Biology (AS)

Location: College of Science (Department of Botany, Department of Microbiology, and Department of Zoology)
Telephone: Botany (801) 626-6174; Microbiology (801) 626-6949; Zoology (801) 626-6165

Grade Requirements: Cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher for all WSU work. No more than 20 credit hours of “D” grade may be applied toward graduation.
Credit Hour Requirements: Total of 61 credit hours are required.

• Program Code: 6038AS
• CIPC: 26.0101

Advisement

Students should meet with the advisor listed below for advisement on Biology A.S. courses:

Use Grad MAPs to plan your degree

General Education

Students who plan to complete a B.S. in Botany, Microbiology, or Zoology or who are fulfilling pre-professional requirements should meet with the relevant program advisor or the College of Science advisor for guidance selecting CHEM, MATH, and electives. Refer to Degree Requirements  for Associate of Science requirements. The following courses required for the Biology AS program will satisfy the quantitative core and life sciences portion of the general education requirements:

Students should complete the AS program in two years.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Students can articulate the fundamental similarities of life on earth.
• Students learn and practice fundamental lab skills in biology and chemistry.
• Students demonstrate how scientific knowledge is derived, reviewed, and communicated.
• Nature of Science. Scientific knowledge is based on evidence that is repeatedly examined, and can change with new information. Scientific explanations differ fundamentally from those that are not scientific.
• Integration of Science. All natural phenomena are interrelated and share basic organizational principles. Scientific explanations obtained from different disciplines should be cohesive and integrated.
• Science and Society. The study of science provides explanations that have significant impact on society, including technological advancements, improvement of human life, and better understanding of human and other influences on the earth’s environment.
• Problem Solving & Data Analysis. Science relies on empirical data, and such data must be analyzed, interpreted, and generalized in a rigorous manner.
• Levels of Organization. All life shares an organization that is based on molecules and cells and extends to organisms and ecosystems
• Metabolism and homeostasis: Living things obtain and use energy, and maintain homeostasis via organized chemical reactions known as metabolism
• Genetics and evolution: Shared genetic processes and evolution by natural selection are universal features of all life
• Ecological interactions: All organisms, including humans, interact with their environment and other living organisms.