Biology Home Page

Western Wyoming Community College is located in the eastern Great Basin desert in a unique habitat known as a semi-barren sagebrush steppe. The college sits at an elevation of about 6271 feet in a high desert plain between the Wyoming Range to the northwest, the Wind River Range to the northeast, the Snowy Range and Medicine Bows to the east, and the Uinta Range directly to the south.

We are about an hour from Flaming Gorge National Recreational Area, about two hours from Dinosaur National Monument, about 3 hours from Grand Teton National Park, and about four hours from Yellowstone National Park. If you enjoy studying the ecology of large urban areas, Salt Lake City offers such an opportunity only three hours to the west.

Our setting is unsurpassable in terms of opportunities for studying a

variety of diverse communities and ecosystems. It provides unique opportunities for field work, that is, out-of- the- classroom work. The habitats in the surrounding areas are home to diverse and abundant populations of wildlife, including antelope, trout, elk, moose, grouse, and migrating songbirds, as well as numerous plant species. You can see the relevance of your biological studies when you reside in Wyoming.

If your interest lies in the health sciences, the biology department will

prepare you for admission to the nursing program, the exercise science and personal trainer programs offered here at WWCC. We also offer courses to prepare students for programs in dental hygiene, physical therapy, radiology, occupational therapy, pre-med and pre-vet programs. Go to the "Programs" page for more information on these programs.

If your interest does NOT lie in biology, we pity you, but offer several courses for the non-scientists to learn enough about biology to get by in today's biotechnological revolution (and to fulfill their lab science requirement!) We also offer enrichment courses including Birding, Snake River Ecology, Wyoming Flora, Natural History of Wyoming, and Emerging Infectious Diseases, to name just a few.

Our low student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes ensures that you will get to know and work with your professors. Small class size ensures the individualized attention many students need (and all students deserve) to succeed in the life sciences.

As you plan your career path, it helps to know what you like most in biology. For example, would you rather work with people or with plants or animals? Are whole organisms more interesting or cellular systems more interesting? Do you prefer laboratory work or work outdoors?

For some jobs in biology a two-year college degree is sufficient. For instance, a two-year degree would be sufficient training to quality you for a career as a medical assistant, dental hygienist, a nurse, or veterinary technician. Most careers in the life sciences, however, require at least a Bachelors degree (i.e., Bachelors of Science). For more career opportunities and more opportunities for promotion and advancement, an advanced degree, such as a Master of Science (M.S.) comes in handy. For instance, many biologists employed by the U. S. government in the National Park Service, the Forest Service, or the Fish and Wildlife Service have bachelors degrees. Similarly, biologists who work for the State of Wyoming in the Department of Game and Fish have a bachelors degree. Jobs in research jobs typically require the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), which may take five or six years of training beyond the Bachelors degree or Masters degree. There are some specialized degrees in the life sciences, the most familiar being the M.D. (Doctor of Medicine), which usually takes four years to earn, followed by additional training before students can practice medicine. Other specialized degrees include the Pharm.D. (Doctor of Pharmacy) or the Physical Therapy degree.

Secondary biology teachers (those teaching at the junior high school or high school level) often major in biology and also earn a teaching certificate. Attorneys who hope to practice environmental law or work for a large company with environmental interests often study biology as an undergraduate major and then go on to law school to complete their education. Entrepreneurial students who want to start their own business doing anything from environmental impact statements to running a fertility clinic or genetics counseling service often double-major in biology and business. Physical therapists and personal trainers who open their own businesses often double-major in biology and business as well. Journalists who plan on doing science reporting may earn biology and journalism degrees.

The human species is clearly poised on the precipice of an explosion in biological information. Every day new discoveries are being made that impact our daily lives. Genetically engineered organisms, including bacteria and crop plants, mapping of the human genome, cloning . . . These were all just the vague imaginings of "science fiction" only a few short years ago. This remarkable progress in biology and the applications of this new knowledge will make a biology degree one of the most marketable degrees of the 21^st century.