Western Washington University · Bellingham, Washington
Biology/Anthropology, BS
What Is the Study of Biology/ Anthropology?
Biological or Physical Anthropology is the study of both present and past human variation relative to local ecologies and cultures. Biological Anthropologists specialize in human or primate anatomy, disease ecology, growth and development, forensic anthropology and osteology, medical anthropology, primate behavior, and paleoanthropology.
Biology, the scientific study of living things, includes a broad spectrum of fascinating fields. Cell and molecular biology, developmental genetics, systematics and evolution, botany, zoology, marine biology, microbial ecology, plant and animal ecology, physiological and behavioral ecology and science education are some of the specialties of study that students can pursue with the Biology faculty at Western.
Why Should I Consider this Major?
The Biology/Anthropology major concentrates on human biology and behavioral science. This major is most useful for those continuing on in applied health careers such as: Medicine, Osteopathy, Optometry, Dentistry, etc. It is also useful for Epidemiology, public health and graduate programs in Human Biology and Biological Anthropology.
How to Declare:
Declare your Biology/Anthropology major as soon as you discover you are interested. Contact the Anthropology department and Maren Brinson in the Biology Department Office, BI 315 for details. Freshmen, your first quarter is not too soon!
The Biology Department has a two-step process for admission into our degree programs:
Phase I: Students declare their intent to major in biology, and are in the process of completing the introductory biology (BIOL 204, 205, 206) and general chemistry (CHEM 121, 122, 123) series.
Phase II: Admissions is based on academic performance in the Phase I introductory courses. Students must have achieved an average grade of 2.9 or higher in their introductory biology and general chemistry courses before they can advance to Phase II and begin taking upper-division coursework. Students may repeat only one course in Phase I in order to remain eligible for Phase II.
Consult Department advisors in Biology and Anthropology as early as possible. Early advisement will ensure appropriateness and proper sequencing of courses.
Coursework
Basic Requirements:
- ANTH 201 - INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
- ANTH 210 - INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY
- ANTH 215 - INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
- BIOL 204 - INTRODUCTION TO EVOLUTION, ECOLOGY AND BIODIVERSITY
- BIOL 205 - INTRODUCTION TO CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
- BIOL 206 - INTRODUCTION TO ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY
- BIOL 321 - GENETICS
- One course from:
- BIOL 325 - ECOLOGY
- ANTH 350 - THE ECOLOGY OF HUMAN VARIATION
- One course from:
- BIOL 340 - BIOMETRICS
- ANTH 335 - QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN ANTHROPOLOGY
- One course from:
- BIOL 432 - EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
- ANTH 423 - HUMAN EVOLUTION
- Choose one of the following series:
- CHEM 121 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
- CHEM 122 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
- CHEM 123 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY III
- or
- CHEM 125 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY I, HONORS
- CHEM 126 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY II, HONORS
- CHEM 225 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY III, HONORS
- One course from:
- CHEM 351 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- CHEM 352 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- or
- CHEM 251 - ELEMENTARY ORGANIC CHEMISTRY (only with advisor’s approval)
- One course from:
- MATH 124 - CALCULUS AND ANALYTIC GEOMETRY I
- MATH 134 - CALCULUS I HONORS
- MATH 138 - ACCELERATED CALCULUS
- Choose one of the following series:
- PHYS 114 - PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS I
- PHYS 115 - PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS II
- or
- PHYS 121 - PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS I
- PHYS 122 - PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS II
- PHYS 123 - PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS III
Depth requirements:
- BIOL 348 - HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
- One course from:
- BIOL 349 - HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY
- BIOL 467 - COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE PHYSIOLOGY
- One of the following:
- ANTH 308 - HUNTER-GATHERER SOCIETIES IN WORLD PREHISTORY
- ANTH 422 - NUTRITIONAL ANTHROPOLOGY
- ANTH 424 - MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
- BIOL 410 - ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
Completion requirement:
- ANTH 496 - PORTFOLIO ASSEMBLY
Electives:
3-12 credits to make 102-105 total.
- One course from:
- BIOL 322 - GENETICS LAB
- BIOL 324 - METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
- BIOL 323 - CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
- BIOL 345 - FUNDAMENTALS OF MICROBIOLOGY
- BIOL 410 - ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
- BIOL 465 - VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
- BIOL 467 - COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE PHYSIOLOGY
- ANTH 308 - HUNTER-GATHERER SOCIETIES IN WORLD PREHISTORY
- ANTH 422 - NUTRITIONAL ANTHROPOLOGY
- ANTH 424 - MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
- ANTH 466 - REPRODUCTIVE ECOLOGY
- Other electives under advisement
GURs:
The courses below are offered within this major and may also be used to satisfy GUR.
- QSR: ANTH 335; MATH 124, 134, 138
- SSC: ANTH 201, 210
- LSCI: ANTH 215; BIOL 204, 205, 206; CHEM 121, 122, 123,125, 126, 225,
- CHEM 251; PHYS 115, 161, 162, 163
- SCI: PHYS 114
Sample Careers
- Medical doctor
- Physicians Assistant
- Applied Health Professions
- Museum Conservator
- Forensic Anthropologist
Department
Contact
Anthropology Program Advisor:
Joan Stevenson
AH 316 (360)650-4787
Joan.Stevenson@wwu.edu
MJ Mosher
AH324 (360) 650-3614
M.J.Mosher@wwu.edu
Biology Program Advisor:
Roger Anderson
BI 311 (360)650-3992
Roger.Anderson@wwu.edu
Joann Otto
B315 (360) 650-4044
Joann.Otto@wwu.edu
Biology Program Coordinator:
Maren Brinson
BI 315
(360) 650-6165
maren.brinson@wwu.edu