Pre-Biomedical Engineering Major

Ohio Wesleyan offers an uncommonly wide range of options for the study of biology, because it is one of only a few small colleges with two closely integrated life science departments: Botany & Microbiology and Zoology. This structure allows our program to offer a larger diversity of specialty courses in sub-disciplines across the biological sciences than do many other schools of our size.Accordingly, the twin departments offer six different majors. Most majors begin with a common set of core courses, but each major has unique features that make it most appropriate for the specific area of biology in which a student has the greatest interest. Some students are especially interested in particular groups of organisms, such as microbes, plants, or human beings and other animals. These students may best be served by majors in Microbiology, Botany, or General Zoology, respectively. Other students, however, may be attracted to the study of biological processes, and these students will be better served by combining courses from both departments. Genetics, molecular biology, physiology, evolution, and ecology, for example, apply across all groups of organisms. For students interested in the process-oriented approach, the Genetics or Biology majors may be more appropriate.All members of the Biological Sciences departments serve as academic advisors and help majors and potential majors in curriculum planning. Advisors will help students choose among courses that have diverse emphases: molecular to whole-organism, laboratory and field, practical and theoretical. Students in both departments have access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities such as digital imaging equipment, a fluorescence microscopy laboratory, a scanning transmission electron microscope laboratory, and molecular biology laboratories. In addition, two museum facilities serve the program: a museum for Zoology and a herbarium for Botany and Microbiology. The Kraus and Bohannan nature preserves, 80 and 50 acres respectively, are close to campus. Several other nearby facilities within easy driving range provide apprenticeship opportunities, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Laboratories, nearby hospitals, Stratford Ecological Center, Ohio Wildlife Center, veterinary clinics, and the Columbus Zoo.