2024-2025 University Catalog
Biological Sciences Department
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College of the Sciences
Ellensburg
Science Bldg., room 338
Mail Stop 7537
509-963-2731
https://www.cwu.edu/academics/biology/
Faculty and Staff
Chair
Clay Arango, PhD
Professors
Clay Arango, PhD, stream ecology and nitrogen biogeochemistry
April Binder, PhD, cell biology, developmental and reproductive biology
Lucinda Carnell, PhD, molecular behavioral genetics
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
Holly C. Pinkart, PhD, microbiology, microbial ecology, virology
Mary E. Poulson, PhD, plant physiology
Ian J. Quitadamo, PhD, STEM education, cell and molecular biology
Linda A. Raubeson, PhD, evolutionary biology and genetics
Alison Scoville, PhD, ecological and evolutionary genomics
Gabrielle Stryker, PhD, microbiology, immunology and parasitology
Lixing Sun, PhD, behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, and primatology
Assistant Professors
Celine Cortes, PhD, stable isotope ecology, geometric morphometrics, canid ecology and evolution
Sarah Oppelt, PhD, biochemistry and cell biology, metabolism, and inflammation
Senior Lecturer
Fabiola Serra-Fuertes, DVM, animal biology, physiology
Lecturer
Geoffrey Sasaki, PhD, fermentation science, phytochemicals and health
Emeritus Faculty
Daniel D. Beck, PhD
Tom R. Cottrell, PhD
David M. Darda, PhD
Wayne S. Quirk, PhD
Stamford D. Smith, PhD
Staff
Emil Babik, engineering technician
Brian LaBore, instructional classroom support technician
Mari Knirck, fiscal specialist I
Kariann Linnell, fiscal specialist supervisor
Elaina Mitchell, instructional classroom support technician
Linnea Stavney, instructional classroom support technician
Emma Zion, instructional classroom support technician
Department Information
The Department of Biological Sciences provides the biological component of the liberal arts education at the university. We promote student understanding of biological concepts relevant to the individual and society and foster an appreciation of scientific inquiry. Evolution is the unifying theme of our curriculum. Our students obtain a broad education, covering a wide variety of biological disciplines. We focus on the student. Classes are small, facilitating hands-on experience, interactions with faculty, and opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate research. Biological sciences offers major specializations in ecology and evolution, molecular and cell biology, and biomedical sciences, or a general biology option for those seeking a broader perspective of the discipline. With a biology major, students often pursue careers in fields such as teaching, natural resource management, and biotechnology. Many students pursue further study in graduate programs. Several of the biological sciences degree options are ideal for students wanting to enter professional programs including medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, pharmacy and veterinary medicine.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to a biology major or minor, all students must:
- Complete a biology major or minor application. We recommend declaring a major as early as first-year and no later than sophomore year.
- Application forms can be obtained from the advisor, the department office, or online at www.cwu.edu/biology/.
- Choose a biology faculty advisor
- We recommend choosing an advisor from the biology advising team based on area of interest (evolution and ecology, molecular and cell, biomedical sciences or general biology)
- Complete and file a program of study by the end of the junior year.
- To graduate, each student must have on file in the biology department and in the Office of the Registrar, an official course of study. The course of study documents a student’s individual degree program and lists the required and elective courses necessary for successful program completion. It is submitted by the student to their advisor and must be approved by the biology faculty advisor and biology department chair at least two quarters prior to graduation. Students should meet with their biology faculty advisor regularly to discuss their progress. Course of study forms can be obtained from the advisor or online at: www.cwu.edu/biology/.
Student Scholarly Activities
The department is student oriented and provides a diversity of laboratory and field experiences. Students are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities.
- Research activities: Students are encouraged to seek out a faculty member who is engaged in active research that complements the student’s career goals. Students who begin research early and continue it through their career in the department gain a better understanding of their profession and are more competitive in the job market or in graduate school admissions.
- Field programs: The department believes in the importance of exposing students to biological field experiences. In addition to those provided by regular courses, the department offers summer field courses and trips to biologically interesting areas during breaks between quarters.
Student Organizations
All biology students are encouraged to join a student organization. These student-run groups meet regularly to discuss academic planning and career opportunities in biology. Student clubs perform service activities and plan recreational outings. See the biology department website for a list of currently active organizations at www.cwu.edu/biology/
Fees
Course fees are assessed for many of the department’s courses. These fees are used as partial support for purchasing lab materials or providing transportation costs.
General Consideration for Biology Majors and Minors
- Completing the equivalent of MATH 153 or higher is required for most biology major courses.
- Students are urged to complete the introductory chemistry sequence (CHEM 181, 182, 183) and the introductory biology series (BIOL 181, 182, 183) in their first-year or sophomore year.
- Most courses in the biology majors also require specific pre-requisite courses. Please consult your biology faculty advisor to plan your course of study.
- All Bachelor of science degrees in biology must include a minimum 100 credits of coursework. This includes all courses in the core curriculum, the specific coursework required for the chosen specialization, and elective courses. A maximum of 15 credits of elective coursework can include the following:
- BIOL 490 - Cooperative education (1-12 credits)
- BIOL 492 - 2-4 credits
- BIOL 495 - 1-6 credits
- BIOL 496 - 1-6 credits
All students must meet university requirements of a total of 180 credits, 60 of which must be upper division, to earn a bachelor’s degree (Graduation Requirements ).
Graduation Requirements
- Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25 in their major to graduate.
- Application for the bachelor’s degree must be filed by the second Friday of the quarter preceding the quarter in which the degree is to be received. Complete instructions and deadlines are available in the Office of the Registrar.
Graduate Information
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 master’s 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.
Course Offerings
Frequency of course offering information can be found at the department website: https://www.cwu.edu/academics/biology/ or by contacting the department directly.
ProgramsBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Bachelor of Science (B.S.)Master of Science (M.S.)Non-degree Undergraduate Minors or CertificatesCoursesBiological Sciences (BIOL)Page: 1
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