Department of Biological Sciences

Prospective Undergraduate Students

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Biology Day  /  2015 Zoology FYE Kibbe Trip pics

Why a biology degree?

  • Biology Overview --This overview will answer the questions below, and more!
  • Why a biology degree? What can you do with it? What kinds of jobs are there?
General Degree Information

Incoming first-year students (30 credit hours or less) are required to enroll in the Freshman Year Experience (FYE) Program. Please go to WIU's First Year Experience (FYE) page for more information.

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.

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.

WIU Has An Established Commitment to a High-Quality Professional Preparation

Few biology departments offer research and field experiences to undergraduates - a strength of our department is our commitment to undergraduate research.

Our majors prepare our graduates to pursue careers in health care, biotechnology, conservation, government agencies, education, and a wide range of other fields.

Undergraduate Programs and Options and Advising

Career opportunities:

  • Medicine
  • Veterinarian
  • Dentistry
  • Optometry
  • Physical Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physician's Assistant
  • Biotechnology industry
  • Government conservation agencies such as:
    • The Department of Natural Resources, Fish, and Wildlife
    • The Environmental Protection Agency
    • National Park Service
  • Private conservation organizations such as:
    • The Audubon Society
    • The Nature Conservancy
    • World Wildlife Federation
  • Museum curation
  • Zoos and aquaria

Features of Undergraduate Courses

  • Courses taught by faculty members, not graduate students
  • An active faculty advisor program and an active career advising/career development program
  • A wide variety of courses providing a strong background in the natural and social sciences, humanities, and writing
  • A curriculum which supports students pursuing their individual academic interests
  • Libraries with Internet access to biology and research journals
  • Easily accessible computer labs for student use

Transferring Courses?

Visit Transferology to learn more about whether your classes will transfer to WIU.