A Bachelor of Science in Biology provides a strong foundation in science while allowing you to tailor a focus to match your interests. It is ideal for students seeking a career as a professional biologist or researcher or planning to apply to graduate school, medical, dental or veterinary medicine school.
Concentrations
General Biology students study life and living organisms, including their physical and chemical structure, function, development and evolution. A degree in Biology opens opportunities in hundreds of areas. Our students go on to be teachers, researchers, doctors, dentists, conservationists, ecologists, environmentalists, paleontologists and so much more. Being a biology major leads to numerous opportunities for lab and field research, teaching assistant positions, and presenting and publishing original research.
The concentration in Health Science is designed to prepare students for entry into graduate and professional schools in many medical fields, including medicine, veterinary, dental and more. We also have program agreements for early entry or pre-admission into select chiropractic, osteopathic and allopathic medical schools.
Medical School Partnerships
We have partnerships with five medical programs for qualified Missouri Western biology majors.
- A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine: Still Scholars Early Acceptance Program
- Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences: Early Matriculation Partners Program
- University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Medicine: Bryant Scholars Program
- University of Missouri – Kansas City, School of Medicine: Medical Scholars Program
- Palmer School of Chiropractic Dual Degree Program
Biology (Bachelor of Science, B.S.)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | ||
| 42-47 | ||
| Core Requirements | ||
| BIO 105 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 4 |
| BIO 106 | Principles of Cell Biology | 4 |
| BIO 205 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIO 225 | Ecology | 4 |
| CHE 111 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHE 120 | General Chemistry II with Qualitative Analysis | 5 |
| CHE 310 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHE 311 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| CHE 370 | Biochemistry I | 4 |
| PHY 110 | College Physics I | 4 |
| MAT 111 | Introductory Statistics | 3-4 |
| or MAT 111E | Introductory Statistics | |
| Option Requirements | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 24-25 | |
Major in Biology | ||
Zoology Concentration | ||
Botany Concentration | ||
Health Science Concentration | ||
Major in Biology Option
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 24 additional credit hours from biology courses numbered 300 or higher from the following: | 24 | |
| Plant Morphology | ||
| History and Philosophy of the Natural Sciences | ||
| Molecular Cell Biology | ||
| Animal Physiology | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Introduction to Paleontology | ||
| Plant Systematics | ||
| Local Flora | ||
| Development of Federal Wildlife Law | ||
| Pathophysiology | ||
| Herpetology | ||
| Microbiology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Invertebrate Biology | ||
| Vertebrate Biology | ||
| Medical Parasitology | ||
| Mammalogy | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Biology Teaching Practicum 1 | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Biology Internship 1 | ||
| Molecular Basis of Disease | ||
| Virology | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Independent Research/Project 1 | ||
| Entomology | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 24 | |
| 1 | No more than four credit hours combined of BIO 420, BIO 425, and BIO 450. |
Concentrations:
Botany
Zoology
Health Science
Botany Concentration Option
*Effective Fall 2020, this program is being phased out and has a 3-year teach out plan. More information can be found here.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select twenty-four credits from biology courses numbered 300 or higher from the following areas: | 24 | |
| Biology Concentration Courses: | 16 | |
| Plant Morphology | ||
| Plant Systematics | ||
| Local Flora | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Entomology | ||
| Biology Electives: | 8 | |
| Select an additional eight credit hours of upper-division Biology courses, not used to fulfill the Botany Concentration course area above 1 | ||
| 1 | No more than four credit hours combined of BIO 420, BIO 425, and BIO 450. |
Zoology Concentration Option
*Effective Fall 2020, this program is being phased out and has a 3-year teach out plan. More information can be found here.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select a minimum of twenty-four credit hours from the following: | 24 | |
| Animal Physiology | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Introduction to Paleontology | ||
| Herpetology | ||
| Microbiology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Invertebrate Biology | ||
| Vertebrate Biology | ||
| Medical Parasitology | ||
| Mammalogy | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Biology Teaching Practicum 1 | ||
| Biology Internship 1 | ||
| Independent Research/Project 1 | ||
| Entomology | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 24 | |
| 1 | No more than four credit hours combined of BIO 420, BIO 425, and BIO 450. |
Health Science Concentration Option
The courses required for this concentration should prepare the student interested in a health and preprofessional program to apply and, if admitted, to succeed in the health professional program of their choice. Students selecting the Health Science concentration must be aware that additional courses may be needed to complete the admission requirements for the health professional program that they are interested in.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select a minimum of twenty-four credit hours from the following areas: | 24-25 | |
| Health Science Electives: | 20-21 | |
| Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Molecular Cell Biology | ||
| Animal Physiology | ||
| Microbiology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Vertebrate Biology | ||
| Medical Parasitology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Molecular Basis of Disease | ||
| Virology | ||
| Science Electives: | ||
| Select three to four credit hours of biology or chemistry courses numbered 300 or higher 1 | 3-4 | |
| 1 | No more than four credit hours combined of BIO 420, BIO 425, and BIO 450. |
University Graduation Requirements
- Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
- Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses. Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
- Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
- Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments.
- Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
- Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam.
Are you ready to declare this major? Download, sign and submit the form(s) to the Biology Department.
- Major: B.S. Biology
- Major: B.S. Biology/Health Science Concentration
Mapping your degree plan is important. Consult with your academic advisor to create a plan and monitor it regularly.
- Major: B.S. Biology
- Major: B.S. Biology/Health Science Concentration