Biology
Faculty: Bonnie K. Baxter, Christy Clay, David Kimberly , David Parrott, Foad Yousef
The Biology program features integrated lab/lecture blocks that emphasize active project-based learning models, allowing our majors to engage in scientific investigations from the molecular level to entire ecosystems. While our core classes focus on disciplinary content and the skill sets of experimentation, the upper division course work allows students to engage in research methodology and concentrate on an area of interest. Our curriculum is enriched by significant laboratory and the field work. We strongly encourage interdisciplinary work and allow electives to be taken in other science and math departments. What’s more, students receive credit for undergraduate research, internships, and teaching assistantships. Faculty take advantage of Westminster’s unique location between the Wasatch Mountains and Great Salt Lake to leverage the natural world into an extension of our laboratories.
Students have the opportunity to engage with faculty mentors who are active scholars and are excited about teaching and learning science. Graduates of our program are skilled at critically assessing scientific problems, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating about their work. Our students are prepared for work or do graduate study in a variety fields such as biotechnology, medicine, public health, ecology, environmental science, law, education, science journalism, government, business, and policy. Our mission is to prepare students for a future in science and to create a lifelong enthusiasm for biology.
Program Goals
- To develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
- To teach students how to assimilate content knowledge with research skills.
- To enhance communication and information literacy skills.
- To promote leadership, collaboration and teamwork.
- To encourage reflective capacities.
Objectives
The Biology program offers a Bachelor of Science degree with a breadth of coursework and a focus on laboratory learning ranging from molecular to organismal topics. Undergraduate research is prominent in our program and is offered to students to learn first-hand the process of science. Presentation of research results at national meetings is encouraged. Students receive degree credit for research and internships. Recent biology graduates have been accepted to professional and graduate schools (at a rate of 50–100% each year), worked as laboratory researchers, educators, and biotechnologists.
1. Students will understand scientific methods and use them to address biological questions.
2. Students will critically and analytically evaluate biological data to formulate valid conclusions.
3. Students will effectively communicate biological concepts and data in both written and verbal format.
4. Students will demonstrate proficiency in general scientific skills and skills specific to an area of specialization within biology.
5. Students will develop an understanding of interdisciplinary connections between biology and other natural sciences.
6. Students will be able to see relationships between science and society.
Program Requirements
The program is designed to allow lateral shifting to other science majors if the student so desires. Students must maintain a minimum 2.3 GPA in biology courses required for the biology major. No more than half of the biology courses required for a major or minor are accepted by transfer. Please note that 300- and 400-level courses are designed for juniors and seniors.Students choosing a double major or minor within the science program may not apply electives to more than one major or minor. Only classes listed under “required” courses that coincide with both majors/minors may be applied to both.Students must meet the college-wide graduation requirements in addition to the Biology major:
- 124 total hours
- 30 upper division hours
- WCore or Honors requirements
Biology Major
Requirement Description | Credit Hours | Prerequisites |
I. World Language Requirement | 8 | |
Biology majors must complete eight credit hours in a single world language. | ||
II. Lower Division Core Courses | 16 | |
BIOL 202 Organisms and Evolution (4) | ||
BIOL 203 Introduction to Ecology (4) | pre or corequisite: DATA 220 | |
BIOL 204 Principles of Genetics (4) | CHEM 112 | |
BIOL 205 Introduction to Cell Biology (4) | CHEM 112 | |
III. Upper Division Courses | 2 | |
BIOL 420 Senior Seminar (2) OR WCSAM 400 Science Capstone (2) | ||
IV. Electives | 20 | |
Take 20 hours of BIOL upper division electives or other science upper division electives (from CHEM, DATA, ENVI, GEOL, NEURO, PHYS, or PUBH) with advisor approval. A limit of 2 hours for BIOL 387 and a limit of 4 hours each of BIOL 300, BIOL 430, and BIOL 440 is permitted for this elective category. | ||
V. Required Courses from Other Programs | 32 | |
CHEM 111 Principles of Chemistry I and Lab (4) | co-requisites: CHEM 111R recommended/MATH 144 required | |
CHEM 112 Principles of Chemistry II and Lab (4) | CHEM 111 | |
CHEM 303 Organic Chemistry I and Lab (4) | CHEM 112 | |
CHEM 304 Organic Chemistry II and Lab (4) | CHEM 303 | |
DATA 220 Introduction to Statistics (4) | ||
Take one of the following courses: | ||
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DATA 220 MATH 144 or or placement test |
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Students must take one first-level (I) and one second-level (II) Physics course: | ||
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MATH 144 MATH 144 Co-requisites: MATH 201 |
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AND | ||
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PHYS 151 or PHYS 211 PHYS 211 Co-requisites: MATH 202 |
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TOTAL HOURS FOR BIOLOGY MAJOR | 78 |
Recommended Plan of Study for Biology
Fall Semester or Spring Semester | |
Freshman Year | BIOL 202 BIOL 203 CHEM 111/112 DATA 220 (and prerequisites if necessary) WCore Courses |
Sophomore Year | BIOL 204 BIOL 205 DATA 250 Statistical Modeling or MATH 201 Calculus I (if not taken in the previous year) *CHEM 303/304 BIOL Biology elective WCore Courses |
Junior Year | BIOL Biology Electives (8–12) *PHYS 151/152 or PHYS 211/212 WCore Courses |
Senior Year | BIOL 420 or WCSAM 400 BIOL electives |
*Alternatively, a student could take the PHYS 151/152 (or 211/212) sequence his or her sophomore year and the CHEM 303/304 sequence his or her junior year.
Biology Minor
Requirement Description | Credit Hours | Prerequisites |
I. Required Courses | 16 | |
BIOL 202 Organisms and Evolution (4) | ||
BIOL 203 Introduction to Ecology (4) | pre or co-requisite: DATA 220 | |
BIOL 204 Principles of Genetics (4) | CHEM 112 | |
BIOL 205 Introduction to Cell Biology (4) | CHEM 112 | |
II. Electives | 8 | |
BIOL coursework numbered at the 200-, 300- or 400-level | ||
TOTAL HOURS FOR BIOLOGY MINOR | 24 |