Biology, Bachelor of Science (525)
Department website: http://www.wku.edu/biology
Program Coordinator
Douglas McElroy, doug.mcelroy@wku.edu, (270) 745-2405
The major in biology (525) provides students the opportunity to undertake an in-depth study of biology. A minor, second major, or certificate is not required. In addition to a required core, students complete a range of biology elective courses that can be tailored to their individual interests. In addition to coursework, students have the opportunity to apply up to six semester hours of faculty-guided independent research and/or internship towards their degree. This program is particularly well-suited to students interested in pursuing advanced study in a biology-related field or who require training in specific areas to support their career goals.
Program Requirements (48 hours)
This option for a major in biology requires a minimum of 48 hours in biology with 24 hours at the 300 or higher level. No minor is required. A range of upper level courses are available in ecology and evolutionary biology, molecular and cellular biology, plant biology, animal biology, and microbiology.
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BIOL 120 & BIOL 121 | Biological Concepts: Cells Metabolism and Genetics and Biological Concepts: Cells, Metabolism, and Genetics Lab 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 122 & BIOL 123 | Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology and Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology Lab 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 489 | Professional Aspects of Biology | 1 |
| Restricted Electives * | 4 | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Plant Biology and Diversity and Plant Biology and Diversity Lab | ||
| Animal Biology and Diversity and Animal Biology and Diversity Lab | ||
| Microbial Biology and Diversity and Microbial Biology and Diversity Lab | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology and Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory | ||
| Genetics and Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Ecology | ||
or BIOL 316 | Evolution: Theory and Process | |
| Laboratory Experience Courses * | ||
| Select five of the following: | ||
| Genome Discovery Exploration | ||
| Bioinformatics | ||
| Comparative Anatomy | ||
| Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory | ||
| Insect Biodiversity | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Animal Physiology Laboratory | ||
| Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| Introduction to Recombinant Genetics | ||
| Ecology Lab | ||
| Ornithology Lab | ||
| Techniques and Theory of Electron Microscopy | ||
| Cell Biology Laboratory | ||
| Biochemistry Laboratory | ||
| Recombinant Gene Technology | ||
| Ichthyology | ||
| Herpetology | ||
| Fisheries Management | ||
| Pathogenic Microbiology | ||
| Field Biology | ||
| Plant Biotechnology | ||
| Aquatic Field Ecology | ||
| Science Process Courses * | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Genome Discovery Exploration | ||
| Bioinformatics | ||
| Animal Physiology Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Recombinant Genetics | ||
| Ecology Lab | ||
| Scientific Process | ||
| Techniques and Theory of Electron Microscopy | ||
| Virology | ||
| Cell Biology Laboratory | ||
| Ichthyology | ||
| Herpetology | ||
| Pathogenic Microbiology | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Plant Biotechnology | ||
| Aquatic Field Ecology | ||
| Honors Thesis / Project II | ||
| Elective Course Work 2* | ||
- 1
Must complete with a grade of “C” or better.
- 2
Elective Coursework:
- In consultation with their advisor, students select majors-level coursework to obtain a minimum of 48 credits total, provided that at least 24 hours total are upper division courses.
- Students may count up to 6 credit hours of a combination of BIOL 369 and/or BIOL 399, and up to 4 credits of BIOL 485 toward this major.
- *
The following BIOL courses will not count towards the BIOL electives nor the Biology major requirements: BIOL 113, BIOL 114, BIOL 131, BIOL 231, BIOL 207, BIOL 208, BIOL 295, BIOL 303, BIOL 390.
Supporting Courses
Because an understanding of the principles of subjects outside of biology, in particular agriculture, chemistry, geography and geology, mathematics, physics and sociology is essential to the study of biology; majors are required to complete support courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 116 | College Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 117 | Trigonometry | 3 |
| or MATH 136 | Calculus I | |
| CHEM 120 & CHEM 121 | College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Laboratory | 5 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Introduction to Physics and Biophysics I and Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics I | ||
| University Physics I and University Physics I Lab | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Soils | ||
| Introductory Biostatistics | ||
| College Chemistry II and College Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Data Modeling and Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Programming | ||
| Geographic Information Systems I | ||
| Geographic Information Systems II | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus II | ||
| Social Research Methods | ||
| Total Hours | 24 | |
Finish in Four Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 120 & BIOL 121 | 4 | BIOL 122 & BIOL 123 | 4 |
| MATH 116 (or higher) | 3 | MATH 117 (or higher) | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | CHEM 120 & CHEM 121 | 5 |
| Colonnade - Explorations | 3 | Colonnade - Explorations | 3 |
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 222 & BIOL 223 (or BIOL 224/225 or BIOL 226/227) | 4 | BIOL 319 & BIOL 322 (or BIOL 327/337) | 4 |
| BIOL Science Supporting Course | 4 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | BIOL Science Supporting Course | 4 |
| BIOL upper-division Elective with lab | 4 | BIOL upper-division Elective with lab | 4 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 315 or BIOL 316 | 3 | BIOL upper-division Elective with lab | 4 |
| COMM 145 | 3 | BIOL upper-division Elective with lab | 4 |
| Colonnade - Explorations | 3 | BIOL upper-division Elective | 3 |
| Colonnade - Explorations | 3 | Colonnade - Writing in the Disciplines | 3 |
| BIOL upper-division Elective with lab | 4 | Colonnade - Explorations | 3 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 489 | 1 | BIOL upper-division Elective | 4 |
| BIOL upper-division Elective | 4 | BIOL upper-division Elective | 4 |
| Colonnade - Connections | 3 | BIOL upper-division Elective | 4 |
| World Language or Elective | 3 | Colonnade - Connections | 3 |
| BIOL Process Elective (see Biology advisor) | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||