COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA in Biological Sciences with an ecological/environmental/organismal emphasis at Wichita State University is a 120-credit undergraduate degree designed to build strong foundations in biology while allowing flexibility for broader liberal arts study. Students must complete about 35 credit hours in core biological sciences alongside general education requirements (around 34–35 credits) and additional LAS competencies/electives that complete the total degree hours. The core curriculum includes key foundational courses such as General Biology I and II (BIOL 210–211), Evolution (BIOL 417), Ecology (BIOL 418), Genetics (BIOL 419), and Molecular Cell Biology (BIOL 420), ensuring students gain a strong grounding in cellular, organismal, and ecological systems. A capstone or research-focused experience is also required through either the Biology Colloquium (BIOL 497) or Undergraduate Research (BIOL 499), emphasizing applied learning and scientific inquiry. Beyond the core, students complete roughly 10–11 credit hours of approved upper-level electives tailored to ecological, environmental, or organismal biology, selecting from areas such as conservation biology, plant ecology, zoology, microbiology, entomology, biodiversity analysis, and environmental management. Supporting this biological training, students must also complete essential chemistry coursework including General Chemistry I and II and Organic Chemistry I, which provide the chemical foundation needed for advanced biological study. The program maintains a minimum GPA requirement of 2.0 in all biological sciences coursework, ensuring academic consistency in the major. A key feature of the degree is its applied learning requirement, which can be fulfilled through courses like BIOL 418 (General Ecology) and/or BIOL 499 (Undergraduate Research), ensuring students gain hands-on experience in fieldwork, laboratory research, or ecological analysis before graduation. Overall, the structure blends structured scientific training with flexible electives and research opportunities, preparing graduates for careers in environmental science, ecology, conservation, biotechnology support roles, or further graduate study in biological and environmental sciences.