Biological Sciences Department

From GWUEncyc

Article

The Department of Biological Sciences of The George Washington University offers research and study on a broad range of biological topics, from the molecular level to the organismal and ecosystem levels and on organisms covering a broad spectrum of taxonomic diversity. The Biological Sciences major is one of the most popular in the Columbian College, especially among students preparing for medical, dental, and veterinary programs and graduate programs in biology, zoology, and botany. Faculty and graduate students are actively engaged in research here on campus and in field sites around the world, and often collaborate with researchers at one of the many research institutes in the Washington, D.C., area.

Degree work includes courses in genetics, molecular biology, physiology, ecology, and botany. In the 1930’s-1950’s course of study in geology, zoology, and psychology were also part of Biological Sciences. Dr. Donnell B. Young was the chair of the department from 1933-1953, and served as assistant dean of the Junior College in Columbian College from 1939-1944 in charge of science and premedical curricula. Dr. Edith Mortensen, another prominent person in the history of the department, served as a professor of zoology from 1936-1972.

From 1965-1972 the department published the bi-monthly newsletter of the Commission on Undergraduate Education in the Biological Sciences (CUEBS). This program had been organized in 1963 and administered by Washington University in St. Louis until 1965, when the grant was transferred to GW. CUEBS marked the start of a cooperative effort by member of the biological sciences community to deal with education in biology and curriculum revision and change.

Document Information

Images: 0
Photographic Credit: n/a
Author or Source: University Archives subject files; GW website
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: December 21, 2006
Prepared by: Lyle Slovick, Assistant University Archivist

For more information about GW history

Contact:

Special Collections Research Center [1]
The Melvin Gelman Library [2]
The George Washington University [3]
2130 H Street, NW Suite 704
Washington, DC 20052
202-994-7549
mailto:archives@gwu.edu
Please send us your questions and comments about the encyclopedia.
This site is maintained by the Special Collections Research Center and the Web Development Group.