Program Requirements
The General Biology Emphasis requires a minimum of 51 credits including the 26-credit Biology Nucleus, 14 additional credits in Biology, and 11 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 | ||
| One of the following: | 2 | |
| Ecology Laboratory and Recitation | ||
| Cell and Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Ten credits of the following: | 10 | |
300- and 400-level Biology courses | ||
| Biochemistry I | ||
| Internship in Science | ||
| At lease two credits of Capstone Experience Courses: | 2-5 | |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| Senior Thesis | ||
| Total Credits | 14-17 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 11 credits of supporting courses | ||
| CHEM 231 | Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 234 | Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 140 | Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| One of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Calculus I (GT-MA1) | ||
| Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) | ||
| Total Credits | 11-12 | |
Capstone Course Requirement
The following courses in the Biology Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: BIOL 495SENIOR SEMINAR, BIOL 496 Senior Thesis , or EDUC 409 SECONDARY STUDENT TEACHING.
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.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| HWTR 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| MATH 140 | College Algebra (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| BIOL 151 | Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory) | 4 |
| CHEM 111 & CHEM 112 |
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) and General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) |
4 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 113 & CHEM 114 |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II |
4 |
| BIOL 150 | Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| 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 310 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 231 or CHEM 331 |
Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry I |
3 |
| CHEM 234 or CHEM 334 |
Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory or Organic Chemistry Laboratory I |
1 |
| MATH 151 or MATH 213 |
Calculus I (GT-MA1) or Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) |
4 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 302 or BIOL 313 |
Ecology Laboratory and Recitation or Cell and Genetics Laboratory |
2 |
| BIOL 312 | Genetics (with recitation) | 4 |
| Arts & Humanities GE | 3 | |
| Social Science GE | 3 | |
| Social Science GE | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHYS 140 | Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| Arts & Humanities GE | 6 | |
| Social Science GE | 3 | |
| Gen Ed | General Education | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Biology Elective | 4 | |
| Biology Elective | 4 | |
| Gen Ed | General Education | 9 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 495 or BIOL 496 |
Senior Seminar or Senior Thesis |
1 |
| Biology Elective | 3 | |
| Gen Ed | General Education | 9 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| Biology Elective | 3 | |
| Gen Ed | General Education | 12 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |