Biology, Bachelor of Science (617)
Department website: http://www.wku.edu/biology
Program Coordinator
Douglas McElroy, doug.mcelroy@wku.edu, (270) 745-2405
The major in Biology (Reference Number 617) provides an opportunity to acquire broad-based study in biology for students who wish to be certified to teach high school biology. These students must complete both the major in Biology (617) with a teacher education certification (TCHR) and the major in Science and Mathematics Education (reference number 774). Interested students should contact the SKyTeach Office, Kelly Thompson Hall 1011A, 270-745-3900 or visit www.wku.edu/skyteach.
In addition to coursework, students may apply up to three credit hours of faculty-guided independent research and/or an internship experience towards their degree.
Concentrations
- Teacher Education (TCHR)
Program Requirements (36 hours)
This option for a major in biology requires a minimum of 36 semester hours in biology with 18 hours at the 300 or higher level plus the required supporting courses in addition to a TCHR major. The major/second major combination must be at least 54 total hours with 48 unduplicated hours.
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 | 9 | |
| Biological Concepts: Cells Metabolism and Genetics and Biological Concepts: Cells, Metabolism, and Genetics Lab 1 | ||
| Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology and Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology Lab 1 | ||
| Professional Aspects of Biology | ||
| Biology Core * | 27 | |
| 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 | ||
| Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology and Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory | ||
| Genetics and Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Ecology | ||
or BIOL 316 | Evolution: Theory and Process | |
| Laboratory Experience Courses * | ||
| Select three of the following | ||
| Genome Discovery & Exploration | ||
| Bioinformatics | ||
| Comparative Anatomy | ||
| Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory | ||
| Insect Biodiversity | ||
| Animal Physiology Laboratory | ||
| Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Immunology Lab (Immunology 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 | ||
| Applied and Environmental 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 | ||
| Required Supporting Courses | 12-13 | |
| Introductory Biostatistics | ||
or MATH 136 | Calculus I | |
or MATH 183 | Introductory Statistics | |
| College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Physics and Biophysics I and Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics I | ||
| Total Hours | 48-49 | |
Finish in Four Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 122 & BIOL 123 | 4 | BIOL 120 & BIOL 121 | 4 |
| SMED 101 | 3 | SMED 102 | 3 |
| Colonnade - Arts & Humanities | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| MATH 116 | 3 | Foreign Language or Elective | 3 |
| COMM 145 | 3 | ENG 100 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 224 & BIOL 225 or BIOL 226/227 | 4 | BIOL 319 & BIOL 322 | 4 |
| CHEM 120 & CHEM 121 | 5 | PHYS 231 & PHYS 232 | 4 |
| SMED 310 | 3 | SMED 320 | 3 |
| ENG 200 | 3 | BIOL 382, MATH 136, or MATH 183 | 3 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 315 | 3 | BIOL 316 | 3 |
| BIOL 327 & BIOL 337 | 4 | BIOL Science Process Course & Upper Level lab | 1 |
| SMED 340 | 3 | BIOL Upper Level Elective | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | BIOL Upper Level Elective | 3 |
| Elective (Minor/Certificate/BIOL/Free Elective As Needed) | 3 | SMED 360 | 3 |
| Colonnade - Connections Course | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 489 | 1 | SMED 489 | 3 |
| BIOL Upper Level Elective | 3 | SEC 490 | 10 |
| SMED 470 | 3 | ||
| Colonnade - Connections Course | 3 | ||
| Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | ||
| Elective (Minor/Certificate/BIOL/Free Elective As Needed) | 3 | ||
| 16 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours 122 | |||