Work Based Experience Requirement for Biology Majors

Incoming freshmen biology majors are required to complete a Work Based Experience (WBE) as part of their degree requirements (transfer students are exempt). WBE provides hands-on, real-world experience through work-based learning in one of three focus areas: biological research, healthcare-related practice, or education-related engagement. Students will work under the guidance of faculty mentors and site supervisors to apply classroom knowledge to professional settings, build career-ready skills, and reflect on the integration of theory and practice. The WBE is designed to provide flexibility, allowing students to tailor their experience to their academic and career goals for meaningful professional development. It is suggested that students complete the WBE during the summer prior to their senior year, but may be completed earlier. The Career and Professional Development Office and School of Health and Natural Sciences faculty liaison will assist students in finding WBE sites.

Students can fulfill the WBE requirement through one of the following modalities

• Non-credit bearing experience, minimum 45 hours
• Current or prior work experience, minimum 45 hours
• BIOL 380 Internship in Biology, earn 3 credits towards your major elective requirements, 90 hour minimum

WBEs must fall within the areas of biological research, healthcare and related practice, or education engagement. Prior approval is required for an experience to qualify as a WBE and reflective assignments are required during and/or upon completion of the WBE.

Required Courses

• BIOL 105 -  Pathways, Perspectives, and Ethics in Science **

• (waived for transfer students entering with at least 30 credits)

• BIOL 160 -  General Biology I Lecture *
• BIOL 160A -  General Biology I Lab
• BIOL 161 -  General Biology II Lecture **
• BIOL 161A -  General Biology II Lab **
• CHEM 160 -  General Chemistry I Lecture **
• CHEM 160A -  General Chemistry I Lab **
• CHEM 161 -  General Chem II Lecture **
• CHEM 161A -  General Chem II Lab **
• MATH 201 -  Precalculus ***

Required Courses Continued

• CHEM 260 -  Organic Chem I Lecture
• CHEM 260A -  Organic Chem I Lab
• PHYS 160 -  Physics for Life Science I
• BIOL 223 -  Intro to Science Teaching or EDUC 220 -  Plan for Instrctn thru Inquiry   
• BIOL 226 -  Elements of Biochemistry or BIOL 227 -  Principles of Evolution  or BIOL 230 -  Animal Behavior   
• BIOL 244 -  Ecology
• BIOL 275 -  Cell Biology
• BIOL 355 -  Molecular Biol of the Cell
• BIOL 360 -  Genetics
• BIOL 370 -  Research in Biology I
• BIOL 455 -  Capstone Bilogy Education or BIOL 460 -  Research Capstone in Bio   

One of the Following Major Electives

• BIOL 252 -  Plant Biology
• BIOL 265 -  Microbiology Lecture
• BIOL 265A -  Microbiology Lab
• BIOL 280 -  Histology
• BIOL 295 -  Special Topics Biology
• BIOL 309 -  Human Physiology
• BIOL 310 -  Immunology
• BIOL 317 -  Principles of Neuroscience
• BIOL 366 -  Developmental Biology
• BIOL 380 -  Co-op Biology I
• BIOL 397 -  Independent Study Biol
• BIOL 424 -  Neurobiology
• BIOL 430 -  Seminar Current Topics Biol
• BIOL 440 -  Adv Research Neurodegeneration
• BIOL 441 -  Adv Research Molecular Genetics
• CHEM 261 -  Organic Chem II Lecture
• CHEM 261A -  Organic Chem II Lab
• CHEM 295 -  Special Topics In Chemistry
• CHEM 354 -  Biochemistry
• CHEM 397 -  Independent Study Chemistry

Graduate Education Courses

Note: The list of courses below are for students who apply to and are accepted into the BS/MS 4 + 1 Science Secondary Education Program. These courses can be started the second semester of junior year. For students accepted into the 4 + 1 program, the courses below can be counted towards both undergraduate Open Elective credits and Graduation Education courses.

See Graduate Catalog for course descriptions: 

• Education 500- Educational Perspectives from Diverse Perspectives
• Education 502- Foundations in Education for Students with Disabilities
• Education 505- Teaching English as a Second Language
• Education 507- Approaches to Literacy Instruction in Early Childhood through Adolescence
• Education 517- Educational Psychology and Adolescent Development

Note(s)

* Fulfills 3 credits of General Education Scientific Perspectives credits. 

** Fulfills 15 credits of General Education Liberal Arts electives.

***Fulfills 3 credits of General Education Mathematics credits.

Note: students who do not meet the requirements to directly enter MATH 201  must first complete MATH 116 . 

• To complete major concentration, corequisite lab courses must be taken.

There is a 15-credit residency requirement in the major concentration of biology that must be completed with courses numbered BIOL 223 and above.

Additional Program Information

The Bachelor of Science degree in Biology provides students with a comprehensive foundation in the biological sciences and other life sciences. Students in the biology major achieve competencies in the life sciences through active learning modules designed to deepen critical thinking skills and strengthen quantitative reasoning. Through inquiry-based laboratory projects and faculty-student authentic research collaborations in areas such as neuroscience, cell and molecular biology, and microbiology, students will put classroom theory to practice by engaging in key aspects of the scientific process.

The Biology Education Track includes introductory science teaching courses in addition to core science courses. This track prepares students for graduate training in Secondary Science Education or for careers in science community outreach or science education in informal education centers such as zoos, aquaria, or nature centers. Students who choose this track may wish to apply to the accelerated 4+1 BS/MS degree in Secondary Science Education during their junior year. Students who plan to apply for the 4+1 BS/MS degree Secondary Science education program should plan to use 15 credits of Open Electives toward Graduate Secondary Education courses, as listed below. 

Progression Criteria

Students enrolling in natural science courses must earn at least a letter grade of C in all prerequisite courses. Students in the biology major may not repeat a course required by the major more than twice.

At the completion of the Biology concentration, students are expected to:

• Synthesize and apply core scientific concepts to demonstrate a broad and in-depth knowledge of biology
• Critically evaluate and interpret scientific information from a variety of sources
• Effectively communicate scientific concepts through oral and written modes
• Apply the scientific method to formulate hypotheses, design and conduct experiments, and interpret experimental results
• Exhibit proficiency in laboratory techniques in the biological sciences, troubleshoot experiments, and demonstrate safe laboratory practices
• Employ quantitative reasoning to address biology questions and critically evaluate experimental findings and scientific information
• Recognize the ethical dimensions of science and evaluate the implications of unethical scientific conduct
• Critically examine basic, applied and societal problems in the biological sciences and propose problem solving strategies
• Work as effective team members on collaborative projects

Additionally, students in the Biology Education track are expected to:

• Analyze teaching and learning with respect to best practices in science education
• Design and conduct an action research project within the context of fieldwork experience
• Critically examine action research data and propose action plan