The Biology Department at the University of La Verne strives to provide its students of all ages with an education rich in the theories, applications, and values vital to promoting professional development and the quality of life of Earth.
We accomplish this pursuit through teaching, research, and action. Small classes offer a unique student-centered academic environment. Joint research projects between faculty and students encourage hands-on work and engaging laboratory outcomes. And between La Verne’s multiple research facilities in Montana and the singular Cultural and Natural History Collection – where you can examine the skull of a sabre-tooth cat up close – budding biologists are given the opportunity to literally be “in the field.”
In short, biology at La Verne is an experience like no other.
The Core of Biology
We believe in four core emphases that affirm a positive and rewarding life for our students:
- A Values Orientation. The Biology Department affirms a philosophy of life actively supporting peace and the appreciation and stewardship of our diverse environment. We encourage students to reflect on personal, professional, and societal values in the light of this affirmation.
- Community and Diversity. The Biology Department promotes community within the context of diversity. Students should understand and appreciate the diversity of cultures that exist locally, nationally, and internationally. We also seek to promote appreciation and preservation of biodiversity by helping students and colleagues understand the impact and interdependence of human beings on our environment.
- Lifelong Learning. The Biology Department commits itself to an approach to education that is lifelong in nature. We teach students how to learn, how to think critically, how to conduct and interpret responsible research, and how to access and integrate information for optimal preparation for both career growth and also for flexibility in a changing world.
- Community Service. The Biology Department believes service should be a primary goal of the educated person. We drive our students to experience the responsibilities and rewards of humankind and the larger ecological community.
Magpie Ranch
Our summer research includes field work at La Verne’s Montana Research Station, Magpie Ranch. Magpie Ranch is run by Bob and Mary Neher. Oreohelix research focuses on species and population level studies as well as reproduction and life history studies. Other projects at Magpie Ranch include plant and animal surveys, pollution studies, and the effect of grazing and logging on plant ecosystems.