Biology, BS

Location(s): WWU - Bellingham

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Introduction

The Biology BS program features a core curriculum of math, chemistry, physics, and a broad range of biology courses that prepare students for the interdisciplinary nature of modern biology. The fundamental knowledge you’ll gain about biology will provide you with a broader context for more focused upper-division studies. Additional upper-division lab and lecture courses will help you to 1) gain additional depth of knowledge, 2) have opportunities to integrate and apply that knowledge in various settings including the lab, the field, and discussions with others, and 3) develop skills and abilities that are tailored to particular interests and career paths.

Each student must complete one of seven concentration options:

Biomedical Sciences I Concentration (BMS1)
Biomedical Sciences II Concentration (BMS2)
Ecology, Biodiversity, and Organismal Biology Concentration (EBOB)
Genes, Genomes, and Evolution Concentration (GGE)
Marine Biology Concentration (MB)
Molecular, Cellular, and Development Biology Concentration (MCDB)
Secondary Education Concentration (SE)

The concentration names describe the focus area(s) within biology, and the primary differences among the concentrations lie in the choices of additional 300- and 400-level lab, lecture, and seminar courses. Concentrations have overlapping and extensive course options, so that within any concentration, you can choose to 1) gain a depth of knowledge in that area, and/or 2) integrate coursework among concentrations to create a personalized curriculum matching your interests and career aspirations.

All concentrations provide opportunities for you to apply knowledge, practice critical thinking, and undertake complex and quantitative problem solving in various settings. In lab courses, you will gain hands-on experience in experimental and observational approaches using modern biological research instrumentation. You will also have opportunities to engage in scientific discussions, work productively and collaboratively in teams, and communicate effectively as a scientist.

As a declared major or pre-major, you will have an academic advisor who is a member of the Biology faculty. We recommend that you meet regularly with your academic advisor, who can help devise a course plan that will develop knowledge, skills, and abilities tailored to your interests and career paths.

Students admitted to the biology major will receive an email message with instructions for officially declaring Biology as their major, and how to choose a (single) concentration.

Student Resources

Department website: Biology

Contact information: Maren Brinson and Alexis Donnelly, Biology 315, 360-650-6165, biologyadvising@wwu.edu

Department advising: Admitted and/or current students must meet with a Biology advisor.

Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

Career Services Center: Connect major to a career

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Category of Major : Capacity-constrained major

Declaration form: Student Academic Declaration and Change Form

Admission and Declaration Process

Admission to the Biology Major is based upon an application procedure that considers prior academic performance (specifically GPA in prerequisite courses) and student responses to focused prompts.

Pre-major Declaration

Students who have been formally admitted into Western may declare a biology pre-major at any time by filling out the Student Academic Declaration and Change Form. Pre-majors are assigned to biology faculty advisors in their area of interest and may expect to be notified regularly via email regarding opportunities for general advising, course registration information, application deadlines, and scholarships.

Application to the Major

Students are eligible to apply to the Biology Major when they have completed BIOL 204, BIOL 205, CHEM 161/175, and CHEM 162/176 with grades of C- or higher. Application involves submitting a completed application form, including responding to prompts about the applicant’s experience, motivation, and goals. See the Biology Department’s website for more details, including information about application prompts, application deadlines, review timeline, and reapplication limits. The Biology Department’s website also has information specific to transfer students interested in applying for admission to the Biology Major, such as application eligibility and transfer course equivalencies.

Students are strongly encouraged to apply to the major at the beginning of the quarter in which they are enrolled in BIOL 206 and/or CHEM 163/225 to ensure timely progress towards graduation. Admission to the major following a successful application is contingent on completing both BIOL 206 and CHEM 163/225 with a grade of C- or higher.