Welcome to the Biology Department at St. Olaf!

Biology is the study of living organisms from their molecular makeup to their relationships with each other and with their abiotic, or non-living, environment. Biology majors at St. Olaf study plants, animals, microorganisms, and the underlying cellular and molecular principles that unify living systems, focusing on commonalities and differences among them. The Biology Department offers a variety of courses and experiences that enable students to learn fundamental biological principles and processes and prepare well for a range of careers. Comments or questions about Biology can be directed to the Department Chair, Dr. Charles Umbanhowar Jr., at ceumb@stolaf.edu. We hope you enjoy browsing our site!

Biology Department PowerPoint

Click on the Biology Department PowerPoint link to view a brief slideshow about the biology major and department at St. Olaf College. It will open in a new window.