Dec 04, 2024  
2024-2025 Edgewood College Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Edgewood College Catalog

Biology, BS


Major Policies

Requirements for the Biology major include 38 credits in Biology, 8 credits in Chemistry, a Mathematics course, and the completion of an independent research project.

Completion of the major includes participation in independent research. Each student will present his or her research project in Biology Seminar (BIO 480). Biology majors should consult with their advisors about this requirement at the time that the major is declared.

Students majoring in Biology should seek assistance in planning their program of study with an advisor in the department. Transfer students must take a minimum of 12 biology credits at Edgewood College for a major. Students with specific goals for careers or post-graduate study may be advised to take some courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison through Edgewood College’s Collaborative Program.

GPA Requirement: A student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher in ALL Biology courses used to fulfill the major requirements (courses listed on Degree Audit). Only Biology, Chemistry or Math courses in which the student receives a grade of CD or better will be accepted toward the major or the minor.

Students interested in a specific area of study please review the course recommendations section that is listed at the end of the Biological Sciences section.

Major Requirements


Required Core Courses


The following fifteen (15) credits are required:

Semester Research Sequence


Required Three Semester Research Sequence (6 Credits):

Instructor Approval Required for BIO 252 or BIO 489 enrollment.

Biology Electives


Biology majors must take at least 18 credits of electives. These credits must include one course from each of the following three areas of emphasis: Cell and Molecular Biology, Organismal Biology, and Ecology and Evolution; the remainder of the 18 credits may be satisfied with any biology elective. In addition, at least two of the elective courses must be 400-level courses listed in the three areas of emphasis below. “Special Topics” courses are occasionally offered (BIO 369A  , BIO 469 ); these may be considered by the department as fulfilling the requirement for one area of emphasis, and all 3-4 credit BIO 469  courses will fulfill the 400-level requirement.

Organismal Biology Courses


One of the following Organismal Biology courses:

Ecology and Evolution Courses


One of the following Ecology and Evolution courses:

Cell and Molecular Biology Courses


One of the following Cell and Molecular Biology courses:

Other Elective Courses


Chemistry Courses


The following Chemistry courses: 

Mathematics Courses


One of the following Mathematics courses: