Students who study at Widener University graduate with more than a degree; they emerge as critical thinkers who are skilled in the scientific process and have a passion for making discoveries of their own.

That scholarship of discovery is acquired with the help of three learning goals:

• Mastering Biological Literacy. Biological literacy is a comprehensive understanding of all living organisms, from the biochemical processes that constitute life to the interaction of organisms at the level of ecological systems.

• Understanding the Process of Biological Inquiry. Biological inquiry is the application of the scientific method (including inductive and deductive reasoning) to questions of natural phenomena.

• Developing Scientific Reasoning. The biology faculty at Widener challenge students to apply evidence-based reasoning to analyze and solve scientific and societal problems. Reflective judgment is also needed when data is missing, incomplete, or contradictory.?

These three goals translate into knowing how to apply knowledge to solve problems. Student engagement in undergraduate research is also critical to meeting these learning goals. A biology education at Widener hones imagination and perception and creates exactly the kinds of cognitive, critical-thinking skills desperately needed in the world today.