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

(All colleges, excluding teacher certification programs)

39 credits (67-70 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 291Advancing Biological Science2
BIO 306Genetics4
BIO 307Ecology3
BIO 315Cell Biology4
or MIC 230 Fundamentals of Microbiology
BIO 419Quantitative Methods in Ecology3
Electives
Select 15 credits of elective from the following:15
BIO 302
Introductory Plant Identification
BIO 304
Plant Biology
BIO 308
Conservation Biology
BIO 320
Forest Pathology
BIO 321
Ornithology
BIO 337
Plant Physiology
BIO 341
Limnology
BIO 401
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
BIO 404
Plant Systematics and Evolution
BIO 405
Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants
BIO 406
Parasitology
BIO 412
Mycology
BIO 414
Freshwater Invertebrate Zoology
BIO 420
Applied Mycology
BIO 422
Ichthyology
BIO 429
Evolution
BIO 441
Aquatic 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 461
River Navigation and Sampling Techniques
BIO 464
Stream and Watershed Ecology
BIO 473
Marine Biology
BIO 476
Ecosystem Ecology
BIO 488
Mammalogy
BIO 499
Independent Research (up to two credits may apply)
MIC 230
Fundamentals of Microbiology
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
Conservation biology requirement
Select a minimum of five credits of conservation biology support courses, including one of the following options:5
Option A: Select two of the following:
CHM 301
Analytical Chemistry
CHM 312
Atmospheric Chemistry
CHM 412
Aquatic and Soil Chemistry
CHM 413
Environmental Chemistry Laboratory
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 & Health are required to take:

  • two MTH/STAT courses or one MTH/STAT course and one CS course from the General Education: Quantitative Reasoning Category (GEN ED 1004); and
  • two courses selected from the General Education: Experiential Science Category (GEN ED 1008) and/or from
    BIO 203, BIO 304, BIO 210, CHM 104, GEO 221, GEO 222, PHY 104 or PHY 204. One of the two courses must be from a department outside of the student’s major department.

Notes: Mathematics courses can be pairs, i.e. MTH 150 and MTH 151.

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 "Submit Intent to Graduate" 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 1008 Experiential Science)4BIO 2034
CST 110 (Gen Ed 1003 Spoken Literacy)3ENG 110 (Gen Ed 1002 Written Literacy)3
MTH 207 or 175 (Gen Ed 1004 Quantitative Reasoning)4CHM 103 (CSH Core - Gen Ed Experiential Science not BIO)5
FYS 100 (Gen Ed 1001 First-Year Seminar)3Gen Ed 1009 Social and Behavioral Studies3
 14 15
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIO 2912CHM 3004
BIO 3073CHM 3021
CHM 1045BIO 3064
STAT 145 or MTH 265 (CSH Core)4Gen Ed 1012 Planet That Sustains Us3
Gen Ed 1007 Arts and Aesthetics2Gen Ed 1005 Ethnic Diversity3
 16 15
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIO Elective from list3BIO 315 or MIC 2304
Environmental Support Course (see list)3BIO Elective from list4
CSH Core (300/400 not BIO) or Minor3Environmental Support Course (see list)3
Gen Ed 1010 Stories We Tell3Gen Ed 1006 Mind and Body3
University Elective 2Gen Ed 1007 Arts and Aesthetics2
 14 16
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIO 4193BIO Elective (400 level from list)3
BIO Elective from list3BIO Elective from list3
Gen Ed 1013 Cultures of Our World3Gen Ed 1011 Pasts That Define Us3
CSH Core (300/400 not BIO) or Minor3CSH Core (300/400 not BIO) or Minor3
CSH Core or Minor13CSH Core or Minor13
 15 15
Total Credits: 120
1

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