Biological Sciences

Undergraduate program requirements

Biomedical Sciences Major
Biology Major
Biology Minor
Biological Sciences Secondary Education Major
Biological Sciences Secondary Education Minor

Biomedical Sciences Major

A major in Biomedical Sciences consists of a minimum of thirty-four credits of course work relevant to the major. This course work includes two introductory courses, five intermediate level courses, and two advanced interest courses (one of which must be a capstone experience).

A minimum of 15 hours of BIOS coursework must be earned at WMU for a major. This is for students who have entered from Fall 2006 or later.

Introductory Courses

BIOS 1500 Molecular and Cellular Biology
BIOS 1510 Organismal Biology

Intermediate Level Courses

BIOS 2110 Human Anatomy
BIOS 2300 Cell Biology
BIOS 2500 Genetics
BIOS 3120 Microbiology
BIOS 3500 Human Physiology for Majors

Two Advanced Interest Courses from the Following:

(Minimum 6 hours...and at least
one must be a Captone Course, designated in BOLD)
BIOS 4270 Systematic Botany
BIOS 4300 Evolution
BIOS 4390 Animal Behavior
BIOS 4410 Invertebrate Zoology
BIOS 4420 Entomology
BIOS 4560 Tropical Biology
BIOS 4980 Readings in Biological Sciences
BIOS 4990 Independent Research in Biological Sciences
BIOS 5240 Microbial Genetics
BIOS 5250 Microbial Ecology
BIOS 5260 Molecular Biology Laboratory
BIOS 5265 Proteins as Biological Machines
BIOS 5270 Cancer Biology
BIOS 5310 Biology of Aging
BIOS 5340 Virology
BIOS 5360 Immunology
BIOS 5440 Global Change Ecology
BIOS 5445 Human Ecology
BIOS 5450 Chemical Ecology
BIOS 5455 Plant-Herbivore Interactions
BIOS 5460 Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution
BIOS 5470 Ornithology
BIOS 5490 Field Ecology
BIOS 5535 Freshwater Ecology
BIOS 5570 Water Pollution Biology
BIOS 5590 Neurobiology
BIOS 5593 Biological Basis of Learning & Memory
BIOS 5595 Sensory Systems
BIOS 5600 Toxicology
BIOS 5610 Pharmacology
BIOS 5700 Pathology
BIOS 5740 Developmental Biology
BIOS 5970 Topics in Biological Sciences

Cognate Requirements

CHEM 110 & 111 General Chemistry I with Lab
CHEM 112 & 113 General Chemistry II with Lab
CHEM 375 & 376 Organic Chemistry I with Lab
CHEM 377 & 378 Organic Chemistry II with Lab
CHEM 355 & 356 Introductory Biochemistry with Lab

MATH 122 Calculus I OR MATH 200 Calculus with Applications
STAT 366 Introduction to Statistics OR STAT 260 Elementary Statistics

PHYS 113 & 114 General Physics I with Lab
PHYS 115 & 116 General Physics II with Lab

Biology Major

A Major in Biology consists of a minimum of thirty-two credits of Biological Sciences courses as well as cognates in chemistry, physics and mathematics. This course work includes two introductory courses, four intermediate level courses, two advanced interest courses and a capstone experience.

A minimum of 15 hours of BIOS coursework must be earned at WMU for a major.

Introductory Course Requirements:

BIOS 1500 Molecular and Cellular Biology
BIOS 1510 Organismal Biology

Intermediate Level Courses

BIOS 2020 Botany OR BIOS 3120 Microbiology
BIOS 2500 Genetics
BIOS 3010 Ecology
BIOS 3190 Plant Physiology OR BIOS 3500 Human Physiology for Majors

Two Advanced Interest Courses from the Following (Minimum 6 hours)

BIOS 3120 Microbiology (if not already taken to fulfill a core requirement)
BIOS 4270 Systematic Botany
BIOS 4300 Evolution
BIOS 4390 Animal Behavior
BIOS 4410 Invertebrate Zoology
BIOS 4420 Entomology
BIOS 4560 Tropical Biology
BIOS 4980 Readings in Biological Sciences
BIOS 4990 Independent Research in Biological Sciences
BIOS 5240 Microbial Genetics
BIOS 5250 Microbial Ecology
BIOS 5260 Microbial Biology Lab
BIOS 5340 Virology
BIOS 5360 Immunology
BIOS 5470 Ornithology
BIOS 5490 Field Ecology
BIOS 5530 Limnology
BIOS 5570 Water Pollution Biology
BIOS 5600 Toxicology
BIOS 5740 Embryology
BIOS 5970 Topics in Biological Sciences

Capstone Experience

BIOS 5970 Senior Seminar OR BIOS 4990 Independent Research

Cognate Requirements

CHEM 1100 & 1110 General Chemistry I with Lab
CHEM 1120 & 1130 General Chemistry II with Lab
CHEM 3700 & 3710 Introduction to Organic Chemistry with Lab OR
CHEM 3750 & 3760 Organic Chemistry I with Lab AND
CHEM 3770 & 3780 Organic Chemistry II with Lab
CHEM 3550 & 3560 Introductory Biochemistry with Lab
MATH 1220 Calculus I OR MATH 2000 Calculus with Applications
STAT 3660 Introduction to Statistics OR STAT 2600 Elementary Statistics
PHYS 1130 & 1140 General Physics I with Lab
PHYS 1150 & 1160 General Physics II with Lab
GEOS 1300 Physical Geology is recommended for those who plan to pursue advanced degrees in biology, botany or zoology -- especially in the areas of ecology and field biology

Biology Minor

The Biological Sciences Minor consists of a minimum of twenty credits of biological science courses. Twelve of these credits must be from 200 or higher level courses. Cognate requirements are CHEM 110 & 111 or equivalent. At least 12 hours of BIOS coursework must be earned at WMU for a minor.

Minors in health-related fields MAY (but do not have to) take the following courses to fulfill requirements for a minor:

BIOS 1120 Introduction to Biomedical Sciences
BIOS 1050 Environmental Biology
BIOS 2110 Human Anatomy
BIOS 2400 Human Physiology
BIOS 2320 Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
One advanced elective (i.e., BIOS 5310 Biology of Aging)

Minors interested in other areas of biology are advised to take BIOS 1500 Molecular and Cellular Biology and BIOS 1510 Organismal Biology in order to have a greater selection of upper level courses. If you have any questions or concerns about what courses to take for a minor in Biology, please contact Tammi Roberts the UG Advisor by e-mail at tammi.roberts@wmich.edu.