Experiential learning is a significant aspect of the Life Science Education program at MSU Moorhead. Through exploration of local classrooms, tutoring, research, outreach, social gatherings and more, you’ll uncover countless abilities and opportunities.
The Biosciences Seminar Series is a bi-weekly speaker series focusing on a wide array of topics, from sharing research progress to preparing for graduate school or internships. They are free and open to the public.
Research experience provides you the opportunity to not just learn science, but to be a scientist – from collecting data, to presenting research results at regional and national meetings to publishing in peer-reviewed academic journals.
Why research?
We offer opportunities to study biology in the field through unique educational trips at home and abroad. Current opportunities:
MSUM's Field Experience is committed to providing exceptional early and ongoing field experiences in education for teacher candidates. We collaborate with school partners in planning, implementing, and assessing each experience. Teacher candidates will have opportunities for a wide array of experiences by the time they have completed their education programs.
FREE (Friday Research Exploration and Education) is a student research series that features students explaining their proposed, ongoing or completed research.
The Biosciences Department offers you the opportunity to be a Learning Assistant for courses you have already taken. It’s a competitive selection process and a privilege that not only deepens your topic knowledge but provides valuable teaching experience.
The Prairie Restoration Project gives you the opportunity to engage in faculty-mentored research with MSUM faculty as well as research professors from other institutions. Current research projects include diversity of microbial community, effect of habitat restorations to native flora, diversity of small mammals, seed viability and the role of soil nutrients in prairie restoration, large birds of prey use of the region, archeological study of post-glacial use of the site by humans, and more.
The MSUM Regional Science Center’s 300-acre Buffalo River Site is located 15 miles from campus and is part of a 5,000-acre tallgrass prairie that includes the Buffalo River with riparian woods and several wetlands. The Center also includes a museum and an observatory used by the Physics and Astronomy Department. The site is used as a tallgrass prairie field station that is used for research studies, laboratory field trips for several courses, and public education. Learn more about the Regional Science Center.
If you want to live in an educational environment surrounded by others with the same passion for biosciences, this learning community is for you. The Science & Health Learning Community is for declared Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry or Biotechnology majors. You’ll get to participate in hands-on labs with fellow students while preparing for a science or health-related career. Or, you can choose to live in an Education Learning Community, which is for any student majoring in an education.
Tri-Beta is an honorary and professional society for students in the biological sciences that is dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of biological study and extending the boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research.
Undergraduate Students in Science Research connects students with faculty who are doing research. As part of learning to apply the scientific method to problems in biology and other sciences, you can attend Biological Research Wednesday Seminars (BReWS), a weekly gathering of the science research community where you can share your work, discuss your research, or prepare for a presentation or conference. USSR also sponsors social events and underwrites travel costs for student research presentations at conferences.
The local student chapter of the Wildlife Society aims to encourage student research in the wildlife profession and cultivate interest in wildlife.
