Program Requirements
The Environmental Biology and Ecology Emphasis requires a minimum of 58 credits, including the 26-credit Biology Nucleus, 17 additional credits in Biology, and 15 credits of supporting courses:
All Biology majors require the 26-credit Biology Nucleus.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Biology Nucleus | ||
| BIOL 150 | Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| BIOL 151 | Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory) | 4 |
| BIOL 301 | General Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 310 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 312 | Genetics (with recitation) | 4 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| CHEM 113 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 114 | General Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| Total Credits | 26 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Biology Courses | ||
| BIOL 302 | Ecology Laboratory and Recitation | 2 |
| Select six credits in two or more of the following systems and applications courses: | 6 | |
| Evolution | ||
| Wildlife Ecology and Management (with laboratory) | ||
| Wildlife Techniques Workshop | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Colorado Ecoregions | ||
| Aquatic Ecology (with laboratory) | ||
| Plant Ecology (with laboratory) | ||
| Forest Ecology (with laboratory) | ||
| Select at least two of the following organismal courses: | 6-8 | |
| Ornithology (with laboratory and recitation) | ||
| Mammalogy (with laboratory and recitation) | ||
| Field Entomology (with laboratory) | ||
| Botany (with laboratory) | ||
| Rocky Mountain Flora | ||
| Biology of Fishes | ||
| Select at least two credits of Capstone Experience courses: | 2 | |
| Senior Seminar (may be repeated) | ||
| Senior Thesis | ||
| Total Credits | 16-18 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Supporting Courses | ||
| CHEM 231 | Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 234 | Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| GEOL 101 | Physical Geology (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| GEOL 105 | Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| MATH 213 | Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| PHYS 140 | Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Capstone Course Requirement
The following courses in the Biology Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: BIOL 495 SENIOR SEMINAR, BIOL 496 Senior Thesis , or EDUC 409 SECONDARY STUDENT TEACHING.
Western Watershed General Education Requirements
Students must complete all Western Watershed General Education requirements to graduate.
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
Sample Plan
Degree Plans are for planning purposes. They reflect a suggested plan to complete the degree in a projected timeframe per program of study.
“Western Watershed Course(s)” refers to a course from the Tributaries area of the Western Watershed program. These courses should be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| BIOL 151 | Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory) | 4 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| MATH 140 | College Algebra (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) (Western Watershed Fundamental Skills - Writing I) | 3 |
| WWGE 101/102/103/104 | Headwaters | 2 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 150 | Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| CHEM 113 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 114 | General Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| MATH 141 | Precalculus (GT-MA1) | 4 |
| ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 301 | General Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 302 | Ecology Laboratory and Recitation | 2 |
| CHEM 231 | Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 234 | Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed course (Life Skills recommended) | 3 |
| WWGE Social Inquiry | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 310 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| MATH 213 | Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| PHYS 140 | Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| WWGE Social Inquiry | 3 | |
| WWGE Historical Inquiry | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 312 | Genetics (with recitation) | 4 |
| GEOL 101 | Physical Geology (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| GEOL 105 | Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| Gen Ed | General Education | 3 |
| WWGE Humanist Inquiry | 3 | |
| WWGE Creative Expression | 3 | |
| Western Watershed Course(s) | ||
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL | Biology Systems/Apps | 3 |
| BIOL | Biology Organismal Elective | 4 |
| Gen Ed | General Education | 9 |
| WWGE 301/302/303/304 | Delta | 1 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 495 or BIOL 496 |
Senior Seminar or Senior Thesis |
2 |
| Biology Systems/Apps | 3 | |
| General Education | 7 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Biology Organismal Elective | 3 | |
| General Education | 9 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Western is committed to doing our part to provide each student a clear path to graduation. This four‐year degree plan is a sample map for fulfilling requirements in the major and General Education. The pathway that you take to your degree may differ somewhat from this illustration, depending on where you start and the detours and side trips you may take along the way. You are responsible for ensuring your overall, upper division, and major‐specific credits as well as GPA requirements are fulfilled for graduation.