The Biology Major

Degree Requirements for the Biology Major.

All majors must take a 23-hour core consisting of:

BI 102 (5)
BI 105 (4)
BI 110 (4)
BI 301 (4)
BI 333 (4)
BI 390 (1)
BI 395 (1)

To earn a baccalaureate degree all students must earn a total of 124 credit hours, 84 of which must be taken for grade and at least 45 credits in 300 level courses. (The BA degree requires 84 credits outside of the major, while the BS requires 76 credits outside of the major.)

Furthermore, all students must take and pass with at least a "C" grade, two composition courses (EN 101 Freshman Composition and EN 300 Advanced Composition). All students are also required to earn two credits in physical education by taking a PE 198 Lifetime Wellness class. Washburn University believes in the high value of a liberal arts education; therefore, biology majors are required to take general education courses in Humanities and Social Sciences (BA-15 credits, BS-9 credits). Humanities courses must include 3 credits of a performing arts course and the rest of the credits must include at least two other disciplines. Likewise, Social Science credits must have no more that 6 credits form any one discipline.

With respect to the Biology Program, all majors must take a 23 hour core of courses consisting of:

BI 102 General Cell Biology (5)
BI 105 General Botany (4)
BI 110 General Zoology (4)
BI 301 General Microbiology (4)
BI 333 General Genetics (4)
BI 390 Biology Seminar (1)
BI395/396 Biology Research (1)

The BA degree in biology requires at least 38 hours of biology course work, including the 23 hour core with 12 hours of additional upper division courses. The BS degree requires a minimum of 44 hours in biology, including the 23 hour core with 18 hours of additional upper division course work.

Additionally, the BS requires a 30 hour minor to be chosen from the Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Information Services Division in departments other than the major, with at least 20 hours of these in one department. Minors for the BS degree are limited to the following courses: Chemistry 151 or above, Physics 261 or above, Mathematics 116 or above, and Computer Science 110 or above.

The following non-biology courses are required of all majors:

MA 116 College Algebra
MA 117 Trigonometry (or demonstrated competency)
MA 140 Statistics
2 semesters of Physics with lab (PS 261/262 or PS 281/282)
2 semesters of General Chemistry with lab (CH 151/152)
1 semester of Organic Chemistry with lab (CH 341/342)

Candidates for the degree must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA and a grade of "C" or better in all biology courses and required cognate course work.

All majors must have a signed declaration of major form on record before taking upper division courses; it is highly recommended, however, that the major be declared as early as possible. Each semester all declared majors must meet with a departmental faculty advisor to plan the appropriate course work for the next and subsequent semesters.

Course Listings:

Required of all majors:

This area is currently under construction.