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Dr. Theodora Pinou, Chair pinout@wcsu.edu Science Building 243, Midtown campus (203) 837-8569
Eliamar Gonzalez, Department Secretary gonzaleze@wcsu.edu Science Building 220, Midtown campus (203) 837-8791
Faculty
Overview
The programs in the Department of Biology provide students with the background required to succeed in a wide variety of fields such as cell and molecular biology, medicine, environmental science and education. A core of science courses provides a solid foundation in biology while electives allow students to pursue their special interests. All biology majors conduct research under the supervision of a faculty mentor.
Mission
The programs in the Department of Biology provide students from diverse backgrounds with the conceptual and technical knowledge for careers in organismal, cell, and molecular biology, environmental science, and teaching, and prepare them for graduate programs and careers in the health sciences. Electives at Western allow students to pursue special interests, and all biology majors conduct research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. The Department also provides service courses to support the education of students in other majors.
Objectives
To accomplish this mission, the Department of Biology
Learning Outcomes
By the completion of their BA degree in Biology:
Degree Programs in Biology
Bachelor of Arts in Biology Options: Bioscience Ecological Sciences Professional
Bachelor of Science in Biology Secondary Education: Biology
Minor Program Biology
Bachelor of Arts in Biology (B.A.)
BA Biology: Bioscience Option
Description: This option is for students who are looking for a broad biology education and workforce training with less emphasis on physical science.
Degree Requirements
All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH) that include major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.
Required Courses in the Major: 51-52 (SH).
General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad2324/academic-programs-degrees/
Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the breadth requirement. Where applicable, cognates are indicated in the list of courses required in the major.
Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours. Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.
Sample Four Year Plan: BA Biology: Bioscience Option Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
*All Bachelor of Arts degrees at WCSU require that students complete a language at or above the elementary II level. Students who have completed three years of a foreign language at a minimum of C average in high school have met this requirement. However, they must still complete at least one Intercultural Competency course.
**BIO Electives vary in number of SH earned. Remember that your total must be 120 to complete your degree.
BA Biology: Ecological Sciences
Description: This option is for students who are interested in ecology and environmental biology and who wish to either work or attend graduate school in that field.
Required Courses in the Major: 62-63 (SH).
Sample Four Year Plan: BA Biology: Ecological Sciences Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
*Students who have not completed three years of a foreign language at a C average in high school are required to complete two semesters of a foreign language requirement. All others must complete the Intercultural Competency.
BA Biology: Professional Option
Description: This option is for Pre-health students who are planning to continue their education in medical, dental, veterinary schools, or graduate school. It also will prepare students for entry-level positions requiring more physical science.
Required Courses in the Major: 62-63 Semester Hours.
Sample Four Year Plan: BA Biology: Professional Option Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education – Biology (B.S.)
Description: This degree provides a biology/education curriculum that imparts a broad base of knowledge about biological processes, principles, and research, so that students have the foundational knowledge they need to educate others.
Degree Requirements All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH) that include major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.
Sample Four Year Plan: BS Secondary Ed: Biology Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
*The BS Secondary Ed: Biology requires that students complete a language at or above the elementary II level. Students who have completed three years of a foreign language at a minimum of a C average in high school have met this requirement. However, they must still complete at least one Intercultural Competency course.
See the Department of Education and Educational Psychology within the School of Professional Studies. *Note: The Secondary Education – Biology (B. S.) Option is the same suggested BIO sequence as the Professional option, except there are NO Biology electives.
Biology Electives
Any Biology course 200-level or above will count in this category. Biochemistry (CHE 421, 422, 431) is acceptable in this this category.
Math/Science Electives
For all three options (Professional, Ecological Sciences, Bioscience), the following courses are approved to count as Science/Math electives (if they are not already required by the option): All BIO courses level 200 or above; All CHE courses level 200 or above; MAT 133, 170, 171, 181, 182; PHY 110, 111, 120, 121; AST 150; MTR 150; ES 110; CS 140, 143.
Course Restrictions For a complete list of prerequisites, corequisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.
Minor in Biology
Please see your advisor to review all program requirements.
Required Courses (8 SH): BIO 103 General Biology I BIO 104 General Biology II OR BIO 110 The Animal World BIO 111 General Botany
Six to Eight credits (6-8 SH) of approved Biology courses at or above the 200-level
Additional biology courses to total at least 18 semester hours.
*BIO 100 Concepts of Biology will not count towards the minor; BIO 105, 106 Anatomy & Physiology I & II will count if both courses are taken. Students electing to minor in Biology should consult with the department chairperson for course selection. (A minimum of one-half of all semester hours in the minor must be taken at Western. Students must attain a minimum GPA of 2.00 for the courses taken at Western.)
