Department of
Biological Sciences

• Biology Students
  • Undergraduate Information & Advising
  • Graduate Students
  • Biology Student Organizations & Clubs
  • Biology Department Academic Policies
• Faculty and Staff
  • Botany Faculty Members
  • Microbiology Faculty Members
  • Zoology Faculty Members
  • Science Education Faculty Members
  • Directors, Curators, Faculty Student Advisors
  • Staff Members
  • Emeritus Faculty
• Research
  • Publications
  • Presentaitions
  • Biology Research Symposium
• Facilities
• Science Teaching Center
• Biology Scholarships
• Biological Sciences Home

Information for Biology Undergraduates

• Advising (see The Axon (below) for up-to-date information on dates in Biological Sciences)
• Biology Major Degree Programs
• Non-Degree Programs
• Science Teaching Certification
• Related Majors and Minors
• General Degree Information
• Registration Information
• Departmental Policies and Opportunities

Advising is an important function of our department. During pre-registration advising please contact the departmental office at 298-1546 to schedule an appointment with one of the advisors.

• The Undergraduate students who are non-teaching are principally advised by Vicki J. Walters, Academic Advisor, and Jennifer Sandrik and Theo Schultz, the Graduate Students-Academic Advisors.
• Biology education students are advised by Dr. Laura Barden-Gabbei (see below).
   
• The Axon: A Regularly Updated Newsletter from the Academic Advisors
• Botany, microbiology, zoology, pre-occupational therapy, pre-physical therapy, pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-optometry, and clinical laboratory science majors are all advised by Vicki J. Walters 309/298-1546, Waggoner Hall 365. VJ-Walters@wiu.edu
• Biology education students are advised by Dr. Laura Barden-Gabbei (298-1679) in Waggoner 374.
• Graduate students are advised by Dr. Timothy Spier (298-1266) in Waggoner 302 until they choose an advisor. Research advisors also are course advisors for graduate students. Please go to the Graduate Student website for the procedures to apply to the graduate program.
   

Biology major (Degree programs). Option in:

• Botany program
• Clinical Lab Science program
• Microbiology program
• Zoology program

Non-degree programs:

• Honors program
• Pre-Medicine microbiology program
• Pre-Medicine zoology program
• Pre-Nursing program
• Pre-Occupational Therapy program
• Pre-Optometry program
• Pre-Physical Therapy program
   

Science Teaching Certification:

Contact Dr. Laura Barden-Gabbei (298-1679) in Waggoner 374 for information about the Science Teaching Certification Programs. These programs are housed in their respective Departments (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics).  Those students planning to transfer to WIU from another institution should note that these programs follow the University General Education requirements, not those of the College of Arts and Sciences. The programs also have a minimum GPA requirement higher than that of the University.  Also please note:  any courses which are transferred from another institution carry only the credit hours with them, not the grade in the course.  Grades of D and F are noted, grades of A, B, and C are not and are not calculated into the WIU GPA. Dr. Barden uses WesternOnline and e-mail to keep in contact with students and present more advanced information about the program. Students must be enrolled in the Teaching Certification Program to have access to the WesternOnline information.

For futher information on the B.S. in Biology withScience Teaching Certification, Chemistry with Science Teaching Certification, or Physics with Science Teaching Certification, click here.

Related Majors and Minors
 

• Athletic Training/ Fitness
• Conservation/ Animal Science (Agriculture)
• Dietetics
• Environmental Science (Interdisciplinary studies MINOR)
• Horticulture (Interdisciplinary studies MINOR)
• Neuroscience (Psychology MINOR)
• Recreation Parks and Tourism Administration
• Chemistry (Forensic and Regular)
• Psychology
• Health Sciences
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• Geology
• Kinesiology
• Anthropology

 

General Degree Information

• Incoming Freshmen (30 credit hours or less) are required to enroll in the Freshman Year Experience Program. Please go to WIU's First Year Experience page for more information.
• General Education update: The School of Arts and Sciences requires more General Education courses in the Humanities and Social sciences (12 hours each) than other schools within the University. Also required are three hours of Human Well Being, two courses with a writing emphasis, three hours of Multicultural Studies, 16 hours of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and 9 hours of directed Communication Skills.
• Foreign Language update: All students seeking a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology are required to have two semesters or one full year of a single Foreign Language. Two years of the same language in high school, or two semesters of the same language in college or university will complete this requirement, as long as transcripts are presented to the registrar. This requirement can be met while attending WIU with two semesters of the same foreign language, which can count towards two classes of General Education Humanities Credit.
   

Registration Information:

• WIU's STARS Registration Website: Use STARS to see which courses are offered, register, etc.
• Undergraduate Degree Requirements: See the WIU Undergraduate Catalog listing for Biological Sciences.
• Transferring courses? Visit Itransfer to learn which courses transfer from other Illinois colleges and universities.

Departmental Policies and Opportunities

• Departmental Policies: Students in The Department of Biological Sciences and WIU have clear rights and responsibilities. All students should know these policies.
• Job Information: A listing of recent opportunities and websites that post biologically oriented job ads.
• Need to take the MCAT? Many online practice exams, arranged by subject content are on the MCAT website.
• Applying for scholarships? Visit this scholarship advice site.

Department of Biological Sciences
Waggoner Hall 372 • 1 University Circle
Macomb, Illinois 61455
Phone: 309/298-1546 Fax: 309/298-2270 • E-mail (Secretary): LA-Turke@wiu.edu