The Bachelor of Science degree in Biology ensures that graduates have fluency, understanding, and skill in the basic principles and practices of life science. As part of their course work, Biology students in the laboratory and out in the field work with a variety of living systems ranging from bacteria to humans and from single cells to coral reefs. Through these experiences, students expand their critical thinking skills and their appreciation for the complexity and majesty of the living world.
Many of the students graduating with a B.S. degree in Biology seek admission into professional (e.g. medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary) and graduate school. The Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a Secondary Education Track is designed to fulfill the guidelines of the Kentucky Standards for the preparation-certification of Professional School Personnel, provided that students seeking certification complete the core options for pre-service teachers. Kentucky Wesleyan College also offers a separate Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology and in the Health Sciences.
All Biology majors are encouraged to complete an independent laboratory, field, or library research project. With permission, students can participate in a summer research program or carry out directed student research with a faculty member beginning spring of their freshmen year. Offerings include a Bachelor of Science degree and a minor in Biology.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate content knowledge, including the structure and function of plants and animals, energy transfer through biological systems, information transfer between cells and generations, structure-function relationships, and hierarchical organization of biological systems.
- Students will demonstrate an ability to utilize appropriate scientific instrumentation and use that instrumentation to form a hypothesis, design an experiment, and interpret the results.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to critically analyze an article from the scientific literature.
- Students will effectively communicate scientific knowledge in written and/or/ oral formats.
Bachelor of Science Degree
72-75 Semester Credit Hours
Core Requirements
- BIO 113 – Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics (3)
- BIO 114 – Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics Laboratory (1)
- BIO 123 – Introduction to Organismal Biology and Ecology (3)
- BIO 124 – Introduction to Organismal Biology and Ecology Laboratory (1)
- BIO 303 – Genetics (4)
- BIO 313 – Microbiology (4)
- BIO 323 – Cellular/Molecular Biology (4)
- BIO 404 – Senior Seminar (1)
- BIO 414 – Ecology (4)
- IDS 324 – Junior Seminar (2)
Must take three (3) additional 3-4 hour upper-level (300-400) courses from BIO/ZOO. Students may use one 3 credit hour experience of either BIO 401 (Independent Study), BIO 401 (Directed Student Research), or BIO 405 (Biological Internship) to fulfill one of these three courses. Students may also use two semesters of Human Anatomy and Physiology (BIO 231 and 232 AND BIO 241 and 242) to fulfill one of these three courses.
Supporting Requirements
- CHEM 121 – General Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
- CHEM 122 – General Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
- CHEM 131 – General Chemistry I (3)
- CHEM 132 – General Chemistry II (3)
- CHEM 321 – Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
- CHEM 322 – Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
- CHEM 331 – Organic Chemistry I (3)
- CHEM 332 – Organic Chemistry II (3)
- MATH 104 – Probability and Statistics (4)
- MATH 121 – Calculus I (4)
Must take either PHYS 111/112 and 121/122 or PHYS 211/212 and 221/222.
- PHYS 111/PHYS 112 Introductory General Physics I and Introductory General Physics I Laboratory (4)
AND PHYS 121/PHYS 122 Introductory General Physics II and Introductory General Physics II Laboratory (4)
OR
- PHYS 211/PHYS 212: General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory (4)
AND PHYS 221/PHYS 222: General Physics II and General Physics II Laboratory (4)
Sample Four-Year Plan for B.S. in Biology
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hrs. | Spring Semester | Hrs. |
| BIO 113/114 | 4 | BIO 123/124 | 4 |
| CHEM 121/131 | 4 | CHEM 122/132 | 4 |
| ENGL 111 | 3 | ENGL 112 | 3 |
| KW 101 | 0 | MATH 104 | 4 |
| General Education Course-REL | 3 | Semester Hours | 15 |
| CL 101 | 1 | ||
| Semester Hours | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Hrs. | Spring Semester | Hrs. |
| BIO 303 | 4 | BIO 323 | 4 |
| CHEM 321/331 | 4 | CHEM 322/CHEM 332 | 4 |
| General Education Course-Literature | 3 | EXSC 101 | 3 |
| General Education Course-HIST | 3 | MATH 121 | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 14 | Semester Hours | 15 |
| Third Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Hrs. | Spring Semester | Hrs. |
| BIO 313 | 4 | Upper-level BIO Elective | 4 |
| Elective (upper-level BIO-4 hours) | 4 | General Education Course- Social Sci. II | 3 |
| IDS 324 | 2 | General Education Course-HUM | 3 |
| General Education Course- Social Sci. I | 3 | PHYS 121/122 or 221/222 | 4 |
| PHYS 111/112 OR 211/212 | 4 | Elective | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 17 | Semester Hours | 17 |
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Hrs. | Spring Semester | Hrs. |
| BIO 404 | 4 | BIO 414 | 4 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Upper-level BIO Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| General Education Course-AES | 3 | Upper-Level Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Semester Hours | 13 |
| Semester Hours | 16 | Total Program Hours | 122 |
*At least one (1) course taken above must be multi-cultural or a separate multi-cultural course is required.
NOTE: Biology majors cannot double major in Zoology due to lack of required unique courses.
Biology Minor
Requirements for a Biology Minor
20 Semester Credit Hours
- BIO 113 – Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics (3)
- BIO 114 – Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics Laboratory (1)
- BIO 123 – Introduction to Organismal Biology and Ecology (3)
- BIO 124 – Introduction to Organismal Biology and Ecology Laboratory (1)
- BIO 303 – Genetics (4)
- BIO 313 – Microbiology (4)
Must take one (1) field course in Biology or Zoology. Examples of courses include:
- ZOO 306 – Entomology (4)
- BIO 414 – Ecology (4)