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.
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 & CHEM 112 |
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) and General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) |
4 |
| MATH 140 | College Algebra (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| WWGE 101/102/103/104 | Headwaters | 2 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 150 | Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| CHEM 113 & CHEM 114 |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II |
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 |
| 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 |
| WWGE Life Skills | 3 | |
| WWGE Social Inquiry | 3 | |
| BIOL 310 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MATH 151 or MATH 213 |
Calculus I (GT-MA1) or Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) |
4 |
| PHYS 140 | Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| WWGE Historical Inquiry | 3 | |
| BIOL 302 or BIOL 313 |
Ecology Laboratory and Recitation or Cell and Genetics Laboratory |
2 |
| BIOL 312 | Genetics (with recitation) | 4 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| WWGE Humanist Inquiry | 3 | |
| WWGE Creative Expression | 3 | |
| General Education | 3 | |
| WWGE Social Inquiry | 3 | |
| Western Watershed Course(s) | ||
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL | Biology Electives | 7 |
| 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 Elective | 3 | |
| General Education | 7 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| General Education | 12 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 117 | |
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.