- Required Biology Courses (33 credits)
- Biology 101, 101L, 102, and 102L
- Three credits of Biology, BBMB, or Chemistry 490 or 498
- One credit of Biology 499
- Four credits from each of the following categories of upper-level electives (at least 3 credits must be taken at the 200-level before proceeding to coursework at the 300-level):
- Molecular/Cell Biology
- Organismal Biology
- Ecology/Evolution
- Additional courses in Biology and/or BBMB numbered 200 or above to reach minimum 33 credits
- Required Supporting Science Courses (17 Credits)
- Chemistry 125, 126, 135, and 136; or 140
- Chemistry 245
- One course chosen from any two of the following categories:
- Introductory Statistics (Economics 227, Mathematics 128, or Psychology 210)
- Applied Statistics (Economics 327, Mathematics 248, or Psychology 410)
- Introductory Mathematics (Mathematics 124 or 125)
- Applied Mathematics (Mathematics 126 or 247; or Physics 145 or 155)
- Introductory Computation (Biology 250 or Computer Science 167). Students may apply Biology 250 to the Mathematics and Modeling requirement or the Biology elective requirement, but not both.
- Senior Requirements
- Biology, BBMB, or Chemistry 490 or 498
- One credit of Biology 499
- One-hour oral exam
- Honors
- Students do not apply for admission to candidacy for honors.
- Students must submit a proposal for their thesis or project within the first six weeks of the two-semester period in which the student is eligible.
- Accumulated at least 87 credits
- Completed two semesters of residency at Whitman
- Major GPA of at least 3.500
- Complete a written thesis or research project prepared exclusively for the satisfaction of this program.
- Earn a grade of at least A- on the honors thesis or project and the honors thesis course.
- Pass the senior assessment with distinction.
- Chair of the department will notify the Registrar of students attaining honors no later than the beginning of the 12th week of the semester.
- An acceptable digital copy of the honors thesis must be submitted to Penrose Library no later than Reading Day.
- Notes
- No P-D-F of Biology or BBMB courses, or other courses that count toward the major after the major is declared.
- Students with AP Biology or IB Biology score of 5 or higher can receive credit for Biology 101 (3 credits), but not for 101L.
Required Biology Courses
Item #
Title
Credits
3
Sub-Total Credits
12
Upper-Level Biology Electives
Note: At least three credits must be taken at the 200-level before proceeding to coursework at the 300-level.
Item #
Title
Credits
4
4
4
9
Sub-Total Credits
21
Required Supporting Science Courses
Item #
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
17
Total Credits
50