Clubs and Organizations

Beta Beta Beta Honorary Society

The Department of Biology hosts Beta Beta Beta, the biology honor society. This organization brings together students with similar career interests for programs that further their knowledge and help them develop leadership skills for their chosen fields. Dr. Merrilee Guenther, professor of biology, and Dr. Patrick Mineo, assistant professor of biology, are the advisors.

Off-Campus Coursework

Through the University’s affiliation with the Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area consortium, biology majors have the opportunity to do research projects and take courses at the Morton Arboretum, the Shedd Aquarium, the Chicago Botanic Garden and Brookfield Zoo.

Morton Arboretum Botany Program

Biology students at Elmhurst benefit from the University’s close proximity to the renowned Morton Arboretum. This 1,700-acre botanical treasure boasts more than 3,300 types of plants from around the world and is staffed by research scientists and scholars.

Elmhurst students study with nationally recognized researchers at the Arboretum, earning credit for courses such as Field Botany, Woody Plants of the Western Great Lakes Region, Vascular Plant Taxonomy, Plant Pathology, and Medical Botany. In addition, students have access to the Arboretum’s Sterling Morton Library, a unique scholarly resource with 28,000 volumes of botanic and horticultural literature.

Shedd Aquarium Aquatic Ecology Program

Our biology students have the opportunity to take courses taught by Shedd scientists: Freshwater Ecology offered at the Shedd and Marine Ecology of the Bahamas taught each spring that concludes with a two-week trip to the Bahamas working on a research vessel. Our students have the opportunity to compete for internship opportunities as well.