B.S. in Biology - Integrative Biology Concentration

College of the Sciences and Mathematics
General Education Requirements
English Composition requirements6
Mathematics requirement3
Public Speaking requirement3
Science requirements6
Science requirements are met by CHE 103 and PHY 130
Behavioral & Social Science requirements6
Humanities requirements6
Arts requirement3
Diverse Communities requirement3
Interdisciplinary requirement3
Student Electives9
Writing Emphasis requirements 9
Major Core Requirements
BIO 110General Biology 13
BIO 220Cell Physiology 13
BIO 230Genetics 13
Select one of the following: 21-16
Internship in Biological Sciences 1
Biology Seminar 1
Special Problems in Biology 1
CHE 103General Chemistry I3
CRL 103Experimental General Chemistry I (LAB)1
CHE 104General Chemistry II3
CRL 104Experimental General Chemistry II (LAB)1
CHE 231Organic Chemistry I4
CRL 231Experimental Organic Chemistry I Lab2
CHE 232Organic Chemistry II3
PHY 130General Physics I4
PHY 140General Physics II4
MAT 121Introduction to Statistics I3
Select one semester of calculus3-4
Other Major Requirements
BIO 215General Botany 13
BIO 217General Zoology 13
BIO 270Ecology 13
Biology Electives
Select 21 semester hours under advisement21
Total Minimum Credits Required120
1

Biology core courses must be passed with a grade of C- (70%) or better.

2

 The requirement for BIO 490/409/491 is waived for students in the Accelerated (B.S. + M.S.) program.  It is replaced by an additional 3 credits of biology electives.  Students not completing a thesis (BIO 608-610) will be required to complete BIO 490/409/491.

Accelerated B.S. in Biology to M.S. in Biology Program

To be considered for the accelerated program and enroll in BIO 608 (Thesis Research I), students must have attained (completed) 75 credits with a minimum of 18 biology credits.  Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 including a minimum GPA of 3.00 for biology courses.  BIO 608 requires departmental permission to enroll; students must arrange a committee meeting prior to enrolling in BIO 608 (e.g., during their third year).  The accelerated program in biology is only open to thesis students.  Any student wishing to switch out of the thesis option will be required to complete all requirements of the B.S. degree.  Once admitted to the graduate program, graduate policies apply, including minimum GPA (3.00).  See the Graduate Catalog for further details.

Students in the M.S. Biology program are required to take 21 credits of electives from the following three categories, 12 credits of which will be used to satisfy the B.S. program.

Biology Electives 121
Choose two Research Methods Courses6
Experimental Design and Analysis
Research Techniques in Bio SciI I
Research Techniques in Bio Sci II
Res Tech III: Computer App in Bio
Choose two Concentration Courses6
Course Topics in Biology I
Course Topics in Biology II
Course Topics in Biology III
Directed Study in Biology
Choose three other electives selected under advisement.9
Required Courses 29
Thesis Research I
Thesis Research II
Thesis
1

 If a course is offered at both the 400 and 500 levels, the student must take the 500-level course.  No more than 6 credits of 400-level courses may be counted toward the M.S. degree.  With prior departmental approval, up to 6 credits of graduate course work from another department or university may be applied toward the M.S. degree.  BIO 535, 536, and 537 may be repeated for credit provided the topic is different. 

2

 A letter grade must be obtained for BIO 608 before the student can enroll in BIO 609.  Likewise, a letter grade must be obtained for BIO 609 before the student can enroll in BIO 610.

To track their individual degree progress, students are advised to access their Degree Progress Report (DPR) via myWCU regularly. For more information, visit wcupa.edu/DegreeProgressReport.

The following is a suggested course sequence for this program; course offerings and availability are not guaranteed. Students should consult their academic advisor with any questions.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Semester OneCredits
WRT 120 Effective Writing I 3
BIO 110 General Biology 3
CHE 103
& CRL 103		 General Chemistry I
and Experimental General Chemistry I (LAB) 		4
Gen Ed Distributive 3
Select one of the following: 3-4
MAT 121
 Introduction to Statistics I  
MAT 143
 Brief Calculus  
MAT 145
 Calculus for the Life Sciences  
MAT 161
 Calculus I  
 Credits16-17
Semester Two
Writing 200 Level 3
BIO 215
or BIO 217
 General Botany
or General Zoology
 3
CHE 104
& CRL 104		 General Chemistry II
and Experimental General Chemistry II (LAB) 		4
Gen Ed Distributive 3
Select one of the following: 3-4
MAT 121
 Introduction to Statistics I  
MAT 143
 Brief Calculus  
MAT 145
 Calculus for the Life Sciences  
MAT 161
 Calculus I  
 Credits16-17
Year Two
Semester Three
BIO 215
or BIO 217
 General Botany
or General Zoology
 3
CHE 231
& CRL 231		 Organic Chemistry I
and Experimental Organic Chemistry I Lab 		6
Mathematics (if still needed) 3
Gen Ed Distributive 3
 Credits15
Semester Four
BIO 220 Cell Physiology 3
BIO 230 Genetics 3
CHE 232 Organic Chemistry II 3
SPK 208
or SPK 230
 Public Speaking
or Business and Professional Speech Communication
 3
Gen Ed Distributive 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Semester Five
BIO 270 Ecology 3
BIO Elective 3
PHY 130 General Physics I 4
Diversity (J) Course 3
Directed Elective 3
 Credits16
Semester Six
BIO Elective 3
BIO Electives 6
PHY 140 General Physics II 4
Interdisciplinary (I) Course 3
 Credits16
Year Four
Semester Seven
BIO Elective 3
BIO Elective 3
Directed Elective 3
Directed Elective 3
Gen Ed Distributive 3
 Credits15
Semester Eight
BIO Elective 3
BIO Elective 3
Directed Elective 3
Directed Elective 3
Select one of the following: 3
BIO 490
 Biology Seminar  
BIO 409
 Internship in Biological Sciences  
BIO 491
 Special Problems in Biology  
 Credits15
 Total Credits124-126