Department of Biological and Physical Sciences

At Assumption, it’s all about opportunities. The opportunity to work alongside faculty researchers in our state-of-the-art science center. The opportunity to gain hands-on experience at highly regarded internship sites around Worcester and across the country. The opportunity to live and learn in a community that really is dedicated to you and your future.

The Department of Biological and Physical Sciences offers majors in biology, biology with a concentration in neuroscience and behavior, biotechnology and molecular biology, neuroscience, chemistry, environmental science, and environmental science with a concentration in environmental policy. The department also offers minors in biology, environmental science, and chemistry, and it co-sponsors a concentration in physical and occupational therapy with the Department of Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies. Research opportunities are available at the University and at nearby institutions (e.g., University of Massachusetts Medical School and the Biotechnology Park).

Interested in pursuing a medical, dentistry or other health profession degree? Your faculty advisor will work with you from the day you arrive on campus to chart a course towards achieving that goal.

From the classroom to the laboratory, you’ll learn from an accomplished faculty with years of specialized experience in such fields as cancer biology, synthetic organic chemistry, and theoretical physics. You might find yourself working side-by-side with a professor conducting experiments and analyzing data – and, perhaps, publishing your results in scientific journals.

The Department of Biological and Physical Sciences continues to change and expand just as science does. We now have programs in Neuroscience and Engineering to complement our Biotechnology and more traditional Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science programs. Our strength continues to be our hands-on approach to helping our students learn and understand science. Students have access to our faculty not only in the classroom but in every laboratory as well. This helps them develop a firm foundation in the sciences that will carry them forward to internships and research experiences both on campus and at many of the region’s scientific institutions and companies. We take pride in our students’ successes, both at Assumption and after graduation, knowing that we are helping to advance our understanding of the world around us and to improve the human condition.

~ Brian Niece, Ph.D., Department Chair, Biological and Physical Sciences

Features and Benefits of a Degree in Biological and Physical Sciences

• Work alongside faculty in Assumption’s 17 teaching/research labs and greenhouse in the state-of-the-art Testa Science Center.
• Benefit from Assumption’s articulation agreements with highly competitive graduate programs – Assumption students are offered numerous opportunities for guaranteed admission and/or accelerated degrees on intensive scientific study.
• Apply for funded research grants and choice internships in Worcester, Boston and beyond.
• Explore our American Chemical Society-accredited Chemistry major – a highly regarded certification that reflects the expertise of our faculty and the strength of our academic program.

Department Mission Statement

The Department of Biological and Physical Sciences is dedicated to preparing students to live and work in a changing world by ensuring competency in the natural sciences and scientific inquiry. The department strives to provide a basic understanding of classical and contemporary scientific concepts in these areas. While developing an understanding of the scientific process and its application, the following critical skills are stressed: observation, inquiry, data collection, analysis, communication, and correlation of scientific concepts. The department prepares students for careers and professional opportunities in the sciences as well as for life-long learning in the context of a liberal arts curriculum in the Catholic tradition.