Biological Sciences, BS

Program Description:

The Department of Biological Sciences offers the following degree programs: Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Public Health, and minors in Biology and Public Health. Students can also focus their studies in health professions (e.g., medicine, dentistry, optometry). Students plan their individual programs of study with the help of departmental advisors.

The teaching and research programs of the department are conducted in modern, well-equipped classrooms and laboratories. Our curriculum fosters critical thinking and scientific reasoning, and many courses, including cell culture, biostatistics, cell and molecular laboratory, and others, build particular skills. A 200-acre biology preserve on campus, and nearby parks and preserves such as the Beavercreek Wetlands, provide excellent opportunities for terrestrial and aquatic field studies, as do field-based courses like ornithology and Amazon ecology. Many undergraduate students include faculty-guided, independent research projects in their academic programs.

Biological Sciences

The Bachelor of Science curriculum offers a broad, integrated, and in-depth approach to the life sciences. Departmental requirements consist of a balanced core of courses selected from several subject areas, combined with elective courses from the Department of Biological Sciences and other life science departments such as Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology, and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.

Within this degree, several options are available to students. Programs of study can accommodate students with such differing interests and objectives as graduate work in molecular biology, laboratory work in microbiology, or field work in ecology. Programs also satisfy the curricular requirements for educational licensure and admission to professional schools in health sciences, including human and veterinary medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant, dentistry and others.

Biological Sciences Honors Program

An honors program allows qualified students to carry out sustained independent projects under the guidance of faculty sponsors. Students who have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.4 during the preceding two semesters may apply to the Department of Biological Sciences to pursue an honors program. Application for admission to the program should be made during the student's junior year. Students interested in the honors program should contact the departmental office.

For additional information:

Program Requirements:

Note: For graduation credit, all CoSM courses require a grade of C or better.

I. Wright State Core: 43 Hours

Element 1: Communication: 6 Hours

Element 2: Mathematics: 4 Hours

Required

MTH 2240 - Applied Calculus Credit Hour(s): 4 or
MTH 2300 - Calculus I Credit Hour(s): 4

Element 3: Global Traditions: 6 Hours

Element 4: Arts and Humanities: 3 Hours

Element 5: Social Sciences: 6 Hours

Element 6: Natural Sciences: 8 Hours

Required

BIO 1120 - Cells and Genes Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 1150 - Organisms and Ecosystems Credit Hour(s): 4

Additional Core Courses: 10 Hours

Required

CHM 1210 - General Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1210L - General Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II Credit Hour(s): 2

II. Departmental Core Requirements: 18 Hours

BIO 2100 - Orientation Seminar in Biological Sciences Credit Hour(s): 1
BIO 2110 - Principles of Molecular and Classical Genetics Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 2120 - Cell Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 2140 - Introduction to Cell Biology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2.5
BIO 2310 - Evolution and Ecology Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 3140 - Molecular Biology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 3.5

Senior Capstone Experience

Select one from:

BIO 4000 - Senior Capstone Credit Hour(s): 1 or
BIO 4020 - Current Literature in Biology Credit Hour(s): 3 or
BIO 4920 - Senior Seminar Credit Hour(s): 1 or
BIO 3920 - Departmental Honors Seminar Credit Hour(s): 1 (for Honors)

III. Departmental Requirements and Electives: 30 Hours

Select 30 credits from approved 3000- and 4000- level courses. Among those selected:

At least one course must include a lab component.
At least 20 credits must have a BIO or M&I prefix. (Up to 5 credit hours of Independent Study can be used. Independent Study is to be arranged by the student and the professor and can include BIO 4880 - Indpendent Reading, BIO 4900 - Internship, BIO 4990 - Research, BIO 4950 - Honors Research. Up to 8 hours of Honors Research can be used. Up to 3 hours of BIO 3990 - Undergrad Teaching Assistant can be used. 3.0 required for BIO 3990.)
At most 10 credits may have a prefix of ANT, BMB, EES, PHR, CHM, MTH, NCBP, STT, PHY, PSY.

IV. Related Course Requirements: 24 Hours

CHM 2110 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2110L - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 2120 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2120L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2
PHY 1110 - Principles of Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1110L - Principles of Physics Lab I Credit Hour(s): 1
PHY 1120 - Principles of Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1120L - Principles of Physics Lab II Credit Hour(s): 1
STT 1600 - Statistical Concepts Credit Hour(s): 4 or
STT 2640 - Elementary Statistics Credit Hour(s): 4

V. General Electives: 5 Hours

Total: 120 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.