Biology Major: Environmental Science Concentration - Bachelor of Arts (BA)
(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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| BIO 105 | General Biology | 4 |
| BIO 203 | Organismal Biology | 4 |
| BIO 306 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIO 307 | Ecology | 3 |
| BIO 315 | Cell Biology | 4 |
| BIO 419 | Quantitative Methods in Ecology | 3 |
| BIO 491 | Capstone Seminar in Biology | 1 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 16 credits of elective from the following: | 16 | |
| Introductory Plant Identification | ||
| Plant Biology | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Limnology | ||
| Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | ||
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants | ||
| Parasitology | ||
| Mycology | ||
| Freshwater Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Ichthyology | ||
| Evolution | ||
| Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Plant Microbe Interactions | ||
| Entomology | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Standard Methods/Quality Assurance Water Analyses | ||
| Plant Ecology | ||
| Comparative Animal Physiology | ||
| Stream and Watershed Ecology | ||
| Marine Biology | ||
| Ecosystem Ecology | ||
| Mammalogy | ||
| Fundamentals of Microbiology | ||
| Independent Research (up to two credits may apply) | ||
| Bacterial Diversity | ||
| Aquatic Microbial Ecology | ||
| Chemistry requirement | ||
| Select three semesters of chemistry, including: | 15-18 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
| General Chemistry II | ||
And one of the organic chemistry options: | ||
Option A (5 credits) 1 | ||
| Fundamental Organic Chemistry and Fundamental Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
Option B (7 credits) | ||
| Organic Chemistry Theory I and Organic Chemistry Theory II and Fundamental Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
Option C (8 credits) | ||
| Organic Chemistry Theory I and Organic Chemistry Theory II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Math requirement | ||
| Select eight credits of mathematics including the following: | 8 | |
| Elementary Statistics | ||
or MTH 265 | Mathematical Models in Biology | |
| 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: | ||
| Analytical Chemistry | ||
Option B: Select two of the following: | ||
| Geographic Information Systems and Science I | ||
| Geographic Information System and Science II | ||
| Remote Sensing of the Environment I | ||
| Geographic Information System and Science III | ||
Option C: Select two of the following: | ||
| Software Design I | ||
| Software Design II | ||
| Statistical Methods | ||
| Correlation and Regression Analysis | ||
| Analysis of Variance and Design of Experiments | ||
| Nonparametric Statistics | ||
| Operations Research | ||
| Total Credits | 67 | |
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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 Arts 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 210, BIO 304, 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 Arts degree, students must complete a major from the college and proficiency in a world language at the 202 level or demonstrate English language proficiency for non-native speakers of English. Contact the CSH Dean's Office for eligibility and regulations.
Students must also complete one of the following options. It is recommended that courses are selected in consultation with your advisor.
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Complete a minor in the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities/School of Visual and Performing Arts; or
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Complete two certificates in the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities/School of Visual and Performing Arts with at least 12 combined credits at the 300/400 level; or
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Complete an individualized option, consisting of 15 credits.
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These courses must be from the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities/School of Visual and Performing Arts.
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At least 9 credits must be earned at the 300/400 level.
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General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements.
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Internship credits may not count toward the individualized option.
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Baccalaureate degree requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:
- Fulfill the general education requirements.
- Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
- Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
- Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
- 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.
- Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
- A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
- 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.
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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.
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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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIO 105 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science) | 4 | CHM 103 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science) | 5 |
| CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral) | 3 | Gen Ed Self & Society | 3 |
| MTH 207 or 175 (Gen Ed Math) | 5 | BIO 203 | 4 |
| FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar) | 3 | ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| STAT 145 or MTH 265 (Gen Ed Lang/Logical Systems) | 4 | CHM 300 | 4 |
| BIO 307 | 3 | CHM 302 | 1 |
| CHM 104 | 5 | BIO 306 | 4 |
| Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 | 202-Level Language (CSH BA Core) | 4 |
| Gen Ed Minority Cultures | 3 | ||
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIO Elective from list | 3 | BIO 315 | 4 |
| Environmental Support Course (see list) | 3 | BIO Elective from list | 4 |
| CSH Core (300/400 CASSH elec) or CASSH Minor | 3 | Gen Ed Health & Well-Being | 3 |
| Gen Ed Humanistic Studies | 3 | Gen Ed Global Studies | 3 |
| Gen Ed World History | 3 | Environmental Support Course (see list) | 3 |
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIO Elective from list | 3 | BIO 491 | 1 |
| BIO 419 | 3 | BIO Elective (400 level from list) | 3 |
| CSH Core (300/400 CASSH elec) or CASSH Minor | 3 | BIO Elective from list | 3 |
| CSH Core or CASSH Minor1 | 3 | CSH Core (300/400 CASSH elec) or CASSH Minor | 3 |
| University Elective | 1 | CSH Core or CASSH Minor1 | 3 |
| Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 | ||
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
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See CSH BA Core Requirements for information on completing the individualized option. 300/400 requirements for graduation may be impacted.