Biology (BA)
Program Requirements
In addition to the Biology common curriculum above, students pursuing the B.A. degree must also complete the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | ||
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I | ||
| Applied Environmental Chemstry and Applied Environmental Chemistry Lab | ||
| BIOL Upper Division Electives 1 | 9 | |
| BIOL 399 | Advanced Topic: | 2 |
| BIOL 495 | Senior Evaluation | 0 |
| BIOL 499 | Senior Colloquium | 1 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
- 1
Any BIOL course numbered 300 or above. BIOL 399 Advanced Topic:, BIOL 495 Senior Evaluation, BIOL 497 Biology Internship, and BIOL 499 Senior Colloquium do not qualify. CHEM 307 Biochemistry I/CHEM 307L Biochemistry I Lab may also be counted for meeting this requirement.
B.S. or B.A. in Biology with Research Concentration
The Research Concentration is designed to make research experiences available to more students, to show students the value of science education outreach through experiential learning, and to provide students with a more solid foundation in biological mathematics and science communication. It consists of a number of courses and experiences designed to prepare students to pursue research in some venue (graduate school, industry, government, medical school, or science education) after graduation. Students can enter the program at any time, although we anticipate most students will enter the program as sophomores or juniors.
To complete the Research Concentration, the following requirements are added to the requirements for the B.S. or B.A. degree in biology:
- Participate in a significant research experience. This means working on an independent research project for the equivalent of 4 credits. Most students can fulfill this requirement in one summer of full-time research or four academic semesters of research while enrolled in other classes. Enrolling in the Research Concentration does not guarantee a research experience. It is the student’s responsibility to secure a research position. This requirement can be fulfilled by working with a GU faculty member or, with prior permission, with a faculty member at a different institution.
- Present the results from the independent research (in oral or poster format) to the scientific community at an event organized for that purpose.
- Write up the research results under advisement with your research mentor. Final papers will be turned in to the Research Coordinator the last month of the final semester you are enrolled at Gonzaga. If you did research off campus, see the Research Coordinator to arrange a local writing mentor.
- Participate in science education outreach for 16 hours one semester (BIOL 295 Science Outreach/CHEM 295 Science Outreach).
- Take BIOL 484 Research Seminar Research Seminar (1 credit) and attend a minimum of 12 biology-related seminars (including those in BIOL 484 Research Seminar), and write and submit a seminar reflection for each seminar.
- Take a college calculus course, Survey of Calculus (MATH 148 Survey of Calculus) or Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (MATH 157 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I).
- Complete a statistics course (MATH 121 Introductory Statistics or MATH 321 Statistics for Experimentalist) or biological mathematics course, Biological Data Analysis (BIOL 305 Biological Data Analysis).
University Core
In addition to their major and minor areas of study, all undergraduate students follow a common program designed to complete their education in those areas that the University considers essential for a Catholic, Jesuit, liberal, and humanistic education. The University Core Curriculum consists of forty-five credits of course work, with additional designation requirements that can be met through core, major, or elective courses.
The University Core Curriculum is a four-year program, organized around one overarching question, which is progressively addressed through yearly themes and questions. Hence, core courses are best taken within the year for which they are designated. First year core courses encourage intellectual engagement and provide a broad foundation of fundamental skills. Second and third year courses examine central issues and questions in philosophy and religious studies. The fourth year course, the Core Integration Seminar, offers a culminating core experience. Taken at any time throughout the four years, broadening courses intersect with the core themes and extend students’ appreciation for the humanities, arts, and social and behavioral sciences. Finally, the designation requirements (writing enriched, global studies, and social justice) reflect important values and reinforce students’ knowledge and competencies.
Overarching Core Question: As students of a Catholic, Jesuit, and Humanistic University, how do we educate ourselves to become women and men for a more just and humane global community?
Year 1 Theme and Question: Understanding and Creating: How do we pursue knowledge and cultivate understanding?
- The First-Year Seminar (DEPT 193, 3 credits): The First-Year Seminar (FYS), taken in the fall or spring of the first year, is designed to promote an intellectual shift in students as they transition to college academic life. Each small seminar is organized around an engaging topic, which students explore from multiple perspectives. The FYS is offered by many departments across the University (click here [PDF] for list of FYS courses).
- Writing (ENGL 101 Writing, 3 credits) and Reasoning (PHIL 101 Reasoning, 3 credits): The Writing and Reasoning courses are designed to help students develop the foundational skills of critical reading, thinking, analysis, and writing. They may be taken as linked sections. Writing (ENGL 101 Writing) carries one of the three required writing-enriched designations (see below).
- Communication & Speech (COMM 100 Communication and Speech, 3 credits): This course introduces students to interpersonal and small group communication and requires the application of critical thinking, reasoning, and research skills necessary to organize, write, and present several speeches.
- Scientific Inquiry (BIOL 104 Scientific Inquiry:/BIOL 104L Scientific Inquiry Lab, CHEM 104 Scientific Inquiry/CHEM 104L Scientific Inquiry Lab, or PHYS 104 Scientific Inquiry/, 3 credits): This course explores the scientific process in the natural world through evidence-based logic and includes significant laboratory experience. Students pursuing majors that require science courses will satisfy this requirement through their major.
- Mathematics (above Math 100, 3 credits): Mathematics courses promote thinking according to the modes of the discipline—abstractly, symbolically, logically, and computationally. One course in mathematics, above Math 100, excluding MATH 193 FYS: and including any math course required for a major or minor, will fulfill this requirement. MATH 100 College Algebra (College Algebra) and courses without the MATH prefix do not fulfill this requirement.
Year 2 Theme and Question: Being and Becoming: Who are we and what does it mean to be human?
- Philosophy of Human Nature (PHIL 201 Philosophy of Human Nature, 3 credits): This course provides students with a philosophical study of key figures, theories, and intellectual traditions that contribute to understanding the human condition; the meaning and dignity of human life; and the human relationship to ultimate reality.
- Christianity and Catholic Traditions (RELI, 3 credits). Religious Studies core courses approved for this requirement explore diverse topics including Christian scriptures, history, theology, and practices as well as major contributions from the Catholic intellectual and theological traditions (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
Year 3 Theme and Question: Caring and Doing: What principles characterize a well lived life?
- Ethics (PHIL 301 Ethics or RELI, 3 credits): The Ethics courses are designed to help students develop their moral imagination by exploring and explaining the reasons humans should care about the needs and interests of others. This requirement is satisfied by an approved ethics course in either Philosophy (PHIL 301 Ethics) or Religious Studies (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- World/Comparative Religion (RELI, 3 credits): Religious Studies courses approved for this core requirement draw attention to the diversity that exists within and among traditions and encourage students to bring critical, analytical thinking to bear on the traditions and questions considered. These courses carries one of the required two global-studies designations (see below) (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
Year 4 Theme and Question: Imagining the Possible: What is our role in the world?”
- Core Integration Seminar (DEPT 432, 3 credits). The Core Integration Seminar (CIS) offers students a culminating core experience in which they integrate the principles of Jesuit education, prior components of the core, and their disciplinary expertise. Some CIS courses may also count toward a student’s major or minor. The CIS is offered by several departments across the University (click here [PDF] for list of CIS courses).
The Broadening Courses
- Fine Arts & Design (VART, MUSC, THEA, 3 credits): Arts courses explore multiple ways the human experience can be expressed through creativity, including across different cultures and societies. One approved course in fine arts, music, theatre, or dance will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- History (HIST, 3 credits): History courses are intended to develop students’ awareness of the historical context of both the individual and the collective human experience. One course in History (HIST 101 Foundations of the West, HIST 102 The West and the World, HIST 112 World History, HIST 103 United States History I, HIST 104 United States History II) will fulfill this requirement.
- Literature (3 credits): Literature courses foster reflection on how literature engages with a range of human experience. One approved course in Literature (offered by English, Classics, or Modern Languages) will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- Social & Behavioral Sciences (3 credits): Courses in the social and behavioral sciences engage students in studying human behavior, social systems, and social issues. One approved course offered by Criminal Justice, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or Women and Gender Studies will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
The Designations
Designations are embedded within already existing core, major, minor, and elective courses. Students are encouraged to meet designation requirements within elective courses as their schedule allows; however, with careful planning students should be able to complete most of the designation requirements within other core, major, or minor courses.
- Writing Enriched (WE; 3 courses meeting this designation): Courses carrying the WE designation are designed to promote the humanistic and Jesuit pedagogical ideal of clear, effective communication. In addition to the required core course, Writing (ENGL 101 Writing), which carries one of the WE designations, students must take two other WE-designated courses (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- Global-Studies (GS; 2 courses meeting this designation): Courses carrying the GS designation are designed to challenge students to perceive and understand human diversity by exploring diversity within a context of constantly changing global systems. In addition to the required core course, World/Comparative Religion (RELI 300-level), which carries one of the GS designations, students must take one other GS-designated course (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- Social-Justice (SJ; 1 course meeting this designation): Courses carrying the SJ designation are designed to introduce students to one or more social justice concerns. Students must take one course that meets the SJ designation (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
Major-specific adaptations to the University Core Curriculum
All Gonzaga students, regardless of their major, will complete the University Core Curriculum requirements. However some Gonzaga students will satisfy certain core requirements through major-specific programs or courses. Any major-specific adaptations to the core are described with the requirements for the majors to which they apply.
Honors Program Requirements
Students must take the following courses to complete their Honors degree
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HONS 100 | Multi-modal Communications | 3 |
| PHIL 101 | Reasoning | 3 |
| HONS 193 | FYS: | 3 |
| HONS 432 | CIS | 3 |
| HONS 499 | Honors Senior Project | 3 |
| Select five of the following: 1 | 15-16 | |
| Science Inquiry and Science Inquiry Lab | ||
| Honors Human Nature | ||
| Honors Special Topics: Mathematics | ||
| Honors Christian Catholic Traditions | ||
| Honor World or Global Religion | ||
| Foundations of the West | ||
| Asian&PacificIslanderAmerHist | ||
| Honors Special Topics in History | ||
| Honors Special Topics in Art | ||
| Honors Special Topics in Literature | ||
| Honors Ethics | ||
| HONS 290 | Honors Colloquium 2 | 3 |
| HONS 390 | Honors Colloquium 2 | 3 |
- 1
These courses are cross-listed with regular University courses, and can fulfill core or major requirements.
- 2
Course numbers may be repeated for credit.
In order to remain an Honors student in good standing, a student must:
- Complete the Honors First Year Block (HONS 193 FYS:, HONS 100 Multi-modal Communications, and PHIL 101H Reasoning: Honors) or the transfer equivalent within one academic year of joining the program.
- Must either complete 6 credit hours of HONS courses (or courses with the Honors Designation) per academic year, or be within 12 credit hours of completing the Honors requirements. Exceptions will be made for students studying abroad during the academic year.
- Must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.3 at the time of graduation and good academic standing throughout their tenure at Gonzaga (as defined by the undergraduate catalogue). Students who drop below a 3.0 for two consecutive semesters will be removed from the program (subject to Director review).
Students who fail to meet these requirements will be removed from the program and will no longer qualify for the Honors scholarship.