The purpose of this study was to gauge the profile of evolutionary theory in Lebanese undergraduate biology programs. The research focused mainly on the views of university biology department heads, given that they are the people who exercise the most direct influence over their departments' ethos. An Australasian sample was chosen as a reference group. Results showed that two groups of academics who participated in the study differed markedly with respect to some issues raised but displayed a convergence of views with respect to others. The Lebanese sample was ideologically more heterogeneous than the Australasian, spanning the full range from literalist creationism to the explicit acceptance of materialistic evolution. The role of evolution in biology education was, however, a converging issue. On the whole, the Lebanese participants in the study clearly regarded the current situation with regard to evolution education as being unsatisfactory, and they were responsive to suggestions made in informal postinterview discussions that steps be taken to improve on it. (Contains 1 table.)