Biological Sciences Major Requirements
The Biological Sciences major requires the following:
- A minimum of 34 credits in Biological Sciences, of which 26 must be at the advanced (300 and above) level.
- At least 15 of the advanced credits must be taken in residence at UWM.
- Completion of four (4) laboratory courses.
- A GPA of 2.0 in Biological Sciences courses attempted at UWM.
- A GPA of at least 2.0 in all major credits attempted, including any transfer work.
No more than eight (8) credits in 100-level courses in Biological Sciences may be applied toward the major, and students may not combine BIO SCI 150, BIO SCI 202, and BIO SCI 203 for more than 9 credits toward the major. A combined limit of 6 credits in the following list count towards the major:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Study and Research: | ||
| Internship in Biological Sciences, Upper Division | ||
| Independent Study in Freshwater Sciences for Biological Sciences Students | ||
| Independent Study in Cell and Molecular Biology | ||
| Independent Study in Microbiology | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Research in Honors | ||
| Senior Honors Project | ||
| Senior Honors Thesis |
At least 20 credits at the advanced level (300 and above) must be taken in in BIO SCI courses.
Students who plan to attend graduate or professional schools are advised to take the one-year sequence of Organic Chemistry with lab, a course in Biochemistry (CHEM 501), and two semesters of Calculus. For those pursuing the General or Cell and Molecular Biology option, CHEM 501 will also count towards the major.
Listed below are the foundational requirements for the three options, followed by the Biological Sciences major requirements for the three options:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Math Foundation | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| Survey in Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | ||
| Calculus with Life Sciences Applications | ||
| Honors Calculus I | ||
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | ||
| Physical Sciences Foundation | ||
| For students choosing the General Biology Option or the Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) Option, select one of the following options: | 9-10 | |
Option 1: | ||
| General Physics I (Non-Calculus Treatment) | ||
| General Physics II (Non-Calculus Treatment) | ||
| General Physics Laboratory I (Non-Calculus Treatment) (at least one semester) | ||
or PHYSICS 123 | General Physics Laboratory II (Non-Calculus Treatment) | |
Option 2: | ||
| Physics I (Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Physics II (Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Lab Physics I (Calculus Treatment) (at least one semester) | ||
or PHYSICS 215 | Lab Physics II (Calculus Treatment) | |
Option 3: | ||
| Physics I: Calculus-Based, Studio Format | ||
| Physics II: Calculus-Based, Studio Format | ||
| For students choosing the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Option, select one of the following: | 3-5 | |
| Our Physical Environment | ||
| Introduction to the Earth | ||
| Principles of Historical Geology | ||
| A History of Life | ||
| Introduction to Ocean Sciences and Ocean Sciences Laboratory | ||
| General Physics I (Non-Calculus Treatment) and General Physics Laboratory I (Non-Calculus Treatment) | ||
| General Physics II (Non-Calculus Treatment) and General Physics Laboratory II (Non-Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Physics I (Calculus Treatment) and Lab Physics I (Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Physics II (Calculus Treatment) and Lab Physics II (Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Physics I: Calculus-Based, Studio Format | ||
| Physics II: Calculus-Based, Studio Format | ||
| Chemistry Foundation | ||
| Part A: | ||
| For all Biological Sciences majors: | 10 | |
| General Chemistry | ||
| General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis | ||
| Part B (required for students choosing the General Biology Option or the Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) Option): 1, 2 | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 5-8 | |
| Option 1: | ||
| Introductory Survey of Organic Chemistry | ||
| Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Option 2: | ||
| Organic Chemistry | ||
| Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry | ||
- 1
For students choosing the Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) option, CHEM 343, CHEM 344, and CHEM 345 (option 2) are required, and a second physics lab is strongly recommended.
- 2
For students choosing the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Option, there is no Organic Chemistry (Part B) requirement, though it is advised for certain subfields. Consultation with your departmental advisor is strongly recommended, particularly for students who plan to attend graduate or professional schools.
General Biology Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Biological Sciences Course | ||
| BIO SCI 150 | Foundations of Biological Sciences I | 4 |
| BIO SCI 152 | Foundations of Biological Sciences II | 4 |
| BIO SCI 325 | Genetics | 4 |
| Select at least one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| General Ecology | ||
| Cell Biology and Laboratory in Genetics and Cell Biology | ||
| General Microbiology | ||
| Research Requirement 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1-6 | |
| Seminar on Recent Advances in Limnology and Oceanography | ||
| Senior Seminar in Biological Sciences | ||
| Undergraduate Seminar in Microbiology | ||
| Undergraduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Biology | ||
| Research in Honors | ||
| Senior Honors Project | ||
| Senior Honors Thesis | ||
| Independent Study in Freshwater Sciences for Biological Sciences Students | ||
| Independent Study in Cell and Molecular Biology | ||
| Independent Study in Microbiology | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Research Requirement option for Biological Sciences/Conservation and Environmental Sciences (CES) double majors only: | ||
| Practicum in Natural Resources Management | ||
| Laboratory Course Requirement | ||
| A total of 4 labs courses are required for the major. This requirement may be satisfied by the courses listed above; if not, select additional lab courses from the list below. | 1-4 | |
| Anatomy and Physiology I | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology II | ||
| General Ecology (if not selected above) | ||
| Laboratory in Genetics and Cell Biology (if not selected above) | ||
| General Microbiology (if not selected above) | ||
| Birds of Wisconsin | ||
| Field Methods in Conservation | ||
| Plant and Aquatic Ecophysiology Laboratory | ||
| Laboratory Techniques in Molecular Biology | ||
| Scanning Electron Microscopy Laboratory | ||
| Transmission Electron Microscopy Laboratory | ||
| Experimental Microbiology | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select electives to reach a minimum of 34 credits in Biological Sciences, of which 26 must be at the advanced (300 and above) level. 2, 3 | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 34-43 | |
- 1
All courses taught as independent studies intended to fulfill the research requirement must have prior departmental approval.
- 2
Up to six credits from the following courses may be counted as electives in the major: CHEM 501, ANTHRO 301, BMS 534, BMS 535, PSYCH 254, and PSYCH 654.
- 3
Students may elect to take these SFS courses (FRSHWTR 511, FRSHWTR 563 and FRSHWTR 567) to earn credit toward the Biology major provided that they earn 30 advanced credits in Natural Sciences within the College of Letters and Science, as required for the BS degree.
Cell and Molecular Biology Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| BIO SCI 150 | Foundations of Biological Sciences I | 4 |
| BIO SCI 152 | Foundations of Biological Sciences II | 4 |
| BIO SCI 315 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIO SCI 316 | Laboratory in Genetics and Cell Biology | 2 |
| BIO SCI 325 | Genetics | 4 |
| Laboratory Course Requirement | ||
| Select at least one of the following: | 1-4 | |
| Anatomy and Physiology II | ||
| General Microbiology | ||
| Plant and Aquatic Ecophysiology Laboratory | ||
| Laboratory Techniques in Molecular Biology | ||
| Scanning Electron Microscopy Laboratory | ||
| Transmission Electron Microscopy Laboratory | ||
| Experimental Microbiology | ||
| Research Requirement 1 | ||
| BIO SCI 672 | Undergraduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Biology | 1-3 |
| or BIO SCI 697 | Independent Study in Cell and Molecular Biology | |
| Electives | ||
| Select additional Cell and Molecular Biology courses to reach a minimum of 34 credits in Biological Sciences, of which 26 must be at the advanced (300 and above) level. | 15 | |
| Mammalian Reproductive Biology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Mammalian Physiology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| General Virology | ||
| Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Neurobiology | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Genetics of Development and Cancer | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Molecular Biology of Microorganisms | ||
| Bacterial Pathogenesis | ||
| Microbial Diversity and Physiology | ||
| Biological Electron Microscopy | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Gene Regulation in Stem Cells and Regeneration | ||
| Cell Biology of Human Disease | ||
| Functional Genomics | ||
| Introduction to Biochemistry | ||
| Total Credits | 34-39 | |
- 1
All courses taught as independent studies intended to fulfill the research requirement must have prior departmental approval.
Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Biological Sciences Courses | ||
| BIO SCI 150 | Foundations of Biological Sciences I | 4 |
| BIO SCI 152 | Foundations of Biological Sciences II | 4 |
| BIO SCI 310 | General Ecology | 4 |
| BIO SCI 325 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIO SCI 465 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| Laboratory Course Requirement | ||
| Select at least one of the following: | 2-4 | |
| Birds of Wisconsin | ||
| General Microbiology | ||
| Field Methods in Conservation | ||
| Plant and Aquatic Ecophysiology Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Programming and Modeling in Ecology and Evolution | ||
| Laboratory Techniques in Molecular Biology | ||
| Scanning Electron Microscopy Laboratory | ||
| Transmission Electron Microscopy Laboratory | ||
| Research Requirement 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 1-6 | |
| Seminar on Recent Advances in Limnology and Oceanography | ||
| Senior Seminar in Biological Sciences | ||
| Independent Study in Freshwater Sciences for Biological Sciences Students | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Practicum in Natural Resources Management | ||
| Research in Honors | ||
| Senior Honors Project | ||
| Senior Honors Thesis | ||
| Additional Electives | ||
| Select electives to reach a minimum of 34 credits in Biological Sciences, of which 26 must be at the advanced (300 and above) level. | 12 | |
| Mammalian Physiology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Marine Biology | ||
| Ecology and Evolution of Amphibians and Reptiles | ||
| Community Ecology | ||
| Genomic Data Analysis | ||
| Ecological Genetics | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Limnology I | ||
| Behavioral Ecology | ||
| Microbial Diversity and Physiology | ||
| Topics in Field Biology: | ||
| Evolutionary Biology | ||
| Ichthyology 2 | ||
| Total Credits | 34-41 | |
- 1
All courses taught as independent studies intended to fulfill the research requirement must have prior departmental approval.
- 2
Students may elect to take SFS course FRSHWTR 511, to earn credit toward the EEB option provided that they earn 30 advanced credits in Natural Sciences within the College of Letters and Science, as required for the BS degree.