biological topic related to the internship, or a descriptive overview of the internship duties and experiences.

2 credits.  In addition to completing the journal and poster, students taking a BIOL 494 for 2 credits write a research paper (approximately 10 pages, with references) on a topic related to the internship.  The paper topic and format must be approved by the instructor.

Registration and Deadlines

A contract for the BIOL 494 internship must be completed and turned in to Dr. Warchola (Bessey 135) before the start of the internship.  As part of this contract, the student and Dr. Warchola (or other faculty instructor) will decide whether the course will be graded or taken satisfactory/fail.  The format and topics of the poster and journal, as well as deadlines for submission, are set by the BIOL 494 instructor in consultation with the student.  Students typically register for the BIOL 494 the semester immediately following the internship experience (i.e., for a summer internship experience, students register for BIOL 494 in the fall).

BIOL 494 Contract Form (PDF)

Biology Internship Checklist

1. Identify and secure a suitable internship opportunity (often months before it starts)
2. Identify a Biology faculty member to serve as the BIOL 494 instructor (generally Dr. Warchola)
3. Sign a contract with the instructor specifying the number of credits, due dates, and so forth; turn this in to Dr. Warchola
4. Participate in the internship experience, keeping a journal about it in the process
5. Register for BIOL 494 during the semester immediately following the internship
6. Satisfactorily complete the post-internship activities specified in the contract

Field trip courses offered by the Biology Program provide a unique opportunity for students to learn about biology through hands-on experience.  These experiences may be within North America (BIOL 393) or international (BIOL 394), and count directly towards biology degree requirements as advanced coursework.  Enrolling in field trip courses requires completing additional forms or applications, and course fees or costs in addition to normal tuition.  If a student is accepted to a field trip course, a pre-trip seminar introduces the biology, environment, and culture of the location to be visited.  The field trips themselves occur over break periods or the summer, depending on the duration of the experience.  The Biology Program currently offers the following field trip course opportunities:
 

International Trips (BIOL 394)

Caribbean Marine Biology

This 2-credit course takes a group of students to Roatan Island off the east coast of Honduras.  The seminar portion of the course, taken during the spring semester, discusses topics such as coral reef biology, marine invertebrates, marine fish, marine ecosystems, reef surveying techniques, and the culture and history of Roatan.  The field trip occurs during spring break, where students visit the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS) and spend hours snorkeling to identifying marine species and perform underwater ecological surveys, in addition to hearing lectures by experts in marine biology.  

Summer in Valencia, Spain

This course takes students to Valencia, Spain for six weeks during the summer.  Students attend pre-trip orientation sessions that address trip financing, logistics, and safety.  The field trip itself involves staying with a host family, museum and historical site visits, and biological science experiences either in the field or in the laboratory.  Ability to speak and understand Spanish is helpful, but not required, as the biology coursework is taught in English.  

North American Trips (BIOL 393)

Biodiversity of the Boreal Forest

This 2-credit course takes seven students to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Northern Minnesota for a 10-day field excursion.  The seminar portion of the course, taken in the spring beginning at midterm, discusses issues related to the Boundary Waters Canoe area including its biodiversity and its biological and geological history.  The field trip typically being the Wednesday after finals week in May, and involves 8 days and 7 nights of canoeing, hiking, and camping in the wilderness.  Applications are available beginning the last week in October in the Student Services Office (103 Bessey Hall).  

The Biology Program offers a wide variety of course selections for students to choose from, and students may also wish to pursue a special interest in the biological sciences through independent study.  Completing an independent study counts as advanced biology credit when a BIOL 490 is arranged in conjunction with the student's independent learning.  

In order to arrange a BIOL 490, students must first identify a biological science topic that interests them.  After identifying a topic, the student must then identify a faculty or staff member who will serve as their BIOL 490 instructor.  Instructors are typically faculty members in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (EEOB) or the Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology (GDCB).  Students may wish to consult with their academic advisor or Biology Student Services staff for assistance in identifying a suitable BIOL 490 instructor.    

Requirements

BIOL 490 credits are considered to be equivalent to "laboratory" credits.  The minimum time commitment is 30 to 45 hours (e.g., 2 to 3 hours per week for the 15 weeks of a semester) for the 1 credit course.  The BIOL 490 course is repeatable, but only 2 credits may be applied as advanced biology coursework*, and no more than 9 may be applied towards graduation.

* A maximum of 7 credits total from BIOL 480, BIOL 481, BIOL 490, BIOL 491, BIOL 494, and BIOL 499 can be applied towards advanced biology course requirements

Activities

Students learn about the topic of interest, under the supervision of the BIOL 490 instructor, by reading selected literature and producing a written review document or report.  This report should be at least 15 pages in length, and include at least 15 references.  References should consist mainly of research papers from the primary literature (i.e., scientific and professional journal articles).  It is strongly recommended that the BIOL 490 instructor review at least one draft version of the report before the student develops the final document.  A product of a similar scale may be agreed upon by the student and the BIOL 490 instructor instead of a report.    

Registration and Deadlines

Students should aim to register for the BIOL 490 at or before the beginning of the semester they are doing the independent study, though other options may be possible.  The student and instructor must agree on and complete a BIOL 490 contract before registering for the course.  As part of this contract, the student and instructor will decide whether the course will be graded or taken satisfactory/fail.  The format of the report, as well as deadlines for submissions of drafts and the final report, are set by the BIOL 490 instructor in consultation with the student.  Completed contracts should be taken to the Experiential Learning Coordinator, Norah Warchola in Bessey 135. 

BIOL 490 contract

A person’s college years can be one of the most exciting chapters in a life story, and a major reason for that is the sheer quantity of opportunities available to take advantage of.  The Biology Program encourages students to actively engage with campus activities beyond the classroom to learn new skills, make connections, and have fun!    

Learning Communities

For more than twenty years, the Biology Program has offered a learning community to engage incoming first-year students with our major and assist with college adjustment. Learn more about our Biology Education Success Team (BEST).

Students can be part of more than one learning community, and these communities may also be of interest to Biology majors:

• Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE)
• BOLD Learning Community 

Student Organizations

Iowa State University is home to hundreds of student organizations which provide opportunities for social engagement, professional development, and leadership experiences.  Students in the Biology Program can participate in our Biological Sciences Club to network with other Biology majors.  Other clubs of interest to many of our students include various pre-professional clubs (e.g., Pre-Medical Professions Club, Pre-Pharmacy Club, Pre-Veterinary Club), additional biology-related academic clubs (e.g., Genetics Club, Iowa State Environmental Science Club, Psychology Club), and various recreation clubs (e.g., Fishing Club, Martial Arts Club).

Field Trip Courses and Study Abroad

Field trip courses offered by the Biology Program provide a unique opportunity for students to learn about biology through hands-on experience.  These experiences may be within North America (BIOL 393) or international (BIOL 394), and count directly towards biology degree requirements as advanced coursework. We currently offer a couple trips in marine biology, an exploration of the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, and trips to Valencia, Spain. More information on our field trip courses and study abroad.

Internships

Biology students are encouraged to seek out and participate in internships that relate to their aspirations as budding biological scientists.  The Biology Program offers advanced biology credit for students who have such an experience and arrange a BIOL 494 course with a faculty or staff member.  More information about the BIOL 494 can be found here.  

Finding an internship can be a challenge, but there are several resources available to help.  Students can always talk with their advisor about opportunities they are aware of.  The following resources for internship hunting are suggested as well:

Research

As a major research university, there are plenty of opportunities for students to engage in research during their undergraduate studies. Learn more about research opportunities in biology at Iowa State. 

Teaching

Being a skilled communicator is among the most employable qualities, and teaching experiences help cultivate such skills.  More information about teaching opportunities.

Scholarships

Many scholarships are available to assist students in paying for college. Scholarships are available for new incoming freshman and transfer students, as well as currently enrolled or continuing students.  Learn more about scholarship opportunities.

University Honors Program

Biology students with outstanding academic records may want to consider applying for the Honors Program if they are not already participants.  Honors students get to register for classes earlier, enroll in honors sections of courses, have a higher credit limit each semester, and have access to additional opportunities within the program.  Check out the Honors Program website for more information.  

The Importance of Teaching in a Program of Study

For students interested in becoming teachers, the importance of having a teaching experience is obvious, but what about those interested in other vocations?  No matter what vocation a student pursues, odds are at some point they will need to explain something to someone else.  For example, doctors teach patients about their health conditions, and lab supervisors teach technicians in particular techniques.  Teaching is part of our everyday lives and an essential part of good communication skills.  Having practice explaining technical information is especially important in the sciences, and helps build a more competitive portfolio for potential employers and professional schools.  Teaching experiences with biology faculty and staff at Iowa State can count directly towards a student’s degree requirements in Biology.

Getting Involved in Teaching

There are many opportunities to assist with lectures and labs at Iowa State, both in the Biology Program and in others.  Sometimes, students are asked to serve as teaching assistants for courses they have taken previously and excelled in.  Students can also take the initiative and ask faculty and staff if they can be of service, with help and guidance from their academic advisor.  Biology Program faculty or staff in the EEOB & GDCB departments are good places to start, but a biology-related teaching experience can be found in several other departments.  Usually a student needs to have taken the course or lab they wish to be a teacher assistant for, but equivalent experience may also be acceptable.  

Teaching though the Academic Success Center

In addition to working directly with biology faculty and staff, students may also choose to have a teaching experience coordinated by the Academic Success Center.  These paid positions have additional requirements for qualifications and a more formal application process.  Possible teaching experiences include becoming a supplemental instruction leader,  where students lead review sessions in conjunction with a lecture section.  Students can also become a tutor, where students help individuals or small groups understand course content.  Biology students take many courses that have SI and also take courses with a high demand for tutors, so there are ample opportunities to assist with other student’s learning.  

Advanced Biology Credit for Teaching Experiences

Biology-related research experiences with Iowa State faculty can count directly towards Biology degree requirements.  To do so, students set up a BIOL 491 course.  More information about setting up a BIOL 491. 

Iowa State University is a major research institution, and students in the Biology Program are encouraged to take advantage of this as part of their program of study.  Participation in biology-related undergraduate research at ISU can earn you biology credit. BIOL 299 is appropriate for introductory, closely supervised research experiences, while BIOL 499 is used for more independent research. BIOL 499 qualifies as advanced biology credit.  

In order to arrange a BIOL 299/499, students must first identify a research opportunity on campus that interests them.  Students will learn how to seek out these opportunities during  biology orientation, but they are also welcome to discuss this with their academic advisor or staff in the Biology Student Services Office (103 Bessey Hall).  The research program must have a biological science component, and most commonly, students will identify research opportunities with faculty in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (EEOB) or the Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology (GDCB).  Once a research opportunity has been identified and secured, students may request that the faculty member arrange a BIOL 299/499 and serve as their instructor for the course.   

Requirements

The minimum time commitment is 30 to 45 hours (e.g., 2 to 3 hours per week for the 15 weeks of a semester) per credit.  BIOL 299 may be taken for 1 to 2 credits.  While BIO 499 may be taken for 1-3 credits.  We recommend that students arrange 1 or 2 credits of BIOL 499 in a given semester to balance other time commitments.  The BIOL 499 course is repeatable, but only 6 credits may be applied as advanced biology coursework*, and no more than 9 may be applied towards graduation.

* A maximum of 7 credits total from BIOL 480, BIOL 481, BIOL 490, BIOL 491, BIOL 494, and BIOL 499 can be applied towards advanced biology course requirements

Activities

Students work on a laboratory or field research project under the supervision of the BIOL 299/499 instructor or an appropriate person designated by the BIOL 299/499 instructor.  The work carried out by the student should include a substantial component of actual research and should not be limited to chores such as washing glassware or cleaning field equipment.  Research must also pertain to the biological sciences.  

Students should provide a final report of activities in a written document, an oral presentation, or a poster presentation, as determined by the BIOL 299/499 instructor.  It is strongly recommended that the BIOL 299/499 instructor review at least one draft version of the report as the student develops the final report. 

Registration and Deadlines

Students should aim to register for the BIOL 299/499 at or before the beginning of the semester they are doing the research, though other options may be possible.  The student and instructor must agree on and complete a BIOL 299/499 contract before registering for the course.  As part of this contract, the student and instructor will decide whether the course will be graded or taken satisfactory/fail.  The format of the reports, as well as deadlines for submissions of drafts and the final report, are set by the BIOL 299/499 instructor in consultation with the student.  Completed contracts should be returned to Dr. Warchola warchola@iastate.edu

BIOL 299 Contract Form.pdf

BIOL 499 Contract Form.pdf

The Importance of Research in a Program of Study

Sciences are often thought of as bodies of knowledge, or a collection of facts and data that tell us about the world.  Learning this body of knowledge is a major focus of science majors and an important component of science education, including Biology.  But all of those facts and figures came from somewhere, and the heart of the sciences is action and practice: doing research!  Engaging in undergraduate research provides students with a fuller perspective of sciences, and also provides valuable experience that is similar to what they can expect to be doing on the job once they graduate.  Students considering graduate or professional schools are strongly encouraged to get involved in a professor’s research lab, as this experience helps build a competitive portfolio for program applications.  Biology-related research experiences done with Iowa State faculty can also count directly towards a student’s degree requirements in Biology.

Getting Involved in Research

As a major research institution, there are plenty of opportunities to engage in undergraduate research at Iowa State for the students who are interested in doing so.  The Biology Program alone has around 60 faculty members between its two departments (EEOB & GDCB), most of whom have research labs; several other departments on campus also offer biologically-focused research opportunities.  

Students can reach out to Dr. Norah Warchola, Experiential Learning Coordinator who can assist you with finding a suitable research opportunity. 

You can also reach out to your advisor for assistance in locating a suitable research opportunity.  Research opportunities are sometimes posted on bulletin boards in science buildings such as Bessey Hall, but usually students need to do some networking on their own.  A good place to start is by looking at the faculty pages on the EEOB and GDCB website and learn more about what various professors are doing in their labs.  Then, use those networking skills to make introductions, express interest, and see if there are lab openings available.  

Credit for Research Experiences

Biology-related research experiences with Iowa State faculty can count directly towards Biology degree requirements.  Students can earn credit for introductory research experiences by signing up for BIOL 299, while more senior students, or those with prior experience can register for BIOL 499.  More information about setting up a BIOL 299/499.    

Students in the Biology Program are encouraged to include a teaching experience as part of their program of study.  Whether in a laboratory or lecture setting, undergraduate teaching can provide a valuable review opportunity for students planning to take professional exams (e.g., the MCAT or GRE) and is an excellent practical experience for students planning to attend graduate school, professional school, or careers in education.  Participating in such an opportunity counts as an advanced biology credit when a BIOL 491 is arranged in conjunction with the experience.

In order to arrange a BIOL 491, students must already have credit for the course they wish to assist with, or have appropriate prior experience.  The course instructor must approve the BIOL 491, and will then serve as the BIOL 491 instructor and assign appropriate duties to the student.  Students in the Biology Program typically assist with courses taught by faculty members in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (EEOB) or the Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology (GDCB).  Students may wish to consult with their academic advisor or Biology Student Services staff for assistance in identifying a BIOL 491 instructor.    

Requirements

Undergraduate teaching experiences can be in a lecture or a laboratory setting.  In addition to attending all scheduled class meetings, a BIOL 491 student should expect to spend 2 hours per week (for each credit) performing other duties associated with the undergraduate teaching experience.  Duties may include working directly with students, record keeping, laboratory or lecture preparation, assistance in managing in-class activities, and more.  BIOL 491 courses are taken for 1 to 2 credits.   The BIOL 491 course is repeatable, but only 2 credits may be applied as advanced biology coursework*, and no more than 9 may be applied towards graduation.  

A BIOL 491 student with access to student records is required by the University to sign a confidentiality agreement.  It is the responsibility of the BIOL 491 instructor to ensure that this confidentiality agreement is completed prior to student involvement in the course.

* A maximum of 7 credits total from BIOL 480, BIOL 481, BIOL 490, BIOL 491, BIOL 494, and BIOL 499 can be applied towards advanced biology course requirements

Activities

In addition to performing the duties described above, a BIOL 491 student must write a short paper reflecting on what was learned or must keep a teaching experience journal.  The written product is submitted to the BIOL 491 instructor at the end of the semester.

Registration and Deadlines

Students must register for BIOL 491 credit at or before the beginning of the semester of the teaching experience.  The course can only be taken on a satisfactory-fail basis.  A BIOL 491 contract must be completed and turned in to the Biology Student Services Office (103 Bessey Hall).  As part of this contract, the format of the written product and deadlines for submission are set by the BIOL 491 instructor, in consultation with the student.  Once the contract is turned into the Biology Student Services Office, copies are sent to the student and instructor, and the original will be kept on file in the Student Services Office. 

BIOL 491 Contract Form  (PDF)