Department Programs
Pre-Health Professional Advisory Programs
Several pre-professional advisory programs are available at Chowan through the Department of Biology. Included in this category are areas of Pre-Medicine, Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Nursing, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Physical Therapy and Pre-Veterinary Medicine. Students planning to pursue studies in any of these fields must plan their degree programs carefully. Although all require a similar core of science courses with laboratories, specific entrance requirements, entrance examinations, and admissions procedures vary from program to program. Students interested in these programs should contact the Biology Department and meet with the advisor to the program as early as possible.
Learn by Doing
Biology Research & Internships
The Department of Biology encourages students to gain valuable professional experience in the classroom and outside. The Department’s educational framework integrates classroom study and field experience through career-enhancing internships. Students have completed internships in a variety of fields including:
- Medical
- Pharmaceutical
- Dental
- Veterinary
- Environmental
- Natural Resource Management
The Biology faculty at Chowan is available to mentor student research. Our faculty to student ratio makes is possible for many Biology majors to conduct independent research with a member of our dedicated faculty. Research topics addressed by our students have included: zooplankton ecology, invasive species management, toxicology, chemistry, water quality, forest ecology, soil biology, animal behavior, predator-prey relationships, microbiology, and DNA fingerprinting to identify bacterial contamination of surface water.
Students are encouraged to present their research at the Chowan University Student Research Conference and other professional conferences.
Sea Grant Project
Spatial and Biogeomorphic Properties of Oligohaline Marshes in Currituck Sound: Implications for Response to Sea-Level Rise
The study is funded by North Carolina Sea Grant’s Community Collaborative Research Grant Program and is part of an ongoing partnership between Chowan University’s Department of Biology, Audubon’s Pine Island Sanctuary (located on the Outer Banks), and the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve. Led by Bo Dame, Associate Professor of Physical Sciences, Heather McGuire, Professor of Biology and Chair, Department of Biology, and with Robbie Fearn of the National Audubon Society and Brandon Puckett of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve, the project will increase understanding of how marshes in Currituck Sound respond to sea-level rise. Students will be involved in the project through class activities, work-study, and capstone research projects that assume responsibility for a portion of the overall study.
The project is highlighted in Secrets of Currituck Sound (an episode of public television’s NC Science Now) and two issues of Coastwatch Magazine – Coastal Collaborations (Summer 2016), and Collaborative Research on the Outer Banks (Winter 2017).
The study will involve marshes at two locations, the Currituck Banks Reserve, part of the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, and Audubon’s Pine Island Sanctuary, both located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Detailed habitat mapping and spatial analysis will be conducted along with an examination of variables contributing to elevation change in marshes experiencing sea level rise (including above and below ground biomass, decomposition, and sediment accretion). Results will inform resource management decisions at both sites.
Funding from North Carolina Sea grant will allow the team to significantly expand their partnership. Currently, Chowan University’s Department of Biology conducts an annual field ecology course on the Outer Banks that is based out of the Pine Island facility and utilizes Currituck Banks National Estuarine Research Reserve in Corolla and Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve in Kitty Hawk. For several years, there has been a discussion of expanding the activities to include a research component. Support from North Carolina Sea Grant will provide field equipment and instrumentation allowing the team to conduct research useful for resource management activities and get students involved in meaningful field experiences.
The team’s study will increase understanding in a region where little data is currently available, provide opportunities for under-represented groups in coastal research, and will lay the foundation for future work. The team is already discussing plans to continue the project beyond the 1-year funding time frame through periodic habitat mapping and field studies to document change and establish trends. There are also plans to expand activities including, documenting the impact of dune/beach migration into adjacent vegetation and aquatic communities, prioritizing sites for restoring living shorelines, and developing metrics to measure success in habitat restoration. All of these efforts will involve student participation, and could not be initiated without support from North Carolina Sea Grant.
academic headlines
Chowan University Business Department Hosts Sara Crowder for Visiting Executive Event
On April 4th, the Chowan University Business Department welcomed Sara J. Crowder, a financial advisor for Edward Jones, as the featured speaker for their Visiting Executive event. Crowder, who resides in Newsoms, VA, shared her valuable insights and experiences with the students, emphasizing the dedication required to pursue a successful career in the financial industry..
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Mary Jo Thomas Establishes Scholarship in honor of President Rosemary M. Thomas
On Tuesday, April 2, Mary Jo Thomas, the mother of President Thomas, along with family and friends, announced the establishment of a scholarship in honor of Dr. Rosemary M. Thomas. This scholarship, a testament to President Thomas’ groundbreaking tenure as the first female President in Chowan University’s history, aims to support young women in their.
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2024 Hobson Lecture Honors 30th Author, De’Shawn Charles Winslow
The 30th annual Hobson Lecture, held at Chowan University, celebrated the literary achievements of De’Shawn Charles Winslow, an esteemed author from Elizabeth City. Winslow, known for his novels ‘Decent People’ and ‘In West Mills’, captivated the audience with his insightful storytelling and profound exploration of family connections. The day commenced with an engaging Q&A session.
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Our diverse and experienced faculty are committed to personalized instruction, lecturing and teaching labs – something that doesn’t happen for freshmen-level courses at large institutions. We have a long tradition of preparing students for professional positions and graduate programs in the medical, pharmaceutical, dental, veterinary, industrial, environmental, and natural resource management fields.
As a Biology major, you can connect your classroom knowledge with real-world experience. Our internships provide students with opportunities to gain practical experience in professional settings. The Chowan University chapter of the Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society and the Science Club offers students additional educational, service, and fellowship opportunities.
Meet Biology
