Biology & Premed Programs

BIOLOGY PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Biology Program at Al-Quds Bard College for Arts and Sciences deals with classical and modern biological theories and experimentation. Students take courses in all fields of biology as core requirements. The students receive a diverse set of skills and knowledge through an intensive, progressive, and balanced learning experience in cellular, molecular, organismal, and environmental biology. Additionally, we will educate each student in understanding the living world and fundamental life processes. The program also encourages students to approach biology from an interdisciplinary point of view. Chemistry, especially biochemistry and organic chemistry, is a core requirement for biology students. One cannot be a good biologist, chemist, or future medical doctor without understanding the underpinnings of life's driving force. At the basic level of everything macromolecules of life are the basis for everything in biology. Biological processes, environmental changes, and industrial innovations have a biological and chemical fingerprint. 

The program is taught with a liberal arts approach: student-centered learning, small class size and an emphasis on reading and writing. The program also offers flexibility in minoring. Students can choose to concentrate their work in only biology, or minor in another science, social science or humanity. The main goal of any liberal arts college is produce well-rounded, independently inquisitive graduates, who can compete for jobs, and in graduate programs. We strongly believe that we are not only graduating young biologists/scientists, but, in fact, future active and educated citizens of Palestine. 

The Biology Program also requires that students enroll in 8 credit hours of independent research (Senior Project I and II). On the practical level this translates into a one-year original research project where students are engaged with scientific literature and in performing basic research in labs across the country. The final outcome is a thesis and defense written and presented to an official board by the student. This further emphasizes the importance of reading and writing, and it puts students at the cutting edge of novel scientific research.

BIOLOGY PROGRAM MISSION.

Our mission is to graduate well rounded, technically and scientifically proficient, inquisitive young biologists who will not only compete well in the job market but will also compete in international graduate programs. This will be achieved by providing them with an intensive, progressive, and balanced learning experience in cellular, molecular, organismal, and environmental biology. As well, we will educate each student in understanding the living world and fundamental life processes and to help them acquire the skills and knowledge base needed to prepare for a career in medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy as well as to pursue graduate studies in biology and related sciences. We aim to encourage critical thinking among our students by using their acquired knowledge to make responsible decisions about their future career and life, and to use their skills to productively contribute to their Palestinian community