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WVU Institute of Technology Catalog

Biology, B.S.

  • Overview
  • Major
  • Learning Outcomes

Degree Offered

  • Bachelor of Science

Nature of the Program

The Biology Program covers all aspects of the organism, from molecular and biochemical pathways through anatomy and physiology of organisms to the structure of populations, communities, landscapes and ecosystems. The program provides grounding in mathematics and other natural science disciplines necessary for the understanding of the organism, such as chemistry, organic chemistry and physics. By careful choice of biology and restricted electives, students can tailor their educational experience to prepare for professional school, graduate school or entry into the workforce upon graduation.

The program provides the student with the opportunity to select additional courses from the disciplines of biology, chemistry, physics, math, computer science, business, foreign language, psychology, health sciences, engineering or other disciplines which might be helpful in biologically oriented careers. In addition to traditional coursework, students also have the opportunity to engage in research projects selected from a variety of biological disciplines. (Students who select electives in any science or technical areas may need additional courses to meet prerequisites.) The restricted electives are selected by consulting with the assigned biology advisor. For students who have reached a more advanced level in mathematics upon graduation from high school and meet ACT score requirements, either Pre-Calculus and Calculus 1 or Calculus 1 and 2 may be substituted for College Algebra and Trigonometry. Biology majors must earn a “C” or better in the freshman biology courses to enter upper division BIOL courses. During the last semester of the program, students must take the exit exam in biology. Students are also expected to complete a program of volunteer work to fulfill the college requirement for citizenship/community service.

Program Objectives

Upon graduation, students will be prepared to:

  • Pursue advanced degrees in biology and related fields or professional degrees, including medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and other health related fields.
  • Directly enter a broad range of career pathways in industry and federal or state governments which require a baccalaureate degree in science.

General Education Foundations

Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.

NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric3-6
ENGL 101
& ENGL 102
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research
or ENGL 103
Accelerated Academic Writing
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology4-6
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning3-4
F4 - Society & Connections3
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past3
F6 - The Arts & Creativity3
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity3
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree)9
Total Hours31-37

Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.

Curriculum Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
University Requirements37
Program Requirements36
Biology Major Requirements47
Total Hours120

University Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits)
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 4, 5, 6, and 718
WVUE 191First Year Seminar1
General Electives *18
Total Hours37
Course List
Code Title Hours
An overall GPA of 2.0 is required for all coursework contributing to Program and Major requirements.

Program Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
WRIT 305Technical Writing3
Mathematics Requirements (select two of the following):6
MATH 126
College Algebra (GEF 3)
MATH 128
Plane Trigonometry
MATH 129
Pre-Calculus Mathematics
MATH 150
Applied Calculus
MATH 155
Calculus 1
MATH 156
Calculus 2
CHEM 115
& 115L
Fundamentals of Chemistry 1
and Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 Laboratory (GEF 2)
4
CHEM 116
& 116L
Fundamentals of Chemistry 2
and Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 Laboratory (GEF 8)
4
CHEM 233
& 233L
Organic Chemistry 1
and Organic Chemistry 1 Laboratory
4
CHEM 234
& 234L
Organic Chemistry 2
and Organic Chemistry 2 Laboratory
4
PHYS 101
& 101L
Introductory Physics 1
and Introductory Physics 1 Laboratory
4
PHYS 102
& 102L
Introductory Physics 2
and Introductory Physics 2 Laboratory
4
STAT 211Elementary Statistical Inference3
Total Hours36

Biology Major Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
BIOL 111
& 111L
General Biology
and General Biology Laboratory (GEF 8)
4
BIOL 112
& 112L
General Biology
and General Biology Laboratory (GEF 8)
4
BIOL 225Biology Methods3
BIOL 240
& 240L
Microbiology
and Microbiology Laboratory
4
BIOL 303
& 303L
Genetics
and Genetics Laboratory
4
BIOL 416
& 416L
Cell Biology
and Cell Biology Laboratory
4
BIOL 461Principles of Evolution3
BIOL 466
& 466L
Ecology
and Ecology Laboratory
4
BIOL 494Seminar2
Botany Electives **4
BIOL 354
& 354L
Organismal Botany
and Organismal Botany Laboratory
BIOL 452
& 452L
Plant Taxonomy
and Plant Taxonomy Laboratory
Zoology Electives **4
BIOL 336
& 336L
Vertebrate Embryology
and Vertebrate Embryology Laboratory
BIOL 343
& 343L
Systematic Zoology
and Systematic Zoology Laboratory
BIOL 440
Comparative Anatomy
Biology Electives (any 300-level or higher BIOL course)7
Exit Examination
Community Service
Total Hours47
*

Students choosing to minor in Chemistry will need to take additional courses to ensure 9 unique Chemistry credits are applied toward the minor.

**

Botany and Zoology Elective Requirement may be satisfied by courses with different prefix than BIOL, such as WMAN or FNRS, with the approval of the department. They can also be satisfied using a 3 credit course, such as Behavioral Ecology (BIOL 338) and Parasitology (BIOL 347) plus 1 credit of research related to animals.

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
BIOL 111
& 111L (GEF 8)
4BIOL 112
& 112L (GEF 8)
4
ENGL 101 (GEF 1)3ENGL 102 (GEF 1)3
MATH 126 (GEF 3)3MATH 1283
WVUE 1911GEF 53
GEF 43GEF 63
 14 16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
BIOL 2253BIOL 240
& 240L
4
CHEM 115
& 115L (GEF 2)
4CHEM 116
& 116L (GEF 8)
4
PHYS 101
& 101L
4PHYS 102
& 102L
4
STAT 2113WRIT 3053
GEF 73 
 17 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
CHEM 233
& 233L
4BIOL 303
& 303L
4
Botany Elective4CHEM 234
& 234L
4
Zoology Elective4General Elective4
General Elective3Biology Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
BIOL 416
& 416L
4BIOL 4613
BIOL 466
& 466L
4Biology Elective4
BIOL 4942General Electives6
General Elective5 
 15 13
Total credit hours: 120

Major Learning Outcomes

Biology

Upon graduation, students of the biology program will be able to:

  • Apply scientific method to solving problems.
    1. Formulate a hypothesis and alternate hypotheses.
    2. Design experiments to test hypotheses.
    3. Collect data.
    4. Analyze data statistically and graphically.
    5. Interpret and report data.
  • Communicate effectively in writing and orally.
  • Evaluate sources of information through a scientific lens.
    1. Perform search of primary scientific literature.
    2. Interpret scientific papers.
    3. Summarize research results from primary sources.
    4. Synthesize information from a variety of sources into a coherent argument.
  • Explain and apply basic concepts in cell and molecular biology, evolutionary theory, human biology, genetics and ecology.
  • Demonstrate skills in the use of equipment and apply safety practices in the laboratory and field settings.
  • Biology
  • Chemical Forensics
  • Criminal Justice
  • Forensic Investigation
  • History and Government
  • Psychology
  • Regents Bachelor of Arts

WVU Institute of Technology

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Morgantown, WV 26506
Email: registrar@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: 304-293-5355

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