Biology Program Requirements

Faculty

• Bonnie K. Baxter (Co-Chair)
• Christy Clay
• Jocelyn Cuthbert
• David Kimberly (Co-Chair)
• David Parrott

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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.
• To develop an understanding of the major concepts in the biological sciences.
• To explore relationships between science and society.

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.

• Students will understand scientific methods and use them to address biological questions.
• Students will critically and analytically evaluate biological data to formulate valid conclusions.
• Students will effectively communicate biological concepts and data in both written and verbal format.
• Students will demonstrate proficiency in general scientific skills and skills specific to an area of specialization within biology.
• Students will develop an understanding of interdisciplinary connections between biology and other natural sciences.
• 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 College requirements

Biology Major

Recommended Plan of Study for Biology

*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