Both the BA and BS degrees in Environmental Biology are designed to meet the needs of students expressing an interest in environmental biology and preparing them to be competitive as applicants to graduate programs. This degree is built around a biology core emphasizing the principles of ecology and evolution with an orientation towards natural resources, conservation, and other environmental concerns.

Student Learning Outcomes

Environmental Biology majors at Washburn University, upon completion of the program will be able to:

• Describe or distinguish major biological principles in cell biology, genetics, organismal biology, ecology, and evolution.
• Demonstrate the complex interrelationships amongst ecological and evolutionary forces and how they influence organisms, populations, and community function.
• Explain the scientific process and be able to discriminate between different approaches to science.
• Identify, recognize, and recall the basic biology of at least one major taxonomic group.
• Design experiments and analyze and interpret basic scientific data.
• Explain scientific information in oral and written presentations in a clear and professional manner.

Degree Requirements

Organismal & Environmental Biology, BA

In addition to the requirements stated below, students must complete an additional 31-32 hours of General Education, all requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree, and any additional hours needed to reach the minimum 120 credit hours required for graduation.  Some of the courses below may also fulfill general education or other degree requirements.  Please see your advisor for more information.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Math Gateway Course
MA 116	College Algebra 2	3
Required Courses Inside Department
BI 192	General Cellular Biology	5
BI 194	General Organismal Biology	5
BI 203	Human Impact on the Environment	3
BI 310	Ecology	4
BI 314	Statistics for Biologists	3
BI 333	General Genetics	4
BI 340	Evolutionary Biology	3
BI 395	Research in Biology (Capstone Course)	1
BI 490	Advanced Biology Communication (Capstone Course)	3
Biology Electives 1		8
Subtotal		42
Required Courses Outside Department
CH 151 & CH 152	Fundamentals of Chemistry I and Fundamentals of Chemistry II	10
CH 340 & CH 342	Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I	5
Select one of the following physics sequences:		10
PS 261 & PS 262	College Physics I and College Physics II
PS 281 & PS 282	General Physics I and General Physics II
Subtotal		25
Total Hours		67

¹

With a minimum of 5 hours from the Organismal Biology Elective list, with at least 1 course from Field Electives Section.

²

If student has already completed a different college math course, please discuss with your advisor.

Degree Requirements

Organismal & Environmental Biology, BS

In addition to the requirements stated below, students must complete an additional 31-32 hours of General Education, all requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree, and any additional hours needed to reach the minimum 120 credit hours required for graduation.  Some of the courses below may also fulfill general education or other degree requirements.  Please see your advisor for more information.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Math Gateway Course
MA 116	College Algebra 2	3
Required Courses Inside Department
BI 192	General Cellular Biology	5
BI 194	General Organismal Biology	5
BI 203	Human Impact on the Environment	3
BI 310	Ecology	4
BI 314	Statistics for Biologists	3
BI 333	General Genetics	4
BI 340	Evolutionary Biology	3
BI 395	Research in Biology (Capstone Course)	1
BI 490	Advanced Biology Communication (Capstone Course)	3
Biology Electives 1		14
Subtotal		48
Required Courses Outside Department
CH 151 & CH 152	Fundamentals of Chemistry I and Fundamentals of Chemistry II	10
CH 340 & CH 342	Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I	5
MA 151	Calculus & Analytic Geometry I	5
Select one of the following physics sequences:		10
PS 261 & PS 262	College Physics I and College Physics II
PS 281 & PS 282	General Physics I and General Physics II
Subtotal		30
Total Hours		78

¹

With a minimum of 9 hours from the Organismal Biology Elective list, with at least 1 course from the Field Electives Section.

²

If student has already completed a different college math course, please discuss with your advisor.

Elective Supportive Organismal Courses for the BA/BS degree in Organismal & Environmental Biology:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
BI 301	General Microbiology	4
BI 303	Invertebrate Zoology	4
BI 305	Parasitology	4
BI 322	Advanced General Botany	4
BI 328	Plant Physiological Ecology	3
BI 330	Advanced Physiology	4
BI 380	Special Topics/Biology	1-3
BI 395	Research in Biology	1-3
BI 448	Zoo Internship	3
GG 300	Special Topics/Geography (Introduction to GIS)	3
Field Electives Section
BI 300	Field Biology	3
BI 302	Entomology	4
BI 311	Field Ecology	3
BI 312	Behavioral Ecology	4
BI 315	Vertebrate Zoology	4
BI 324	Systematic Botany	3
BI 342	Environmental Microbiology Laboratory	2