Mission Statement

The mission of the Biology Department of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University is to provide an excellent undergraduate biology education in the Benedictine liberal arts tradition. Our curriculum embraces the breadth of the discipline, and values both classical and modern approaches of biological inquiry. We seek to furnish students with current knowledge and technical skills, and we strive to provide opportunities for intensive study using this expertise. We want students to develop the ability to ask and answer questions from the perspective of a biologist.

The Biology Department seeks to imbue students with the desire to comprehend the workings of, and interrelationships among, living systems. It is the department’s goal that students leave our program with a heightened understanding of the unity, variety, and evolution of life, and a recognition of the importance of the stewardship and preservation of biological diversity. The Biology Department is committed to preparing students to pursue rewarding careers in biology and related disciplines. We hope that students will use their abilities and training to promote the growth of biological knowledge and its application for the benefit of the environment, humanity, and society.