Biology Major: Environmental Science Concentration - Bachelor of Science (BS)

(All colleges, excluding teacher certification programs)

39 credits (67 total credits including CHM, MTH, and GEO requirements)

Each student must have a minimum of three 400 level BIO credits (excluding BIO 450, BIO 479, BIO 489, BIO 491, BIO 495, and BIO 499) to fulfill requirements of the major.

Core
BIO 105General Biology4
BIO 203Organismal Biology4
BIO 306Genetics4
BIO 307Ecology3
BIO 315Cell Biology4
BIO 419Quantitative Methods in Ecology3
BIO 491Capstone Seminar in Biology1
Electives
Select 16 credits of elective from the following:16
BIO 302
Introductory Plant Identification
BIO 304
Plant Biology
BIO 321
Ornithology
BIO 337
Plant Physiology
BIO 341
Limnology
BIO 401
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
BIO 404
Plant Taxonomy
BIO 405
Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants
BIO 406
Parasitology
BIO 412
Mycology
BIO 414
Freshwater Invertebrate Zoology
BIO 422
Ichthyology
BIO 429
Evolution
BIO 441
Environmental Toxicology
BIO 442
Plant Microbe Interactions
BIO 444
Entomology
BIO 446
Animal Behavior
BIO 447
Standard Methods/Quality Assurance Water Analyses
BIO 456
Plant Ecology
BIO 458
Comparative Animal Physiology
BIO 464
Stream and Watershed Ecology
BIO 473
Marine Biology
BIO 476
Ecosystem Ecology
BIO 488
Mammalogy
MIC 230
Fundamentals of Microbiology
BIO 499
Independent Research (up to two credits may apply)
MIC 350
Bacterial Diversity
MIC 434
Aquatic Microbial Ecology
Chemistry requirement
Select three semesters of chemistry, including: 15-18
CHM 103
General Chemistry I
CHM 104
General Chemistry II
And one of the organic chemistry options:
Option A (5 credits) 1
CHM 300
& CHM 302
Fundamental Organic Chemistry
and Fundamental Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Option B (7 credits)
CHM 303
& CHM 304
& CHM 302
Organic Chemistry Theory I
and Organic Chemistry Theory II
and Fundamental Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Option C (8 credits)
CHM 303
& CHM 304
& CHM 305
Organic Chemistry Theory I
and Organic Chemistry Theory II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Math requirement
Select eight credits of mathematics including the following:8
STAT 145
Elementary Statistics
or MTH 265
 Mathematical Models in Biology
MTH 175
Applied Calculus
or MTH 207
 Calculus I
Environmental science requirement
Select a minimum of five credits of environmental science support courses, including one of the following options:5
Option A:
CHM 301
Analytical Chemistry
Option B: Select two of the following:
GEO 305
Geographic Information Systems and Science I
GEO 405
Geographic Information System and Science II
GEO 415
Remote Sensing of the Environment I
GEO 485
Geographic Information System and Science III
Option C: Select two of the following:
CS 120
Software Design I
CS 220
Software Design II
STAT 305
Statistical Methods
STAT 445
Correlation and Regression Analysis
STAT 446
Analysis of Variance and Design of Experiments
STAT 447
Nonparametric Statistics
STAT 448
Operations Research
Total Credits67
1

This is the recommended option for most biology majors, but students should consult with their biology advisor before enrolling.

All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR. 

College of Science and Health (CSH) Bachelor of Science core requirements

B.S. and B.A. students graduating from the College of Science and Health are required to take two natural laboratory science courses selected from the general education laboratory science category (GE 05) and/or from BIO 203, BIO 304, BIO 210, CHM 104, GEO 221, GEO 222, PHY 104 or PHY 204, and they either must take two mathematics courses or one math course and one computer science course from the math/logical systems category of the general education requirements (GE 02). One of the two science courses must be from a department outside of the student’s major department.

Note: Math courses can be pairs, i.e. 150 and 151; MTH/CS majors can use two science courses from same department.

For the Bachelor of Science degree, in addition to all other College of Science and Health core requirements, students from non-exempted programs1 must complete one of the following options. It is recommended that courses are selected in consultation with students’ academic advisor.

  1. Complete a second major; or

  2. Complete a minor outside the major; or

  3. Complete two certificates outside the major with at least 12 combined credits at the 300/400 level; or

  4. Complete an individualized option, consisting of 18 credits

    1. At least 12 credits must be earned at the 300/400 level outside the major department.

    2. The remaining six credits should come from

      1. 100 level or higher courses outside the major (General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements.); or

      2. 300/400 level courses inside major not being used to fulfill major requirements.

    3. Internship credits may not count toward the individualized option.

1

The list of exempted CSH programs is below.

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
  2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
  3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  5. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with less than 12 credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIO 105 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science)4ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written)3
CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral)3BIO 2034
MTH 207 or 175 (Gen Ed Math)5Gen Ed Self & Society3
FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar)3CHM 103 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science)5
 15 15
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIO 3073CHM 3004
CHM 1045CHM 3021
STAT 145 or MTH 265 (Gen Ed Lang/Logical Systems)4BIO 3064
Gen Ed Arts2-3Gen Ed Global Studies3
 Gen Ed Minority Cultures3
 14 15
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIO Elective from list3BIO 3154
Environmental Support Course (see list)3BIO Elective from list4
CSH Core (300/400 not BIO) or Minor3Environmental Support Course (see list)3
Gen Ed Humanistic Studies3Gen Ed Health & Well-Being3
University Elective 2Gen Ed Arts2-3
 14 16
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIO Elective from list3BIO 4911
BIO 4193BIO Elective (400 level from list)3
CSH Core (300/400 not BIO) or Minor3BIO Elective from list3
CSH Core or Minor13CSH Core (300/400 not BIO) or Minor3
University Elective3CSH Core or Minor13
 Gen Ed World History3
 15 16
Total Credits: 120
1

See CSH BS Core Requirements for information on completing the individualized option. 300/400 requirements for graduation may be impacted.