2016-2017 Academic Catalog 
    
    Nov 25, 2024  
2016-2017 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology, BS


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The biological sciences are undergoing an extraordinary revolution, and the plans of study are formulated to give students a broad basis for comprehending the diverse nature of this field. Biology builds upon this knowledge and attempts to understand the complex systems that ultimately give rise to biodiversity. Our curriculum is designed so that this basic biological knowledge can readily be applied to critical practical problems in health and medicine, agriculture and the management of other renewable resources, and the nature of populations and their control.

The amount of information that is currently being discovered in the biological world is daunting, and we recognize that some students may want to focus within an area of specialization. Students begin our curriculum with a four-semester biology core. These courses provide a common knowledge base for all biology majors. The sequence begins with an overview of evolutionary, environmental, and organismal concepts, and then proceeds to examine relationships between development, structure, and function as adaptational mechanisms. The third and fourth semesters are concerned with cellular organization and function followed by genetic and molecular principles so important to modern biology.

Degree Requirements


PNW General Education Core (30 Credits Minimum)


Speech Communication (3 Credits)


Natural Sciences (4 Credits)


Humanities (3 Credits)


Select from the Humanities Core list

Social Sciences (3 Credits)


Select from the Social Sciences Core list

Additional Credits (4 Credits)


Other Required Courses (52-54 Credits)


Supplemental Core Electives (6 Credits)


 (2) Supplemental Core Electives.

Biology Required Electives (8 Credits)


Choose two of the following three categories, and then choose a course from each of the chosen categories. The course not chosen in the three categories can be used to meet the General Biology Concentration Elective requirement.

Biology Electives (20 Credits)


(5) 30000 level or above biology courses are typically used to fulfill this requirement. If 20000 level courses are taken students must make sure theystill meet the requirement of a minimum of 32 credits of 30000 level courses needed to graduate.

Free Electives (18-20 Credits)


Any (6) courses from the PNW curriculum are acceptable but students must complete at least 32 hours of college credit at the 30000 or higher level in order to graduate. Additional Biology credits can also fulfill this requirement and provide students with a more extensive knowledge base in their field which may be advantageous when seeking employment or pursuing further education.

Total 120 Credits Required


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