Biology is a dynamic science aimed at gaining a better understanding of living organisms and how they interact with the environment. Biological research seeks to answer a broad range of questions, from factors that affect human health to ecological issues. Saint Louis University's biology program offers courses that emphasize concepts over facts and aim to provide a foundation for careers in the life sciences, health professions, K-12 education and advanced post-graduate study in a broad variety of disciplines. The B.A. in biology degree at Saint Louis University provides maximum flexibility in selecting upper-division courses and is favored by students seeking to have double majors. SLU's biology program is enriched by interactions with the School of Medicine, Missouri Botanical Garden, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Saint Louis Zoo, as well as a growing number of St. Louis-based life science companies. Research experiences and internships provide students with opportunities to study biology beyond the classroom. The Department of Biology has a field station that provides unique opportunities for students to explore ecology, conservation and environmental science in an Ozark forest ecosystem. The field station offers students opportunities to take a summer class, conduct undergraduate research and participate in a semester-long program of field biology coursework. Biology students at SLU are encouraged to participate in co-curricular activities. Groups such as Beta Beta Beta, the biology honorary society, and Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre-professional honor society, are social and academic organizations that further students interest in biology while exposing them to its relationship with other scientific disciplines.<br><br>SLU's biology major develops strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills that provide excellent preparation for professional schools, such as: Medical school, Veterinary science school, Dental school, Optometry school and Graduate school in a broad range of disciplines. The skills biology majors gain also open the door to a wide variety of career options in areas such as health care, biotechnology, environmental management, conservation, education and the pharmaceutical industry. Recent biology majors have been awarded grants from Sigma Xi and the National Science Foundation, as well as prestigious fellowships from the NSF, Fulbright Scholar Program, Mayo Clinic, Smithsonian Institution, NeuroSURF and the American Society for Microbiology.