College of Sciences

Biology

Biology Program Coordinator: Kate McAteer

Adjunct Faculty: Scott Baker, Kenneth Bruno, John Cochran, Lezlie Couch, David Culley, Michael Crowder, Dennis Dauble, Janelle Downs, David Geist, Ellen Panisko, S. Bree Reed, William Rickard, Lee Rogers, Sally Simmons, John Strand, Burton Vaughan, and Seema Verma

Undergraduate Program

Bachelor of Science in Biology
Options: General Biology

NOTE: Extension of the existing Bachelor’s of Science Biology degree to the Tri-Cities campus is being requested, but is not yet authorized. Sufficient upper division coursework is currently available at the Tri-Cities campus to complete the requirements for this degree as listed in the Washington State University Catalog.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit formal applications and official transcripts of all college work. Because WSU
Tri-Cities does not currently offer all the required lower-division science courses, students contemplating a science degree must complete some lower-division coursework at a community college or other 4-year college/university and transfer those credits to WSU. Students should consult the WSU science advisor to ensure appropriate course selection.

Degree Requirements

A total of 120 credit hours are required for the Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. Of these credit hours, a minimum of 40 must be 300-400-level, and a minimum of 40 credit hours must be in biological sciences. In addition to biology, this is a rigorous program requires ing courses in chemistry, physics, calculus, and statistics.

Students must also meet the WSU General Education Requirements, some of which may be transfered from a community college or university. The College of Sciences has additional requirements, which includes foreign language. The foreign language requirement is satisfied by two years of one foreign language in high school or one year in college.

Minor in Biology

Students interested in obtaining a Minor in Biology must take a minimum of 20 hours in biology courses, including Biol 106, 107, 301 and 8 additional hours at the 300-level or above. No more than 2 hours in Biol 495, 495 or 499 may be included in the 20 hours. At least 10 credit hours must be earned in residence at WSU.

Graduate Program

Master’s of Science in Biology

Admission Requirements

Admission to the graduate program in biology is based on satisfying the requirements for admission to the WSU Graduate School and the School of Biological Sciences. Applicants must submit formal applications, departmental application supplements, official transcripts of all college work, three letters of recommendation, and scores of the general aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Examination.

A basic background in biological sciences and supporting coursework in physical sciences, including mathematics (up through calculus), organic chemistry, introductory biochemistry, and general physics, is necessary for admission.      

 

Degree Requirements

Graduate degrees are research degrees. Students are expected to conduct research under the direction of an advisory committee. The Master’s of Science in Biology is a multi-disciplinary degree program at WSU Tri-Cities; students may obtain this degree entirely through studies at WSU Tri-Cities. Degree requirements include a total of 30 semester hours including fulfillment of the thesis requirement. A minimum of 21 semester hours must be in graded coursework. A minimum of 9 semester hours of Biol 700 credit is required. No more than 3 semester hours of 300-level course work may be included, and these can only be in supporting work outside the major area.

The Masters Committee

Unlike the BS degree, the MS degree does not have a prescribed course of study. The graduate program is structured around the interaction of the student with a faculty committee that advises the student on coursework and examines the student for evidence of advanced learning and competency. Therefore, the key to a successful graduate experience depends on the appropriate selection of an advisory committee. The student needs to become familiar with faculty members who can serve on the committee. In particular, the student will first select a Committee Chair who can help the student in forming the committee. A minimum of three faculty members form the committee, and two of these faculty must be members of the graduate faculty. Additional regulations on Master’s committees can be obtained from the Graduate School and from academic departments, which may have requirements in addition to those of the Graduate School.

Thesis and Non-thesis Options

Study leading to the degree of Master of Science in Biology is offered at WSU Tri-Cities. Thesis and non-thesis options are available. A thesis generally involves conducting a project involving field and/or laboratory research under the direction of the student's committee. It is preferred that the thesis report be developed as a submittable scientific journal paper. The non-thesis option requires completion of a special project which may be an in-depth review of scientific literature pertaining to the student's area of interest. The student chooses the option and the committee sets the criteria for successful completion.

Research Focus Areas

The focus area of the Master’s degree depends on the faculty available to direct the student. Currently active areas include metabolomics, structural genomics, ecology, native plant propagation, and research in the Bioproducts, Science and Engineering Laboratory.

Some courses may be available over the Academic Media Services (AMS).

Courses

Undergraduate

Biology – Biol
101 [B] General Biology Lecture 3
102 [B] General Biology 3 (3-3)
318 Introductory Plant Physiology 3
319 Introductory Plant Physiology Laboratory 1 (0-3)
330 [B] Principles of Conservation 3
372 General Ecology 4 (3-3)
390 Stream Monitoring 1 (0-3)\
405 Principles of Organic Evolution 3
408 [T] Contemporary Genetics 3
411 Limnology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management 3
413 Fish Ecology 3
430 Methods of Teaching Science 3 (2-3)
462 Community Ecology 3
463 Field Ecology 2 (0-6)
465 Field Stream Ecology 2
480 Writing in Biology 2
495 Internship in Biology V 2-4
499 Special Problems V 1-4

Molecular Biosciences – MbioS
101 [B] Intorductory Microbiology 4 (3-3)
301 General Genetics 4
303 Introductory Biochemistry 4
304 [M] Introductory Biochemisty Laboratory 3 (1-6)
305 (302) General Microbiology 3
306 (302) General Microbiology Laboratory 2 (0-6)
320 [B] DNA and Society 3
401 Cell Biology 3
413 General Biochemistry I
414 General Biochemistry II
454 [M] Techniques in Molecular Biology 3 (1-6)

 

Graduate

Biol

505 Principles of Organic Evolution 3
562 Community Ecology 3
563 Field Ecology 2 (0-6)
600 Special Projects or Independent Study
700 Master's Research, Thesis, and/or Examination
702 Master's Special Problems, Directed Study, and/or Examination

Environmental Science - ESRP
404 The Ecosystem 3
504 Ecosystem Management 3

Molecular Biosciences - MBioS
301 General Genetics 4
303 Introductory Biochemistry 4
304 [M] Introductory Biochemisty Laboratory 3 (1-6)
501 Cell Biology 3
513 General Biochemistry I 3
514 General Biochemistry II 3

Natural Resource Sciences - NATRS
301 Forest Plants and EcosystemsI 3 (2-3)
302 Arid Land Plants and Ecosystems 3 (2-3)
450 Conservation Biology 3

For more information contact:

Bonnie Bates
College of Sciences & Engineering, Academic Coordinator
West 134G
Washington State University
2710 University Drive
Richland, WA 99354-1671
Phone: (509) 372-7171
Email: bbates@tricity.wsu.edu

Dr. Kate McAteer
West 144A
WSU Tri-Cities
2710 University Drive
Richland, WA 99354-1671
Phone: (509) 372-7371
Email: kmcateer@tricity.wsu.edu