Biology BS, General Biology Specialization

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The BS Biology major offers undergraduate students a degree program with depth of training in the biological sciences and supporting fields. This program prepares students for immediate entrance into careers in biological sciences or for graduate work (for preparation for teaching high school biology, see biology teaching specialization).

Students consult with the appropriate biology advisor for approval of their BS program and electives, which must be submitted for approval to the biological sciences department at least one academic year preceding graduation. All students in the BS Biology major must complete all BS core requirements, plus additional specific requirements. Additionally, students will need to choose a specified number of courses from different groupings of upper division courses. A maximum of 15 credits in BIOL 295, BIOL 490, BIL 495 and BIOL 496 may be included in the major. CHEM 181 has a prerequisite of high school chemistry and qualification for MATH 153. BIOL 181 has a pre or co-requisite of CHEM 181.

Biology Core Requirements

BIOL 181 - General Biology I Credits: (5)
BIOL 182 - General Biology II Credits: (5)
BIOL 183 - General Biology III Credits: (5)
BIOL 213 - Introductory Biostatistics Credits: (4)
BIOL 321 - Genetics Credits: (5)
BIOL 499S - Senior Seminar Credits: (1)

General Chemistry and Laboratory Credits: (15)

CHEM 181 - General Chemistry I Credits: (4)
CHEM 181LAB - General Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: (1)
CHEM 182 - General Chemistry II Credits: (4)
CHEM 182LAB - General Chemistry Laboratory II Credits: (1)
CHEM 183 - General Chemistry III Credits: (4)
CHEM 183LAB - General Chemistry Laboratory III Credits: (1)

Total Core Credits: 40

Additional Required Courses Credits: 10

CHEM 361 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: (3)
CHEM 361LAB - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I Credits: (2)
PHYS 111 - Introductory Physics I with Laboratory Credits: (5)
OR PHYS 121 - Introductory Physics for Life Sciences I Credits: (5)
OR PHYS 181 - General Physics I with Laboratory Credits: (5)

Select from the following for 20-30 credits.

1 course from the Biological Diversity Group Credits: (4-5)
1 course from the Ecology Group Credits: (4-5)*
1 course from the Evolution Group Credits: (4-5)*
1 course from the Molecular/Cell Group Credits: (5)*
1 course from the Structure/Function Group Credits: (3-10)
(*NOTE: Courses can only be counted once.)

Department-Approved Electives Credits: 20-30

Total Credits: 100

Biological Diversity Group

BIOL 322 - Introductory Microbiology Credits: (5)
BIOL 323 - Microbiology Credits: (5)
BIOL 341 - Plant Taxonomy Credits: (5)
BIOL 344 - Dendrology Credits: (4)
BIOL 351 - General Entomology Credits: (5)
BIOL 352 - Parasitology Credits: (5)
BIOL 421 - General Virology Credits: (5)
BIOL 443 - Mycology Credits: (5)
BIOL 444 - Algae and Bryophytes Credits: (5)
BIOL 445 - Field Mycology Credits: (5)
BIOL 450 - Ichthyology Credits: (4)
BIOL 451 - Herpetology Credits: (4)
BIOL 452 - Ornithology Credits: (4)
BIOL 453 - Mammalogy Credits: (5)
(NOTE: Courses are listed in multiple groups; a course may only count in one area.)

Ecology Group

BIOL 360 - General Ecology Credits: (5)
BIOL 362 - Biomes of the Pacific Northwest Credits: (4)
BIOL 377 - Regional Natural History Credits: (2)
AND BIOL 377LAB - Regional Natural History Credits: (3)
BIOL 420 - Environmental Microbiology Credits: (5)
BIOL 461 - Community Ecology Credits: (3)
BIOL 462 - Wildlife and Fisheries Ecology Credits: (5)
BIOL 463 - Limnology Credits: (5)
BIOL 464 - Terrestrial Plant Ecology Credits: (5)
BIOL 466 - Conservation Biology Credits: (5)
BIOL 467 - Biological Field Techniques Credits: (5)
(NOTE: Courses are listed in multiple groups; a course may only count in one area.)

Evolution Group

BIOL 353 - Integrative Anatomy Credits: (6)
BIOL 421 - General Virology Credits: (5)
BIOL 465 - Biology of Animal Behavior Credits: (4)
BIOL 470 - Mechanisms of Evolution Credits: (5)
(NOTE: Courses are listed in multiple groups; a course may only count in one area.)

Molecular and Cell Group

BIOL 323 - Microbiology Credits: (5)
BIOL 354 - Developmental Biology Credits: (5)
BIOL 421 - General Virology Credits: (5)
BIOL 422 - Immunology Credits: (5)
BIOL 423 - Techniques in Immunology and Virology Credits: (5)
BIOL 425 - Molecular Biotechnology Credits: (5)
BIOL 430 - Cell Biology Credits: (5)
BIOL 431 - The Cell Biology of Cancer Credits: (3)
BIOL 431LAB - The Cell Biology of Cancer Lab Credits: (2)
BIOL 441 - Plant Physiology Credits: (5)
BIOL 457 - Fundamentals of Neuroscience Credits: (5)
(NOTE: Courses are listed in multiple groups; a course may only count in one area.)

Structure/Function Group

BIOL 343 - Plant Anatomy Credits: (5)
BIOL 353 - Integrative Anatomy Credits: (6)
BIOL 354 - Developmental Biology Credits: (5)
BIOL 355 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: (5)
AND BIOL 356 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: (5)
BIOL 422 - Immunology Credits: (5)
BIOL 423 - Techniques in Immunology and Virology Credits: (5)
BIOL 426 - Medical Microbiology Credits: (3)
BIOL 426LAB - Medical Microbiology Laboratory Credits: (2)
BIOL 441 - Plant Physiology Credits: (5)
BIOL 454 - Histology Credits: (3)
BIOL 455 - Integrative Animal Physiology Credits: (5)
BIOL 457 - Fundamentals of Neuroscience Credits: (5)
(NOTE: Courses are listed in multiple groups; a course may only count in one area.)

College and Department Information

Biological Sciences Department
College of the Sciences

Program Outcomes
Visit program outcomes to find out what you can expect to know and do after successful completion of this program.