Biology Comprehensive Major: General Biology Emphasis

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.

Biology Nucleus
BIOL 150Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1)4
BIOL 151Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory)4
BIOL 301GENERAL ECOLOGY3
BIOL 310Cell Biology3
BIOL 312Genetics (with recitation)4
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)3
CHEM 112General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1)1
CHEM 113General Chemistry II3
CHEM 114General Chemistry Laboratory II1
Total Credits26
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 Credits14-17
11 credits of supporting courses
CHEM 231Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry3
CHEM 234Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory1
PHYS 140Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1)4
One of the following:3-4
Calculus I (GT-MA1)
Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1)
Total Credits11-12

Capstone Course Requirement

The following courses in the Biology Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: BIOL 495SENIOR SEMINARBIOL 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

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
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
 Credits15
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
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
BIOL 301 GENERAL ECOLOGY 3
BIOL 310 Cell Biology 3
CHEM 231
Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
or Organic Chemistry I
3
CHEM 234
Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory
or Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
1
MATH 151
Calculus I (GT-MA1)
or Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1)
4
 Credits14
Spring
BIOL 302
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
 Credits15
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
 Credits16
Spring
Biology Elective 4
Biology Elective 4
Gen Ed General Education 9
 Credits17
Year Four
Fall
BIOL 495
Senior Seminar
or Senior Thesis
1
Biology Elective 3
Gen Ed General Education 9
 Credits13
Spring
Biology Elective 3
Gen Ed General Education 12
 Credits15
 Total Credits120