Student using biology research equipment
Home Academics Schools Department of Biology and Environmental Science Biology Facilities and Hands-on Learning Opportunities

Biology Facilities and Hands-on Learning Opportunities

Hands-on exploration

The biology department is located on the first floor of the McKinney Center, which is Bridgewater’s comprehensive teaching center for science and mathematics. It serves as classroom space and research sites for students. State-of-the-art equipment located onsite gives students practical experiences using the same instrumentation as practitioners in the field. Outside the McKinney Center features a teaching/research greenhouse with the adjacent Shrum Garden, and a herbarium. The on-campus biology facilities combined with our location in the Shenandoah Valley provides the perfect opportunity for hands-on exploration and learning.

Student speaks with professor

Internal Facilities

The McKinney Center for the Sciences has specialized labs for a variety of disciplines.

  • Biotech Core
  • Micro-Molecular Lab
  • Anatomy/Physiology Lab
  • Wildlife Nutrition Lab
  • Stem Cell Lab
  • Natural History Collections
Student tends to plants in garden

External Facilities

Outside of the classroom, classes make use of several life-fostering facilities.

  • Greenhouse
  • Pollinator Garden
Group of student wading through water with buckets and fish nets.

Local Resources

The department takes full advantage of its central location in the Shenandoah Valley. Regular field trips to local environs throughout Virginia and West Virginia are incorporated into many relevant courses throughout the year.

  • Sustainable Food Pantry Garden
  • Living Stream
  • North River Access
  • College Woods
  • Switzer Lake
Butterflies preserved in a frame for biology purposes

Community Partners

Bridgewater has relationships with partners in the community who are happy to trade training for labor.

  • Department of Conservancy and Recreation
  • VA Dept. Wildlife Resources
  • Wildlife Center of Virginia
  • Merck
  • SRI
  • DEQ?
  • Augusta Health
  • Sentara Clinical Lab Science

The McKinney Center

Bridgewater College’s engineering labs are housed in the McKinney Center for Science and Mathematics, a state-of-the-art facility that reflects the College’s strong commitment to STEM education. Its modern design and comprehensive resources support hands-on learning and prepare students for success in science and engineering fields.

Virtual Tour