History of the Biology Department
The Biology Department was established under the College of Arts and Sciences by Bro. Alfred Shield, FSC in 1968 to handle the biology courses for commerce and liberal arts students. The BS Biology program was offered in 1974, and was “designed to provide the students with the necessary theoretical background and technical skills which serve as strong foundation for future endeavors, be it in research in the academe, in industry or in further studies in the medical or graduate schools.”
In AY 1980-1981, the Department realigned its course offerings and course syllabi to conform to the shift from the semestral to the trimestral system of the University. In 1982, the College of Arts and Science was split, and the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math were placed under the then newly-established College of Science. This was done to allow “more sustained effort and attention at developing the science programs.” The MS Biology Program was offered by the Department in AY 1980-1981, while the PhD Biology with major in Ecology was offered in AY 1987-1988. In AY 1995-1996, in response to the identified need to shorten the training period of a physician while still providing quality education, the Department offered the BS Human Biology program in consortium with the DLSU College of Medicine at the Health Sciences Campus in Dasmarinas, Cavite.
Through the years, the Biology Department has relentlessly endeavored to be abreast with the developments in the different areas of biology research and education to better improve and uphold the standards of its different undergraduate and graduate academic programs through the faculty, the teaching, research and service facilities and student quality. It has since been granted the highest Level IV accreditation by PAASCU, Level IV accreditation by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines, and recognized by CHED as Center of Excellence in Biology.