Biology Faculty
The primary goals of the Department of Biology include:
- Cultivating students who understand and apply the scientific method to the study of life.
- Preparing students to think critically and effectively communicate biological principles.
- Producing graduates who make informed decisions based on reliable evidence and guided by their Christian worldview.
- Embolden graduates to lead lives of grace-filled wholeness, and personal and professional integrity.
Find out more about this program鈥檚 mission, vision, and learning outcomes.
Biology (BA)
The BA in Biology provides a broad foundation in biology and is especially appropriate if you hope to teach at the elementary or secondary level.
- A minimum of 81 credits are required for this major, including 30 upper-division credits.
- Acceptance to this major requires at least a 2.5 GPA in your biology courses.
- If you are preparing for biology teaching career, you should become familiar with Washington state endorsement requirements prior to selecting core and elective options.
- You may not apply more than 6 credits of courses numbered from BIO 4900 through 4999 to this major.
Applied Human Biology (BS)
The BS in Applied Human Biology is appropriate for you if you choose to pursue post-graduate work in Physical Therapy or Physicians Assistant programs.
- A minimum of 108 credits are required for this major, including 23 upper-division credits.
- This major requires at least a 3.0* GPA in your biology courses.
- The interdisciplinary curriculum in this major will satisfy the basic requirements for entry into physical therapy as outlined by the .
- BIO 3899 is recommended, but not required for this degree.
- No more than 6 credits of courses numbered from BIO 4900 through 4999 may be applied to this major.
*The GPA for admission to the BS Applied Human Biology is higher because this degree is designed for students intending on professional postgraduate training in the health sciences. Such postgraduate programs are competitive and require a high GPA for admission.
Biology (BS)
This Biology major provides you with preparation for graduate studies or a professional career in biology.
- A minimum of 104 credits are required for this major, including 35 upper-division credits.
- This major requires at least a 2.5 GPA in your biology courses.
- Special emphasis is placed on undergraduate research in this major.
- Depending upon interests and professional goals, you may choose the core and elective coursework to emphasize botany, cellular and molecular biology, ecology, marine biology, physiology, or zoology.
- As a part of either core requirements or electives, you are required to take a minimum of 3 credits of field biology, taught primarily in the field and emphasizing field methods. 涩里番 field biology courses are listed under the major requirements link below.
- As part of your core requirements or electives, you are also required to take at least one botany course (generally chosen from BIO 3453, 4415, or 4744).
Undergraduate Research Project
In this major, you are required to complete an Undergraduate Research Project for graduation. You will collaborate with a faculty member on an investigation that requires a formal proposal (BIO 4978 “Biological Research Proposal”), participation in original research and the presentation of your results (BIO 4979). No more than 6 credits of courses numbered from BIO 4900 through 4999 may be applied to this major.
Cellular and Molecular Biology (BS)聽
This Cellular and Molecular Biology program is intended for you if you are interested in pursuing a career or graduate program in cellular and molecular biology, medical and agricultural biotechnology, or medicine or genetics.
- A minimum of 107 credits are required for this major, including 26鈥�28 upper-division credits in biology.
- This major requires at least a 2.5 GPA in your biology courses.
- If you are interested in graduate school, consult with your faculty advisor as to whether coursework beyond degree requirements (e.g., physics, MAT 1235) would be appropriate.
- No more than 6 credits of courses numbered from BIO 4900 through 4999 may be applied to this major.
- Elective courses should be discussed with your biology faculty advisor.
Undergraduate Research Project
In this major, you are required to complete an Undergraduate Research Project for graduation. You will collaborate with a faculty member on an investigation that requires a formal proposal (BIO 4978 鈥淏iological Research Proposal鈥�), participation in original research and the presentation of your results (BIO 4979). No more than 6 credits of courses numbered from BIO 4900 through 4999 may be applied to this major.
Ecology (BS)
This Ecology program is intended for you if you are interested in pursuing careers or graduate degree programs in ecology and related larger-scale sub-disciplines of biology, including marine biology, forestry, fisheries, agriculture, behavioral ecology, wildlife management, and similar fields.
- A minimum of 105 credits are required for this major, including 40 upper-division credits in biology.
- Discuss your elective courses with your biology faculty advisor.
- This major requires at least a 2.5 GPA in your biology courses.
- If you are interested in graduate school, consult with your faculty advisor as to whether coursework beyond degree requirements (e.g., physics, cell biology, MAT 1235, etc.) would be appropriate.
- BIO 4950 鈥淪pecial Topics in Biology鈥� may be used to meet certain stated requirements if the topic is determined to be appropriate by the Department of Biology in advance.
- As a part of either core requirements or electives, you are required to take a minimum of 3 credits of field biology, taught primarily in the field and emphasizing field methods. See below for field biology courses are listed within the major requirements.
- View SPU field biology courses in the major requirements also listed below with Blakely Field Station courses.
Undergraduate Research Project
In
this major, you are required to complete an Undergraduate Research
Project for graduation. You will collaborate with a faculty member on an
investigation that requires a formal proposal (BIO 4978 鈥淏iological
Research Proposal鈥�), participation in original research and the
presentation of your results (BIO 4979). No more than 6 credits of
courses numbered from BIO 4900 through 4999 may be applied to this
major.
Physiology (BS)
If you are interested in pre-professional health training for medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and certain other health-related and applied-biology fields, the Physiology program is intended for you.
- A minimum of 105 credits are required for this major, including 35 upper-division credits in biology.
- This major requires you to have at least a 3.0* GPA in your biology courses.
- This track, you must take either one of the specified courses in ethics or complete an Undergraduate Research Project. If you are interested in medical school or other professional health-science training, an ethics course is strongly recommended. Completing a Research Project is essential if you are interested in graduate school.
- If you are interested in professional health-science training or graduate school, consult with your advisor as early as possible to determine what other courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics you should take to meet your career goals.
*The GPA for admission to the BS in Physiology is higher because this degree is designed for students intending on professional postgraduate training in the health sciences. Such postgraduate programs are competitive and require a high GPA for admission.
Apply to the Major or Minor
Admission to one of the Biology majors is ordinarily a two-step process. You must be assigned a Biology Core placement (BioCORE) score of three. After you have established an appropriate academic record in selected SPU biology courses, you may apply to a Biology major of your choice.
涩里番 your BioCORE placement score:
- Your BioCORE placement score is based on your performance on standardized exams and your high school or SPU GPA. There are no extra exams for you to take.
- Your BioCORE placement score will be assigned when you are admitted to the University.
- A BioCORE placement score of 3 is required to register for Bio 2103 and most upper-division biology courses.
- Students with a BioCORE score of 2 will be advised to take specific courses that better prepare them for success in the Biology curriculum. Please see your faculty advisor for more information.
- You may apply by March 1 of each year to have your score reevaluated once you have completed 15 credits of college-level math, chemistry, and/or biology coursework at SPU.
- Visit the for more information.
You may apply for a major or minor using the . You must complete the major or minor requirements in effect when you are admitted to the major or minor.
- Your application to a Biology major requires you have completed BIO 2101, 2102, and 2103.
- Successful students must meet the GPA requirements listed for each major.
- If you are a transfer student who has completed all or part of this course sequence at another institution, you may apply after completing one 5-credit upper-division biology course (numbered 3000 or higher) at SPU.
Admission to the Minor
Applications for a minor in Biology are considered individually by the biology faculty, but the normal minimum requirement for admission to the Biology minor will be a GPA of 2.5 in biology courses. You must complete the minor requirements in effect when you are admitted to the minor.
Elementary Teacher Certification
If you plan to obtain elementary Residency Teacher Certification and are interested in teaching science, you must major in the Integrated Studies major with a concentration in the natural sciences.
- This concentration includes courses in biology, physics, and chemistry. mathematics, physical education, and natural sciences courses.
- (PDF) is through the advisor for the natural sciences concentration, Dr. Kara Gray (greyk5@spu.edu).
Secondary Teacher Certification
If you plan to seek Secondary Teacher Certification, you should pursue one of the Biology majors.
Blakely Island Field Station
For more information about the program at Blakely Island Field Station, see the .
Courses Offered at Blakely Island Field Station
- BIO 1101 Biological Fundamentals (5)
- BIO 3200 GIS in Biology (3)
- BIO 4117 Birds of the Pacific Northwest (5)
- BIO 4256 Environmental Physiology (5)
- BIO 4735 Marine Biology (5)
- BIO 4740 Marine Invertebrate Zoology (5)
- BIO 4744 Marine Botany (5)
- BIO 4810 Marine Ecology (5)
- BIO 4815 Aquatic Ecology (5)
- BIO 4825 Forest Ecology (5)
- BIO 4835 Conservation Biology (5)
- BIO 4880 Blakely Field Studies (1鈥�5)