The Department of Biology was established in 1997 as Rize Faculty of Arts and Sciences within Karadeniz Technical University. The education in our department which has started in 1998-1999 academic year in Rize Faculty of Arts and Sciences of T.C. Karadeniz Technical University, still in progress under the institution Recep Tayyip Erdogan University according to the decision of the Council of Ministers dated 01.03.2006 and numbered 5467 published in the Official Gazette dated March 17, 2006 and numbered 26111.Approximately 15-20 students are admitted to the undergraduate program each year.The duration of the undergraduate program is four years.There are 4 main branches of science, named as General Biology, Botany, Zoology and Molecular Biology.There are 5 Professors, 4 Associate Professors, 5 Doctor Teaching Members and 3 Research Assistants. Our department has been carrying out Master's degree since 2008-2009 academic year and Doctorate education from 2010-2011 academic year.

Graduates that fulfill all the requirements of the programme successfully will recieve a "Bachelor Degree in Biology".

In order to be able to study in undergraduate programs, it is necessary to have gained the examination of Measurement Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) and not to be registered to another formal higher education program. For students who will be accepted from abroad the Provisions of the RTEU International Student Application and Registration Directive are applied. In addition, student acceptance to program and RTEÜ Student Affairs Department (http: // http://oidb.idari.erdogan.edu.tr/) are explained in detail under the heading "First Registration" on the web page.

In Turkish Higher Education Institutions, recognition of previous formal learning, transfers from associate’s degree programs in vocational schools to bachelor’s degree in faculties, transfers between equivalent degree programs in undergraduate students of faculties in the same or different universities, are carried out according to "The Regulation on the Principles of Transition between the Programs of the Associate and Bachelor Degrees in the Higher Education Institutions, Institutional Credit Transfer with Double Major and Minor Programs". The courses that were taken and successfully passed in the previous education programs by the students who have registered with new registration or registered according to above transition procedures; are confirmed by board of directors of the faculty/college/vocational school after the recommendation of the department. Students are exempt from the courses that are considered appropriate in terms of content and credit compliance. However, new students must apply for exemption within ten working days after the start of semester / year courses. In addition, new students are exempt from foreign language courses if they are successful in the exemption examinations made at the beginning of each school year.

The study period in the Biology Department is 4 (four) years. Students need to successfully complete 240 ECTS credits from compulsory and elective courses in the education programme and have an average of 2.00.

The Biology department consists of 4 sub-departments; General Biology, Molecular Biology, Botany and Zoology it the purpose is that the information and ability, obtained through an intellectually coherent and multidisciplinary education, can be acquired on the basis of research at an international standard. To create graduates who are good researchers to begin careers as biologists with sufficient knowledge and technical skills. The program is designed to give students the basics of modern biology. The first year lessons involve mainly physics, chemistry, mathematics, computing and the basic biology to bring the students up to the same level. The compulsory courses in the second, third and fourth years of study involves the Systematics of Vertebrates, Microbiology, Systematics of Seed Plants, Genetics, Plant Physiology, Ecology and Biotechnology. Elective courses are available at the third and fourth years of education. The Department of Biology educates students to enable employment in many areas related to biology. The partners that The Biology Departmant interacts with and is required to interact with are known as TUBITAK, DPT, some ministerial institutions, Universities, Research Foundations, Instıtutions, Alumnis and The Association of Biologists. Our department has a strong academic background to inspire students, and has highly regarded research performance with the support of RTEU-BAP and TUBITAK.

Employment opportunities for graduates in general are as follows: they can be employed as a biologist or technician at universities, public and private hospitals, health units (laboratories, test-tube baby units, genetic diagnostic centers, etc.) and as researchers or specialists in fields of chemical, veterinary medicine, agriculture and biotechnology, Ministry of Environment-Forestry, Agriculture, within tourism organizations, the food industry, medical and agricultural pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical marketing, national parks, Research, Development, (R & D), production, quality control, quality assurance and sales marketing, tourism facilities, the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Police General Directorate, FMD Institute, Fisheries Institute, TÜBİTAK, DPT, DSI and municipalities. Our department provides a positive atmosphere to learning and research for students, educating students with the latest technology in modern laboratories, provides students with the opportunity to participate in studies in the research laboratories, directs students to undertake postgraduate work and encourages academics to enhance their lives.

Candidates who have successfully completed the Bachelor’s Degree, can study at the graduate programs in their own field or in related fields on the condition of providing a valid grade in the related score type of ALES and adequate level of foreign language knowledge (YDS and equivalent examinations).

According to the provisions of "Associate and Undergraduate Degree Education and Examination Regulations" of Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, students are subjected to midterm, semester work (project, homework, laboratory, practice and similar studies) and final exam for each course. The contribution of the midterm exam is 40% and the contribution of the final exam is 60%. All exams are evaluated at the scale of 0-100 points. There is a requirement to take at least 50 points from the final exam. Students who take one of the letter grades of (AA), (BA), (BB), (CB) and (CC) are considered successful. Students with a semester average of at least 2.00 are considered successful for (DC) lettered grade course. In addition, the applied measurement and evaluation method for each course is defined in detail by the course instructor in the "Course Presentation Form".

For the student, it is needed to successfully complete all the courses in the program according to the provisions of the Associate and Undergraduate Degree Education and Examination Regulations of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University and to have at least 2.00 (in the scale of 0-4.00) with 240 ECTS.

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Head of Department: Prof. Dr. Nurhayat ÖZDEMİR Tel: + 90 464 223 6126/1837 Faks: +90 464 223 40 19 E-mail: nurhayat.ozdemir@erdogan.edu.tr Deputy Head of Department: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serkan GÜL Tel: + 90 464 223 6126/1877 Faks: +90 464 223 40 19 E-mail: serkan.gul@erdogan.edu.tr Deputy Head of Department: Asst. Prof. Dr. Şule GÜZEL Tel: + 90 464 223 6126/1838 Faks: +90 464 223 40 19 E-mail: sule.guzel@erdogan.edu.tr Section Erasmus/ECTS Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. M.Mustafa AKINER Tel: + 90 464 223 6126/1477 Faks: +90 464 223 40 19 E-mail: mustafa.akiner@erdogan.edu.tr Department Secretary: Emre MERAL Tel: +90 464 223 6126/1825 Faks: +90 464 223 40 19 E-mail: emre.meral@erdogan.edu.tr

The students of the department could take part in all kinds of social, cultural and sports activities and club activities offered by the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Rectorate. The department comprises 3 student laboratories for 36 persons (Botany, Zoology and Molecular) 4 classrooms of 80 persons with the technical equipments. The research areas of the department employees are spread over a wide range of biological sciences. Investigations of research areas are carried out in general biology, zoology, botany, molecular biology, microbiology and related branches. The department has a Plant Physiology Research Laboratory, a Botany Research Laboratory, a Zoology Research Laboratory, a Microbiology Research Laboratory, a Molecular Biology Research Laboratory, a Biotechnology Laboratory, a Sterilization Chamber and a Herbarium used for in scientific education and research. Students could take part as a scholarship student in Tübitak supported projects. They can also work part-time in department laboratories.