Courses are taught in a variety of formats, including lecture, seminar, and lab courses. The introductory classes average 40 students per semester, with 17 students in each lab section. Core courses generally enroll no more than 36.

The average class size at the advanced level is 9. In addition to the coursework available in the program during the academic year, interested students have an opportunity to be employed as lab assistants or to engage in independent research.Faculty in the department represent a diversity of academic specializations, including ecology, ornithology, genetics, virology, plant physiology, microbiology, neurobiology, developmental and molecular biology, molecular evolution, marine biology and biomechanics.