Biology - Honors Research Emphasis Requirements (BA/BS)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements - 40 units 1 | ||
| BIOLOGY 141 | INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I | 5 |
| BIOLOGY 142 | INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II | 5 |
| BIOLOGY 190 | BIOLOGY FORUM | 1 |
| BIOLOGY 251 | INTRODUCTION TO GENETICS | 4 |
| BIOLOGY 253 | INTRODUCTION TO CELL BIOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOLOGY 257 | INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOLOGY 254 | BIOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORY METHODS I | 2 |
| or BIOLOGY 258 | ECOLOGICAL FIELD METHODS | |
| Biology Thesis Requirements (2 semesters) | ||
| BIOLOGY 499 | BIOLOGY THESIS | 2 |
| BIOLOGY 499 | BIOLOGY THESIS | 3 |
| Biology Electives | ||
| Select additional units of BIOLOGY electives numbered above 250 except for BIOLOGY 303, BIOLOGY 498R and BIOLOGY 499, to total 40 units in the major | 12 | |
| Total Units | 40 | |
- 1
To graduate in this emphasis, students must have a 3.40 UW-W cumulative GPA and a 3.40 GPA within the major.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Unique & Writing Requirements | ||
| One of the following: | 4-7 | |
| COLLEGE ALGEBRA and TRIGONOMETRY | ||
| PRECALCULUS | ||
| CALCULUS AND ANALYTIC GEOMETRY I | ||
| CALCULUS AND ANALYTIC GEOMETRY II | ||
| BIOLOGY 200 | WRITING IN BIOLOGY | 3 |
| or PWP 371 | WRITING IN THE SCIENCES | |
| BIOLOGY 303 | BIOSTATISTICS | 3-4 |
| or PSYCH 215 | BASIC STATISTICAL METHODS | |
| CHEM 102 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | 5 |
| CHEM 104 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | 5 |
| Select 5 additional units of CHEM numbered above 200 | 5 | |
| Total Units | 25-29 | |
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| ENGLISH 101 | 3 | ENGLISH 102 | 3 |
| MATH 142 | 4 | MATH 151 | 3 |
| CHEM 102 | 5 | BIOLOGY 141 | 5 |
| CORE 130 | 3 | CHEM 104 | 5 |
| INTRAUNV 104 | 1 | PEGNRL 192 | 1 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOLOGY 142 | 5 | BIOLOGY 251 | 4 |
| Chemistry Elective | 3-5 | BIOLOGY 257 | 3 |
| COMM 110 | 3 | Chemistry Elective Or General Education Elective | 2-3 |
| CORE 140 or 120 | 3 | CORE 110 | 3 |
| BIOLOGY 190 | 1 | ||
| 14-16 | 13-14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOLOGY 253 | 3 | BIOLOGY 254 or 258 | 2 |
| Biology Elective | 3-4 | BIOLOGY 200 or PWP 371 | 3 |
| BIOLOGY 303 or PSYCH 215 | 3-4 | Biology Elective | 3-4 |
| Minor Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| U.S. Racial/Ethnic Diversity Course (DV) | 3 | General Education Elective | 3 |
| 15-17 | 14-15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| BIOLOGY 499 | 2-3 | BIOLOGY 499 | 2-3 |
| Biology Elective | 3-4 | Biology Elective (If Needed) | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| CORE 390 | 3 | Electives To Total 120 (If Needed) | 2-3 |
| 14-16 | 13-15 | ||
| Total Units: 116-126 | |||
The curriculum in the biology major is somewhat flexible in that there are some required sequences and it allows students to move through other coursework in many ways. This four-year plan illustrates one possible path a student could take to complete a degree in four years. This is not an official document and is not the only way that a biology degree can be completed in four years. Current students should refer to their individual degree audit for specific graduation requirements. Courses in bold indicate major-based coursework that is completed in the first year.
Notes: The math and English courses you will take during your first year will depend on exam scores (ACT or SATsub-scores, or UW System placement exam). This four-year plan reflects the math and English courses most common for students in this major. All students are encouraged to provide test scores prior to attending a Warhawks SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration). Opportunities: Joining a university-sponsored club and actively participating is strongly encouraged. Involvement in a club or activity will help you develop interpersonal skills, give you the opportunity to learn and practice leadership skills, and adds to your resume. Some clubs that may be of particular interest to students with a Biology major include: Active Minds, Gardening Club, GeoEnvi, Outdoor Adventure Club, Pre-Health Club, Pre-PA Club, Rare Afflictions Club, Students Allied for a Green Earth (SAGE), Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Club, and Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society.
Notes: To declare and earn the Biology Honors major, you must establish and maintain a minimum UW-Whitewater cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.4 and also a 3.4 GPA within the major requirements. By completing the requirements of the Biology Honors Research major, students complete the Bachelor of Science degree requirements. Students are encouraged to start thinking about selecting a minor in the second year. Common minors include: Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Public Health, and Psychology. While these minors are common, you can choose from over 100 options that include Criminology, Spanish, Political Science, and more. While students can choose any approved minor, students in the Honors Research emphasis of the Biology major often choose to complete the chemistry minor as 16 chemistry credits are completed for the unique major requirements.
Opportunities: Undergraduate research is highly recommended to prepare students for the thesis in the senior year. Completing a directed research project with a faculty mentor has many benefits: it develops a student’s critical thinking and writing abilities; signals to graduate school programs that a student is prepared for independent research of their own; and it can provide a student with financial support since many undergraduate research opportunities are paid.
Notes: The first semester of the thesis project involves completion of a literature review, research design, and collecting of data. The second semester will focus on preparing the data, writing the thesis, and culminates in a defense of the thesis to a faculty committee. Opportunities: LSINDP 399: Career Information in Letters and Sciences is a 1-credit course that focuses on: career and graduate school opportunities; identifying skills, strengths, and work values; creating effective job search materials; developing a networking strategy; and planning for a successful post-graduation transition. Planning for Graduation: Students are encouraged to apply for graduation one full semester prior to their intended graduation date. Information about commencement is on the Registrar’s Office website (http://www.uww.edu/registrar/graduation) and the application for graduation is available to students in the WINS Student Information System. All students must earn 120 credits to earn a bachelor’s degree and all requirements in this program can be completed in fewer than 120 credits. Most students have the opportunity to choose additional courses in the fourth year to expand skills, explore interests, or try something new.