Biology - Education Option

Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Biology must fulfill the University and the College of Arts and Sciences requirements for graduation as described in the WSU general catalog. Admission to the major requires a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the college level.

Honors students complete honors requirements in place of UCORE requirements. The math and science components of those requirements are fulfilled as part of the School requirements described below. Other University requirements include: 120 total credits, of which 40 must be 300-400-level credits; the writing portfolio; and two writing in the major courses (identified by [M] in the course listings). The College of Arts and Sciences requires two years of high school foreign language or at least two semesters of college-level foreign language. Bachelor of Science degree options in Biology and Zoology require a minimum of 18 semester credits of core BIOLOGY (BioCore) courses (BIOLOGY 106, 107, 301, one from BIOLOGY 370 [M] or 372 [M], and one from BIOLOGY 305, 395, 403, or 405). An additional 21 semester credits of biological sciences coursework selected in consultation with your biology advisor is required. The 21 semester credits must include 15 upper division credits, six of which must be BIOLOGY courses taken in residence at WSU. Coursework must include one additional BIOLOGY writing in the major course (identified by [M] in the course listings) or ENGLISH 402 [M], and one BIOLOGY Capstone course (identified by the [CAPS] in the course listings. A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 must be maintained in all College and School requirements. A maximum of 4 credits of coursework that are graded S, F may be used toward fulfilling School requirements or program options, and no other courses taken S or P can be applied toward fulfilling School requirements or program options. Students must complete an exit survey. Students may not double major or take a minor in any combination of Biology, Zoology, General Studies Biological Sciences, or Human Biology.


Students completing this degree will earn a B.S. in Biology. In order to obtain teaching credentials in the State of Washington, students must complete additional requirements. Completion of the Master in Teaching (MIT) program at WSU will meet state certification requirements (for details, please see https://education.wsu.edu/graduate/mit/). A 3.0 is the minimum GPA for admission to the MIT program at WSU. Students obtaining Biology Education Option would also be competitive for other post-baccalaureate teacher certification programs.

First Year
First Term	Credits
Arts [ARTS]	3
BIOLOGY 106 [BSCI]	4
CHEM 105 [PSCI]	4
HISTORY 105 [ROOT]	3
Second Term	Credits
BIOLOGY 107	4
CHEM 106	4
ENGLISH 101 [WRTG]	3
ENGR 120	2
Humanities [HUM]	3
Second Year
First Term	Credits
BioCore1	3 or 4
CHEM 345	4
Diversity [DIVR]	3
TCH LRN 301	3
Foreign Language or Electives2	0 - 4
Second Term	Credits
BioCore1	3 or 4
CHEM 370 or MBIOS 303	3 or 4
Communication [COMM] or Written Communication [WRTG]	3
MATH 140 [QUAN] or 171 [QUAN]	4
Foreign Language or Electives2	3 or 4
Complete Writing Portfolio
Third Year
First Term	Credits
BioCore1	4 or 3
Equity and Justice [EQJS]	3
PHYSICS 101 or 201	3
PHYSICS 111 or 211	1
Program Electives	3 or 4
Second Term	Credits
PHYSICS 102 or 202	3
PHYSICS 112 or 212	1
TCH LRN 465	3
Program Option Course3	3 or 4
Electives	6
Fourth Year
First Term	Credits
BIOLOGY/TCH LRN 430	3
STAT 212, 412, or PSYCH 311	3 or 4
TCH LRN 467 [M]	3
TCH LRN 470	3
Electives	4
Second Term	Credits
BIOLOGY Capstone [CAPS] [M]	3
BIOLOGY/TCH LRN 431	3
Program Option Course 3	3 or 4
PSYCH 105 [SSCI]	3
Electives	3
Complete School of Biological Sciences Exit Survey

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Footnotes

1	BioCore (10 credits required): BIOLOGY 301, one from BIOLOGY 370 [M] or 372 [M], and one from BIOLOGY 305, 395, 403, or 405.
2	Two years of high school foreign language or at least two semesters of college-level foreign language are required by the College of Arts and Sciences for graduation.
3	Program Option Requirements include one Biology Plant course (BIOLOGY 332[M], 401[CAPS], 409, or 420) and one Biology Animal course (BIOLOGY 322[M], 324, 423, 428, 432[M], or 438[M]. To obtain an additional general science endorsement students need to pass a general science exam (e.g., Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Earth and Space science). Students may consider taking one or more of the following courses to prepare them for general science endorsement exam: ASTRONOM 135, SOE 102, 210.