The Ecology emphasis allows students to complete the B.S. in Biology and the Master of Science in Ecology (Ecology MS) at Western in five years. To remain qualified for the 3+2, after 67 credits each student must have:
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maintained a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.25 GPA within the major;
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completed BIOL 150, BIOL 151, BIOL 301, and MATH 213
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fulfilled the 3-credit Internship or employment requirement with a B or above and positive letter from the project sponsor;
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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;
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confirmed acceptance by an Ecology MS faculty advisor;
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written a Statement of Purpose to the Ecology MS program, detailing early career ambitions and ideas/connections for the eventual Master’s Project.
At this point, if any aspect of a student’s performance is found to be insufficient, the Ecology MS Coordinator will recommend denial of acceptance to the Graduate Studies Dean and the Clark Family School of ENVS Dean, 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, 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 (94 credits in this plan—see “Degree Plan" tab), if the student is accepted by a faculty advisor into the program, the School of Graduate Studies will designate the student as an “Ecology MS candidate with provisional acceptance.” At this point the student must also declare their MS emphasis. Upon completion of the final 26 to 28 credits of the Western B.S. after Year Four of this plan, the School of Graduate Studies may designate the student as an “Ecology MS degree seeking student.” After Year Four, students who have completed all other requirements of the 3+2 program and all Western undergraduate requirements (120 total credits, 40 upper-division credits, general education requirements, the BIOL undergraduate courses listed under the Ecology emphasis, and the 18 credits of Ecology MS emphasis courses that come from the MS in Year 4), yet choose to leave the Ecology MS program before Year 5, will still have completed the BIOL undergraduate emphasis in Ecology and have earned the 120 credits necessary for a Western undergraduate degree.
The Ecology Emphasis requires a minimum of 78 credits, including the 26-credit Biology Nucleus, a minimum of 16 additional credits in Biology, 18 credits of supporting courses, and 18 credits of Ecology MS coursework. In the fifth year, a minimum of 21 additional credits of Ecology MS coursework results in the MS in Ecology degree.
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 | ||
| BIOL 302 | Ecology Laboratory and Recitation | 2 |
| At least 6 credits in two or more of the following systems and applications courses: | 6 | |
| Evolution | ||
| Wildlife Ecology and Management (with laboratory) | ||
| Wildlife Techniques Workshop | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Aquatic Ecology (with laboratory) | ||
| Plant Ecology (with laboratory) | ||
| Forest Ecology (with laboratory) | ||
| Select two of the following organismal courses: | 6-8 | |
| Ornithology (with laboratory and recitation) | ||
| Mammalogy (with laboratory and recitation) | ||
| Field Entomology (with laboratory) | ||
| Botany (with laboratory) | ||
| Rocky Mountain Flora | ||
| Biology of Fishes | ||
| Select at least two credits of Capstone Experience courses: | 2 | |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| Senior Thesis | ||
| Total Credits | 16-18 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum supporting courses | ||
| CHEM 231 | Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 234 | Introductory Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| GEOL 101 | Physical Geology (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| GEOL 105 | Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| MATH 213 | Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| PHYS 140 | Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| At least three credits of Internship courses | 3 | |
| Internship in Science | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Ecology MS courses, to be taken in Year 4 of 3+2 (Year 1 of MS): | ||
| BIOL 606 | Ecological Research Methods | 3 |
| BIOL 613 | Advanced Ecological Analysis | 3 |
| BIOL 690 | Ecology MS Proposal Development | 3 |
| One or more of the following to be taken in Fall Year 4 of 3+2 (Fall 1 of MS): | 3-4 | |
Biology Elective (620 or above, excluding 690, 695, 696) | ||
| Environmental Politics & Policy | ||
| Environmental Project Development and Management | ||
| Studies in Environmental Management | ||
| Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management | ||
| One or more of the following to be taken in Spring Year 4 of 3+2 (Spring 1 of MS): | 3-4 | |
Biology Elective (620 or above, excluding 690, 695, 696) | ||
| From Climate Science to Action | ||
| Public Lands Management and Policy | ||
| Studies in Environmental Management | ||
| Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management | ||
| Total Credits | 15-17 | |
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.A. (ENVS) or B.S. (BIOL) conferral. Students electing to complete the M.S. in Ecology must follow the balance of their declared emphasis curriculum.
Upon the acceptance of MS proposals (BIOL 690), MS candidates must be continuously enrolled for at least 1 credit of BIOL 695 or 696 until successful thesis defense.
For a full description of the required Graduate coursework, please see the appropriate MS program in the Western Graduate Catalog.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 21 credits of the following: | ||
| Biology elective (620 or above, excluding 690, 695, 696) | 3-4 | |
| ENVS 608 | Environmental Politics & Policy | 3 |
| ENVS 611 | Environmental Project Development and Management | 3 |
| ENVS 615 | From Climate Science to Action | 3 |
| ENVS 618 | Public Lands Management and Policy | 3 |
| ENVS 623 | Studies in Environmental Management | 1-6 |
| ENVS 625 | Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management | 3 |
| Including at least 6 credits of the following: | 6 | |
| Ecology/Conservation Thesis Research | ||
| Fisheries/Wildlife Thesis Research | ||
| Total Credits | 25-31 | |
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.
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) | 3-4 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| MATH 140 | College Algebra (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| WWGE 101/102/103/104 | Headwaters | 2 |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 150 | Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 3-4 |
| 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 |
| Credits | 14-15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| 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 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course (Life Skills | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 310 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| MATH 213 | Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| PHYS 140 | Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course (Social Inquiry suggested) | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course (Historical Inquiry suggested) | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 312 | Genetics (with recitation) | 4 |
| GEOL 101 | Physical Geology (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| GEOL 105 | Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course (Humanistic Inquiry suggested) | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course (Creative Expression suggested) | 3 |
| BIOL | Biology Systems/Apps Course | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL | Biology Systems/Apps Course | 4 |
| BIOL | Organismal Elective | 4 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course | 9 |
| WWGE 301/302/303/304 | Delta | 1 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 495 or BIOL 496 |
Senior Seminar or Senior Thesis |
1 |
| BIOL 606 | Ecological Research Methods | 3 |
| BIOL 620-689 | Graduate Electives in Ecology | 6 |
| BIOL | Biology Systems/Apps | 4 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL | Biology Organismal Elective | 3 |
| BIOL 495 or BIOL 496 |
Senior Seminar or Senior Thesis |
1 |
| BIOL 613 | Advanced Ecological Analysis | 3 |
| BIOL 620-689 | Graduate Electives in Ecology | 6 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 122-124 | |
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.