Our department is the oldest and essential Biology department in our country. Biology education started with the courses related to plants and animals in Darulfunun, Tabiiye Branch established before the Republican era in 1900. General Zoology, II. Zoology, General Botany, Pharmaco-Botany and Genetic divisions had been set up with the help of eminent scientists from abroad such as Dr. Andre Naville, Ord. Prof. Dr. Curt Kosswig, Ord. Prof. Dr. Alfred Heilbronn and Ord. Prof. Dr. Leo Brauner in the Faculty of Science founded in 1933 university reforms. Scientists who grew up in these divisions have pioneered in Biology Education in the newly established universities.
In 1981, all divisions were combined with the article 2547 of the Higher Education Act and the Department of Biology was established. Currently, Biology Department has been providing training in the buildings of the Faculty of Science at Suleymaniye and Vezneciler and is consisted of General Biology, Zoology, Botany, Hydrobiology, Basic and Industrial Microbiology branches. The Department of Biology composes of 84 faculty members and assistants; 11 professors, 8 associated professors, 21 assistant professors, 37 research assistants, 1 specialist and 6 biologists.
Courses in the first 3 years of 4-year undergraduate education are common; foreign language (English), General Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer, Biostatistics, Biochemistry, Genetics, Cell Science, Microbiology, Plant and Animal Physiology, Morphology, Anatomy, Embryology, Cytology, Systematic, Marine Biology, Radiobiology, Developmental Biology, Evolution and Molecular Biology fields. In the final years of undergraduate education, Plant Biotechnology, Environmental Biology, Marine Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Radiobiology is optional according to interests and trends of our students. The successful students are provided the opportunities of double major and minor branch during Biology undergraduate education. In addition, according to new application, we are one of the few universities that provide pedagogical formation courses for the students who have requested to be a teacher during undergraduate education.
Beside continuation the graduate education, alumni can find business opportunities such as in Nuclear Research Centers, Environment, Culture, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tourism, Health and the Ministry of Education, Private Education Institutions, the Health and Environment-related sections of Municipalities, Private Research Institutes, Marine Sciences and Fisheries Research Centers, Chemical, Drug and Food Sectors, Private Health Institutions and Forensic Medicine areas etc.
Our department has the oldest Herbarium in Turkey, Zoology-Hydrobiology museums and botanical garden that the biological materials are presented and stored.
Our goal is to offer contemporary and modern biology education and to train biologists that are capable to find the answers to today's need. Today as yesterday, we will be pleased and honored to see the young talents, who are interested in biology, among us.
Prof.Dr. Muammer Ünal
