Biology/Anthropology, BS

Combined major offered by the Department of Biology, College of Science and Engineering and the Department of Anthropology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

103-106 Credits

Introduction

Biological or Physical Anthropology is the study of both present and past human variation relative to local ecologies and cultures. Biological Anthropologists specialize in human or primate anatomy, disease ecology, growth and development, forensic anthropology and osteology, medical anthropology, primate behavior, and paleoanthropology.

Biology, the scientific study of living things, includes a broad spectrum of fascinating fields. Cell and molecular biology, developmental genetics, systematics and evolution, botany, zoology, marine biology, microbial ecology, plant and animal ecology, physiological and behavioral ecology and science education are some of the specialties of study that students can pursue with the Biology faculty at Western.

Why Consider a Biology/Anthropology Major?

The Biology/Anthropology major concentrates on human biology and behavioral science. This major is most useful for those continuing on in applied health careers such as: Medicine, Osteopathy, Optometry, Dentistry, etc. It is also useful for Epidemiology, public health and graduate programs in Human Biology and Biological Anthropology.

Contact Information

Anthropology Program Advisor Joan Stevenson Arntzen Hall 316 360-650-4787 Joan.Stevenson@wwu.edu Biology Program Advisor Jose Serrano-Moreno Biology 331 360-650-3633 Jose.Serrano-Moreno@wwu.edu

Anthropology Program Advisor MJ Mosher Arntzen Hall 324 360-650-3614 M.J.Mosher@wwu.edu

Program Coordinators for Advising Maren Brinson and Alexis Donnelly Biology 315 360-650-6165 biologyadvising@wwu.edu

Sample Careers

Medical Doctor | Physician’s Assistant | Applied Health Professions | Museum Conservator | Forensic Anthropologist | Biological Anthropologist | Epidemiology and Public Health

Major/Career Resources

www.wwu.edu/careers/students_choosingamajor.shtml

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

The Biology Department has a two-step process for admission into our degree programs. Phase I students are students who have declared their intent to major in biology and are in the process of completing the introductory biology (BIOL 204, 205, 206) and general chemistry (CHEM 121, 122, 123) series. Admission to Phase II is based on academic performance in the introductory courses. Students must achieve an average grade of 2.9 or higher in their introductory biology and general chemistry courses before they can advance to Phase II and begin taking upper-division coursework.

Biology Phase II status required for admission into 300- and 400-level biology courses for biology majors.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major courses.