Requirements for the Biology Major (BA: 57 semester hours; BS: 58 semester hours)

Bachelor of Arts degree

40 semester hours in Biology, 5 semester hours in Chemistry, and 12 additional semester hours chosen from a set of structured electives, including courses outside of Biology

Core Courses (25 semester hours)

Required of all majors

  • BIOL 120 Introduction to Biological Inquiry (4)
  • BIOL 231 Biological Concepts I (4)
  • BIOL 235 Experimental Methods in Biology (2)
  • BIOL 241 Biological Concepts II (4)
  • BIOL 245W Biological Inquiry (4)
  • BIOL 298 Introductory Biology Colloquium (2)
  • CHEM 115 General Chemistry I (4)
  • CHEM 115Y General Chemistry Lab (1)

Elective Courses (24 semester hours)

Twelve semester hours in Biology at the 300 level (12)

  • Any 300-level BIOL courses

Twelve additional elective semester hours (12)

These may include:

  • IDS 240 Science Communication and Outreach (2)
  • Any courses with the prefixes BIOL, CHEM, CS, DATA, ENVS, EXHS, MATH, PHEAL, PHYS, or PSYC
  • Any courses satisfying the Power, Difference, and Equity requirement in the General Education curriculum

Capstone (8 semester hours)

One research course from the following (6)

Biology Colloquium (2)

Bachelor of Science degree

40 semester hours in Biology, 10 semester hours in Chemistry, and 8 additional semester hours chosen from a set of structured electives, including courses outside of Biology

Core Courses (30 semester hours)

Required of all majors

  • BIOL 120 Introduction to Biological Inquiry (4)
  • BIOL 231 Biological Concepts I (4)
  • BIOL 235 Experimental Methods in Biology (2)
  • BIOL 241 Biological Concepts II (4)
  • BIOL 245W Biological Inquiry (4)
  • BIOL 298 Introductory Biology Colloquium (2)
  • CHEM 115 General Chemistry I (4)
  • CHEM 115Y General Chemistry I Lab (1)
  • CHEM 116 General Chemistry II (4)
  • CHEM 116Y General Chemistry II Lab (1)

Elective Courses (20 semester hours)

Twelve semester hours in Biology at the 300-level (12)

  • Any 300-level BIOL courses

Eight additional elective semester hours (8)

These must be chosen from the same discipline:

  • Any courses with the prefixes  BIOL, CHEM, CS, DATA, ENVS, EXHS, MATH, PHEAL, PHYS, or PSYC

Capstone (8 semester hours)

One research course from the following (6)

Biology Colloquium (2)

Note

Those students planning to apply for admission to graduate or professional schools in science are strongly urged to complete the following courses:

  • CHEM 225, 226 Organic Chemistry I, II (8 total semester hours)
  • CHEM 351 Biochemistry (4)
  • PHYS 221, 222 Introductory Physics I, II (8 total semester hours)

Requirements for the Biology Minor (20 semester hours)

  • Twenty (20) semester hours in Biology (any 20 semester hours in BIOL)
Willamette University

Biology Department

Address
900 State Street
Salem Oregon 97301 U.S.A.
Phone
503-370-6013
503-375-5425 fax

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