Trudy Mackay with students in lab

Beyond Basic Biology

Our department focuses on interdisciplinary education and diverse research opportunities to explore some of the most pressing scientific issues facing our world.

Undergraduate

Our undergraduate programs offer students a world-class education in the biological sciences that prepares them for bright futures.

See what we offer

Graduate

We offer more than 15 degrees in seven focus areas at the master’s and doctoral levels, as well as a thriving research environment.

Learn more

Research

Research is an integral part of the educational experience in our department, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Explore our research

Nearly 500 Graduates

With almost 500 graduates in 2014-15, the Department of Biological Sciences is one of the largest academic departments at NC State.

Strategic Plan

The overarching goal of the Department of Biological Sciences’ Strategic Plan 2017-2022 is to achieve a learning and training environment for our students that is second to none and, in doing so, to provide the resources necessary for our faculty and staff to reach their full potential.
The Department’s Plan aligns with the University’s strategic plan with the following aims:

1) Enhance the success of our students through educational innovation
2) Enhance scholarship and research by investing in faculty and infrastructure
3) Enhance organizational excellence by creating a culture of constant improvement
4) Enhance local and global engagement through focused strategic partnerships.

Highlights of the Plan include the establishment of a Biological Sciences Center for Educational Excellence. The Center would drive research and innovation for evidence-based teaching and learning, provide opportunities for professional development, and support student and faculty interactions. The Plan identifies the need to provide authentic research experiences for all interested undergrads. That need is addressed by strategies to provide at least one semester of an authentic research experience to all undergraduate students.

Read more

News

May 4, 2018

How Sports Science Got a Cornerback Into Public Health

Fall Saturdays may be what graduating senior Nicholas Lacy, a human biology major and health minor, will miss most about NC State. That’s when Lacy, a cornerback on the football...

May 1, 2018

Sciences Graduate Programs Make Strong Showing in Latest U.S. News Rankings

NC State Sciences graduate programs ranked highly in their fields in the latest rankings of graduate schools in science by U.S. News and World Report. NC State’s statistics program once...

Apr 27, 2018

City Fish Evolve Different Body Forms Than Country Fish

A North Carolina State University study examining the effects of urbanization on the evolution of fish body shape produced both expected and surprising results: One fish species became more sleek...