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Department of Biology & Microbiology

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Department of Biology and Microbiology2025-08-12T14:41:24-06:00

Welcome!

The Department of Biology and Microbiology offers several comprehensive programs that prepare students to enter into the job market competitively at the bachelor level or to further their education in either graduate or professional school.

Degree Offerings

The Applied Microbiology curriculum starts with a “microbiology core curriculum” consisting of two general biology survey courses and two general microbiology survey courses with companion laboratories.  These survey courses provide students with a broad and basic understanding of the fundamental fields of modern biology and microbiology.  Additionally, students complete a series of more directed courses focused on environmental regulations, biochemistry, and microbial genetics and physiology.  All students must take a capstone and scientific communication course and three semesters of chemistry (general and organic) with their companion laboratories.

Microbiology majors must choose one of the following two concentrations to allow students with different interests to obtain the proper training necessary to pursue their specific career goals:

Environmental and Applied Microbiology (619C) –For those interested in pursuing employment or graduate degrees in food, industrial, or environmental microbiology or quality assurance technology.

Medical and Health Profession (619B)– For those interested in employment or graduate degrees in medicine, dentistry, allied health sciences, pharmacy, or biomedical/microbiological research.

The Biology curriculum starts with a “core biological sciences curriculum” consisting of two survey courses with companion laboratories and two senior-level courses. The survey courses provide students with a broad and basic understanding of the fundamental fields of modern biology including cell and molecular biology, anatomy and physiology, genetics, microbiology, botany, invertebrate and vertebrate zoology, ecology and evolution. The senior-level courses focus on applying the knowledge that students have gained to develop and complete a senior project and then learning how to communicate findings with other scientists and the general public.

Upon completion of the two survey courses, each biology major must pursue one of the following five concentrations to allow students with different interests to obtain the proper training necessary to attain their specific career goals:

Agribusiness (618U) – For students who seek employment or want to pursue graduate degrees in agricultural business.

Biomedical (618M) – For students interested in pursuing employment or graduate degrees in the medical field (medicine, dentistry, allied health, biomedical research).

Clinical Laboratory Sciences (618T)– For students who are interested in pursuing employment in medical technology.

Forensic Investigation (618Q)– For students who would like to work as an investigator in the office of the coroner, office of the medical examiner or law enforcement agencies.

General Biology (618W) – For students who require the flexibility of an online degree, and wish to pursue employment or graduate degrees in the field of biology.

Wildlife Biology and Conservation (618X)– For students who are interested in pursuing employment or graduate degrees in natural resources, wildlife management, ecology or zoology.

Veterinary Technology (618V) – For students who are interested in pursuing employment or graduate degrees in veterinary medicine.

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Student Information

  • The number of students needing to take some courses is so great, that we have to offer multiple “sections” of those courses. These sections are all equivalent in terms of the material covered in the class but differ in their meeting time/place and instructor.  You only need to take ONE section for each course.
  • Sections denoted as ##N are taught face-to-face on the Natchitoches campus.
  • Sections denoted as 45N or higher are night classes (the class begins AFTER 5:00 pm and typically meet only once a week).
  • The following abbreviations are used for the days of the week:
    • M – Monday
    • T- Tuesday
    • W – Wednesday
    • R – Thursday
    • F – Friday
  • Most lecture classes are worth 3 credit hours and most laboratory classes are worth 1 credit hour.
  • Most lecture classes (except for night classes) meet two or three times a week. The total time a class meets during a week is the same regardless of the number of times it meets in a week.
    • A class that meets on MWF will meet for 50 minutes, three times a week.
    • A class that meets on TR or MW will meet for 75 minutes, twice a week.
  • Most laboratory classes meet only once a week for 2-3 hours at a time. These lab classes are always in the afternoon/evening.
  • You need to register for AT LEAST 12 credit hours for the semester to be considered a full-time student (i.e., qualify for financial aid/scholarships, etc.)
  • Your first semester, we recommend that you take no more than ~15 credit hours.

To determine who your academic advisor is:

  1. Log on to myNSU (https://my.nsula.edu).
  2. Click on the NSU Connect icon (the purple icon with the white puzzle piece).
  3. Click on the “Student” link.
  4. Click on the “Student Records” link.
  5. Click on the “View Student Information” link.
  6. Select a term and then click submit. The name of your academic advisor should be listed as your “Primary Advisor”.

Once you have identified your advisor, you can find his/her contact information here.

If your advisor is not listed, please contact Ms. Shelia Thompson, lockwoods@nsula.edu, (318) 357-5323, or Dr. Jerry Brunson, brunsonj@nsula.edu, (318) 357-5053.

Use the links below to obtain checkoff sheets for Biology and Applied Microbiology:

There are a variety of scholarships that may be available to incoming students in the Department of Biology and Microbiology. A list of scholarships is posted below, and they have  different requirements  To apply for these scholarships, please fill out the online scholarship application found at the following link:  https://northwesternstatealumni.com/form/.

Dr Jerry Allen Memorial Scholarship
Jack W. Pace Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Harris Family Scholarship
Dr. W. L. Wise Memorial Baptist Church Scholarship
Eleanor M. Worsley, M.D. Scholarship
Bob. W. McLamore Memorial Scholarship
Rene’ Bienvenu Scholarship
SPB Endowed Scholarship
Megan Elizabeth McDaniel STEM Scholarship
Peter H. Breedlove Endowed Scholarship
Leonard F. Endris Scholarship

What is the American Society for Microbiology (ASM)?

Microbiology is a diverse discipline and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) serves as the primary organization that microbiologists join.  ASM has several subsections each dedicated to a particular facet of microbiology.  You may find out more information about ASM by visiting their website asm.org. The Northwestern State University ASM chapter is an organization for students that have interest in Biology, specifically microbiology.   The NSU chapter of ASM is a nationally recognized college chapter.

How will joining NSU’s ASM Chapter benefit me?

The ASM chapter at NSU has informal social events and projects that benefit the School of Biological and Physical Sciences’ students and particular those specializing in microbiology. Fundraisers are conducted with proceeds usually going to sponsor a noted figure in the field of microbiology to a guest lecture.  Students in ASM have a close association with each other and foster lasting friendships with each other as well as the faculty.

Who should join ASM?

Students who are interested in any area of microbiology, would like to participate in projects that benefit the school/departmental student body, and would like to generate interest microbiology should consider joining ASM.

What are ASM’s membership requirements?

To become an ASM member, you must meet all of the following criteria:

  • be an undergraduate student majoring in Biology or minoring in microbiology
  • have taken or are enrolled in BIOL2060 (Microbiology I)
  • be a student in good academic standing at Northwestern State University

How do you join the NSU Chapter of ASM?

If you are interested in joining the NSU chapter of ASM or would like additional information about our organization, please contact Dr. Christopher Lyles, our faculty sponsor, at (318) 357-6514 or lylesc@nsula.edu.

What is Beta Beta Beta?

Beta Beta Beta is a society for students, particularly undergraduates, who are dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of biological study and extending the boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research.  It was founded in 1922 by Dr. Frank G. Brooks for a group of his students at Oklahoma City University.  Since then, there have been more that 430 chapters established around the United States.  Northwestern State University’s local chapter, the Delta Theta Chapter, was founded in 1949.

How will joining Beta Beta Beta benefit me?

Beta Beta Beta is a wonderful honors society that rewards students who are sincerely interested in the biological field.  It provides a great environment in which you can make new friends, excel in the life sciences, collaborate with students and professors on research projects, and advance your professional career.

Who should join Beta Beta Beta?

Students who are dedicated to the biological field, are interested in scientific research, and want to interact with students in the same degree program should consider joining Beta Beta Beta.

What are the Beta Beta Beta membership requirements?

To become a Beta Beta Beta member, you must meet all of the following criteria:

  • You must be an undergraduate student majoring in the biological sciences
  • You must at least have a sophomore classification
  • You must have completed a minimum of 12 Biology credit hours
  • You must have a Major GPA of at least a 3.0
  • You must be a student in good academic standing with Northwestern State University

How do you join Beta Beta Beta?

If you are interested in joining Beta Beta Beta or if you simply want additional information about our organization, please email us at tribeta@gmail.com or contact Dr. Fran Lemoine, our faculty sponsor, at (318) 357-5805 or lemoinef@nsula.edu.

Northwestern State University
Department of Biology and Microbiology
Office: 318-357-5323 / Fax: 318-357-4518
112 Bienvenu Hall
Natchitoches, LA 71497
bio_sci@nsula.edu

Pre-Professional School Advising Committee (PPSAC)

The committee understands the difficulty and anxiety that comes along with completing professional health school applications and preparing for the formal interview. To aid our students, we have established a Pre-Professional School Advising Committee to help you through this process.

  • Junior year status (If senior or alumni, please contact chair of committee)
  • 3.5 GPA, both overall & science
  • Evidence of active engagement within the department and their scientific field of interest (e.g.   active participation in TriBeta; shadowing medical doctors if applying to medical school)
  • A professional exam score (i.e. GRE, MCAT, etc.) is required prior to scheduling the mock interview. This is not required if applying to veterinarian programs.

Meeting the minimum requirements to apply does not guarantee acceptance into the committee. Should you require further information, contact PPSAC@nsula.edu.

  • Transcript
  • Resume
  • Personal statement
  • Contact information for 2 references
  • Entrance exam scores**(e.g., GRE, MCAT, DAT, etc.)

**Letters of evaluation will not be released until the application is complete including entrance exam scores. Those applying to veterinarian school need not provide entrance exam scores.

If accepted by the committee, the committee will schedule an interview with the applicant. Each applicant will be assigned a faculty mentor to provide them with feedback on their application materials and guide them through the professional school application process. Each applicant interview will consist of a minimum of 3 committee members, including the student’s assigned mentor. Following the interview, these committee members will do two things. First, they will provide the applicant with valuable feedback about their interview and other application materials. Second, they will compose a Letter of Evaluation for the applicant, which will be submitted to the applicant’s school of choice. The student will not be allowed to review the Letter of Evaluation.

While the committee is dedicated to making our students stronger candidates, completion of the PPSAC evaluation process does not guarantee entrance into a future professional school.

If a student fails to gain acceptance by the committee, the committee may recommend steps for the student to take in order to strengthen their application. These recommendations may include additional coursework, participation in co-curricular activities, or pursuit of health care-specific experiences.

  • October 15 – Application Deadline
  • January 1 – March 31 – Mock Interview Scheduling Period
  • June 1 – Evaluation Letters Begin Releasing
  • Dr. Jonathan Akin
  • Dr. Moftah Ali
  • Dr. Jerry Brunson
  • Mr. John Byrd
  • Dr. Rachel Cezar-Martinez
  • Mrs. Anna Dugas
  • Dr. Jennifer Hill
  • Dr. Bridget Joubert
  • Dr. Fran Lemoine
  • Dr. Chris Lyles
  • Dr. Li Ma
  • Dr Kaleigh MacQueen
  • Dr. Samuel Marshall
  • Mr. Kaine O’Neal
  • Dr. Robert Page
  • Dr. Daniel Rivera-Vazquez
  • Dr. Duminda Samarakoon
  • Dr. Yohaselly Santiago
  • Dr. Leeann Sticker
  • Dr. Joseph Straub
  • Dr. Mark Teshera
  • Dr. Chad Thibodeaux
  • Dr. Damien Tristant

Chair of the PPSAC

Dr. Li Ma; email: mal@nsula.edu

The PPSAC is comprised of faculty members who help students achieve their goal of admittance to professional schools. Members of this committee serve prospective professional school students by assisting them throughout their application process. These committees are becoming a necessity at undergraduate universities, as many professional schools preferentially select applicants who are committee sponsored and some schools require committee sponsorship.

When applying to professional schools, admission committees will require that students submit letters of recommendation as part of the application process. At Northwestern State University of Louisiana in the School of STEM, we have established a Pre-Professional School Advising Committee that will evaluate students as an applicant and write a Letter of Evaluation. The goal of the Letter of Evaluation is to help frame students’ experiences, highlight their strengths, and emphasize their readiness for professional school. Pre-Professional School Advising Committees offer a credible advocate for students applying to professional schools, since professional schools view these letters as a more objective assessment of the student’s competitiveness as an applicant. Compared to recommendation letters, the Letter of Evaluation is written at a higher standard of honest evaluation, including a realistic assessment of an applicant’s strengths as well as deficiencies in comparison to successful professionals. The Letter of Evaluation also addresses other qualities of an applicant that are not often discussed in typical reference letters. Since students are required to undergo a mock interview prior to the Letter of Evaluation, the committee can speak to the communication, interpersonal, and professional skills of an applicant at much greater depth than the professor who only experienced a student asking questions during class. These are some of the many reasons committee evaluations are often preferred over standard letters of recommendation.

This committee provides various resources for students interested in applying to professional schools. Responsibilities of this committee may include:

  • Coursework planning and feasible timelines for applying to professional/graduate schools
  • Connection with nearby hospitals for shadowing and volunteering (Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, Sabine Medical Center, DeSoto Regional Health System)
  • Revision of resume and personal statement
  • Mock interviews
  • Committee evaluation letter

These committees are not required to write letters for all students applying to professional schools. In fact, they are discouraged from doing so as this can discredit the recommendation of the committee. Students must apply to the committee and be accepted by them in order to receive their support.

The Department of Biology and Microbiology is a part of the School of STEM.

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Northwestern State University
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