Biology Comprehensive Major: Wildlife and Conservation Biology Emphasis

Program Requirements

The Wildlife and Conservation Biology Emphasis requires a minimum of 67 credits, including the 26-credit Biology Nucleus, 23 additional credits in Biology, and 18 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
BIOL 302Ecology Laboratory and Recitation2
BIOL 430Wildlife Ecology and Management (with laboratory)4
BIOL 431Wildlife Techniques Workshop1
BIOL 353Rocky Mountain Flora3
One of the following:3
EVOLUTION
Conservation Biology
At least two of the following:6-8
Ornithology (with laboratory and recitation)
Mammalogy (with laboratory and recitation)
Field Entomology (with laboratory)
Botany (with laboratory)
Spring Fungi Rocky Mountains (with laboratory)
Colorado Ecoregions
Biology of Fishes
Aquatic Ecology (with laboratory)
Forest Ecology (with laboratory)
Select at least two credits of Capstone Experience Courses:2
Senior Seminar (may be repeated)
Senior Thesis
Total Credits21-23
Minimum supporting courses
CHEM 231Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry3
CHEM 234Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory1
GEOG 340INTRO GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYSTEMS3
GEOL 101Physical Geology (GT-SC2)3
GEOL 105Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1)1
MATH 213Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1)3
PHYS 140Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1)4
Total Credits18

 Capstone Course Requirement

The following courses in the Biology Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: BIOL 495 SENIOR 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
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
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
MATH 140 College Algebra (GT-MA1) 3
 Credits15
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
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
Gen Ed General Education (Area I) 3
Gen Ed General Education (Area III) 3
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
BIOL 353 Rocky Mountain Flora 3
 Credits18
Spring
BIOL 310 Cell Biology 3
PHYS 140 Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) 4
MATH 213 Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) 3
Arts & Humanities GE 3
GEOL 101 Physical Geology (GT-SC2) 3
GEOL 105 Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) 1
 Credits17
Year Three
Fall
GEOG 340 INTRO GEOGRAPHIC INFO SYSTEMS 3
BIOL 430 Wildlife Ecology and Management (with laboratory) 4
BIOL 431 Wildlife Techniques Workshop 1
Gen Ed General Education (Area I) 3
Elective Ecology Elective 4
 Credits15
Spring
BIOL 312 Genetics (with recitation) 4
Arts & Humanities GE 3
BIOL 362
EVOLUTION
or Conservation Biology
3
Elective Ecology Elective 4
 Credits14
Year Four
Fall
BIOL 495
Senior Seminar
or Senior Thesis
1
Gen Ed General Education (Area I) 3
Elective Ecology Elective (Not Required) 8
Gen Ed General Education 3
 Credits15
Spring
BIOL 495
Senior Seminar
or Senior Thesis
1
Elective Ecology Elective (Not Required) 4
Gen Ed General Education 6
 Credits11
 Total Credits120