2020-2021 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]   
						Biological Sciences Department
						
					
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College of the Sciences 
Ellensburg 
Science Bldg., room 338 
Mail Stop 7537 
509-963-2731 
Fax: 509-963-2730 
www.cwu.edu/biology 
See website for how this program may be used for educational and career purposes. 
 
Interim Faculty and Staff 
Co-Chairs 
Kristina A. Ernest, PhD 
Jennifer Dechaine, PhD 
Holly C. Pinkart, PhD (on sabbatical 2020-2021) 
 
Professors 
Daniel D. Beck, PhD, physiological ecology and herpetology 
Lucinda Carnell, PhD, molecular behavioral genetics 
Tom R. Cottrell, PhD, plant ecology (emeritus) 
David M. Darda, PhD, evolutionary vertebrate morphology, herpetology 
Blaise Dondji, PhD, human physiology, microbiology, parasitology, immunology 
Kristina A. Ernest, PhD, ecology and mammalogy 
Jason T. Irwin, PhD, animal physiology 
Paul W. James, PhD, ecology and fisheries biology 
James E. Johnson, PhD, mycology, systematics 
Sheldon R. Johnson, PhD, zoophysiology, mammalogy (emeritus) 
Holly C. Pinkart, PhD, microbiology, microbial ecology, virology 
Mary E. Poulson, PhD, plant physiology 
Wayne S. Quirk, PhD, sensation and perception, neuroscience 
Ian J. Quitadamo, PhD, STEM education, cell and molecular biology 
Linda A. Raubeson, PhD, evolutionary biology and genetics 
Stamford D. Smith, PhD, entomology (emeritus) 
Lixing Sun, PhD, behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, and primatology 
 
Associate Professors 
Clay Arango, PhD, stream ecology and nitrogen biogeochemistry 
April Binder, PhD, cell biology, developmental and reproductive biology 
Jennifer Dechaine, PhD, plant biology 
Alison Scoville, PhD, ecological and evolutionary genomics 
Gabrielle Stryker, PhD, microbiology, immunology and parasitology 
 
Lecturers 
Lucy Bottcher, PhD, ecologist, herpetologist 
Eric Graham, PhD, plant ecology 
Fabiola Serra-Fuertes, DVM, animal biology, physiology 
 
Staff 
Emil Babik, engineering technician 
Jonathan Betz, instructional classroom support technician 
Stacey Ferris, secretary 
Eric Foss, instructional classroom support technician 
Mari Knirck, fiscal specialist I 
Kariann Linnell, fiscal specialist supervisor 
Elaina Martinez, instructional classroom support techician 
Ormacinda White, engineering technician 
Mark Young, instructional classroom support technician 
Program Description 
The graduate program in biology is designed to provide training and expertise for those needing a terminal degree for entry-level biological science positions in state, federal, and tribal agencies, as well as for positions in private industry or teaching at the secondary or community college level. It serves other students by providing them with the skills and techniques required for further graduate study beyond the MS degree. Students considering further graduate study should work closely with their major advisor to design a program of coursework that meets the requirements for PhD programs. Graduate students in biology may tailor their program to emphasize a specific discipline within the biological sciences. 
Admission 
Admission is a two-step process. Applicants must first meet the general requirements for graduate study as determined by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research, and then the specific requirements of the Department of Biological Sciences. Items needed to enroll: 
	- An undergraduate degree in biology or closely related field. Deficiencies in the student’s undergraduate training as determined by the Department of Biological Sciences at the time of admission to the program must be removed without graduate credit during the first year of graduate study.
 
	- Students must submit GRE scores for the general test. Students applying to the masters in biology with a specialization in biomedical sciences may substitute MCAT scores for GRE scores.
 
	- International students for whom English is a second language must provide TOEFL scores to demonstrate English proficiency.
 
	- Students must arrange for a graduate faculty advisor in the Department of Biological Sciences to serve as their major advisor.
 
 
Program Outcomes 
For information on program outcomes, please go to: www.cwu.edu/mission/assessment-improvement/slo-assessment-plans.  
Course Offerings 
Frequency of course offering information can be found at the department website: www.cwu.edu/biology or by contacting the department directly. 
ProgramsMaster of Science (M.S.)CoursesBiological Sciences (BIOL)
				  
  
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