Health Sciences Emphasis (with a 3+2 MS in High Altitude Exercise Physiology)

The Health Sciences Emphasis allows students to complete the BS in Biology and the MS in High Altitude Exercise Physiology (HAEP) in five years. To remain qualified for the Health Sciences Emphasis, students must meet requirements at certain points in their academic progression. By the end of the second academic year, the student must have earned 63 credits and completed ESS 185 Lifetime Wellness; BIOL 372 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with laboratory) and BIOL 373 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with laboratory); CHEM 331 Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 332 Organic Chemistry II, CHEM 334 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I, and CHEM 335 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II; all 100-level required science courses; and 15 credits of Liberal Arts General Education courses in Areas I and III. By the end of the third academic year, the student must have earned 95 credits and fulfill all the HAEP application requirements listed below.

Upon earning 95 credits by the end of the third year, the student must have:

  • Maintained a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.25 GPA within the major.
  • Earned a C or better in all major coursework.
  • Completed all General Education requirements.
  • Completed all but 6 credits of the undergraduate course requirements for the Health Sciences Emphasis. See MAJOR MAP at western.edu/biol.
  • Completed the application for the 3+2 HAEP program by satisfying the following:
    • Written, submitted and discussed a Letter of Intent with the HAEP program Director and his or her advisor. The Letter of Intent should include preliminary research interests and career goals. This letter will be kept on file with the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the application to the HAEP program.
    • Requested, and the School of Graduate Studies must have received, two letters of recommendation. At least one letter must be from a Western faculty member. Recommendation letters will be kept on file with the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the application to the HAEP program.
    • Submitted a current résumé. The resume will be kept on file with the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the application to the HAEP program.
    • Paid the $50 School of Graduate Studies application fee.

Upon satisfying all the requirements listed above, the School of Graduate Studies will consider the student a “HAEP candidate with provisional acceptance.”

Upon earning 120 credits by the end of the fourth year, the student must have:

  • Completed all undergraduate Health Sciences Emphasis coursework.
  • Maintained a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.25 GPA within the major.
  • Completed 18 graduate level ESS credits, with at least a 3.0 GPA.

At this time, the School of Graduate Studies will consider the student a “HAEP M.S. degree seeking student.”

The Health Sciences Emphasis requires a minimum of 83 credits, including the 26-credit Biology Nucleus, 8 additional credits in Biology, 31 credits of supporting courses, and 18 credits of HAEP coursework.

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 372Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with laboratory)4
BIOL 373Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with laboratory)4
Total Credits8
Minimum supporting courses:
CHEM 331Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 332Organic Chemistry II3
CHEM 334Organic Chemistry Laboratory I1
CHEM 335Organic Chemistry Laboratory II1
CHEM 471Biochemistry I3
ESS 185Lifetime Wellness3
ESS 330Exercise Physiology3
ESS 331Exercise Physiology Lab1
ESS 380Biomechanics3
MATH 213Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1)3
PSY 100General Psychology (GT-SS3)3
Select one of the following:4-8
Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1)
OR
Principles of Physics I (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1)
AND
Principles of Physics II (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1)
Total Credits31-35
Year four HAEP courses:
ESS 600Advanced Statistics3
ESS 601Quantitative Research Methods3
ESS 605Exercise and Sport Science Testing and Instrumentation-Lab3
ESS 606Exercise and Sport Science Testing and Instrumentation-Field3
ESS 640Environmental Exercise Physiology I3
ESS 675Clinical Exercise Programming-Lab3
Total Credits18

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 a MS in HAEP must follow the balance of the HAEP 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: ESS 601 Quantitative Research Methods.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
BIOL 150 Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) 4
CHEM 111 General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) 3
CHEM 112 General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) 1
Elective 3
 Credits15
Spring
ESS 185 Lifetime Wellness 3
CHEM 113 General Chemistry II 3
CHEM 114 General Chemistry Laboratory II 1
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
PSY 100 General Psychology (GT-SS3) ((Gen Ed)) 3
BIOL 151 Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory) 4
 Credits17
Year Two
Fall
General Education courses 6
BIOL 372 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with laboratory) 4
CHEM 331 Organic Chemistry I 3
CHEM 334 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1
Elective 3
 Credits17
Spring
General Education courses 6
BIOL 373 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with laboratory) 4
CHEM 332 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHEM 335 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 1
 Credits14
Year Three
Fall
General Education courses 3
ESS 330 Exercise Physiology 3
ESS 331 Exercise Physiology Lab 1
CHEM 471 Biochemistry I 3
BIOL 301 General Ecology 3
Elective 3
 Credits16
Spring
PHYS 140 Introductory Physics (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) 4
ESS 380 Biomechanics 3
BIOL 310 Cell Biology 3
Elective 6
 Credits10
Year Four
Fall
MATH 213 Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1) 3
ESS 601 Quantitative Research Methods 3
ESS 605 Exercise and Sport Science Testing and Instrumentation-Lab 3
ESS 640 Environmental Exercise Physiology I 3
 Credits12
Spring
BIOL 312 Genetics (with recitation) 4
ESS 600 Advanced Statistics 3
ESS 606 Exercise and Sport Science Testing and Instrumentation-Field 3
ESS 675 Clinical Exercise Programming-Lab 3
 Credits13
Year Five
Fall
ESS 641 Environmental Exercise Physiology II 3
ESS 695 Thesis 1-9
ESS 699 Practicum/Internship 1-6
 Credits5-18
Spring
ESS 612 Exercise Biochemistry 3
ESS 695 Thesis 6
 Credits9
 Total Credits128-141