The Environmental Management emphasis allows students to complete the B.S. in Biology (BIOL) and the Master in Environmental Management (MEM) at Western in five years. To remain qualified for the 3+2, after 67 credits each student must have:

• maintained a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.25 GPA within the major;
• earned a B or above in two social science, two natural science (one with lab), and one statistics course;
• fulfilled the 3-credit Internship requirement with a B or above and positive letter from the project sponsor;
• provided three letters of recommendation, at least one of which is to be a professional reference and at least one of which is to be an academic reference from the student’s major at Western;
• written a Statement of Purpose to the MEM program, detailing early career ambitions and ideas and connections for the eventual master’s Project.

At this point, if any aspect of a student’s performance is found to be insufficient, the MEM Director may reject a 3+2 student from the MEM program, in which case the student will need to find a new emphasis or minor in order to complete the undergraduate degree. In addition to meeting the requirements above, and after Junior Year (holding to the same GPA standards as outlined above) and completion of BIOL nucleus plus one systems and application course and one organismal course in the requirements (100 credits in this plan—see “Degree Plan" tab), the School of Graduate Studies will designate students as “MEM candidates with provisional acceptance.” Upon completion of the final 26 credits of the Western B.S. after Year Four of this plan, the School of Graduate Studies will designate students as “MEM degree seeking students.” Students who have completed all other requirements of the 3+2 program and all Western undergraduate requirements, yet choose to leave the MEM program before Year 5, will still have completed the BIOL undergraduate emphasis in Environmental Management and have earned the 120 credits necessary for a Western undergraduate degree.

Program Requirements

The Ecology and Environmental Management Emphasis requires a minimum of 83 credits, including the 26-credit Biology Nucleus, 19 additional credits in Biology, 15 credits of supporting courses, and 23 credits of MEM coursework. In the fifth year, an additional 23 credits of MEM coursework results in the MEM degree.

All Biology majors require the 26-credit Biology Nucleus.

Upon successful completion of the prescribed courses listed above, University defined General Education, and elective requirements totaling 120 credits (with 40 at the 300-level or higher), students are eligible for their B.S. conferral. Students electing to complete MEM must follow the balance of their declared emphasis curriculum.

For a full description of the required Graduate coursework, please see the appropriate MEM program in the Western Graduate Catalog. 

Capstone Course Requirement

The following courses in the Biology Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: BIOL 495 SENIOR SEMINAR, BIOL 496 , or EDUC 409 SECONDARY STUDENT TEACHING.