Environmental Biology degree | Washburn University

Why study Environmental Biology at Washburn?

Environmental biologists focus at the organismal and environmental system level, and as an environmental biology student at Washburn, you’ll learn with experts in the fields of entomology, herpetology, plant genetics, and conservation. With a faculty mentor in your area of interest, you’ll complete at least one semester of research, which may be lab or field based. Internships also are available with our many partners, including The Topeka Zoo. You’ll graduate with experience and the technical skills and knowledge you need to begin your career.

Career Forecast Growing OutlookAverage Salary $73,230on campus

What sets Biology at Washburn apart?

Learn from field experts not graduate students in small classes that help you thrive.
Washburn’s Karlyle Woods field station means you can be in the field and close to home. Experiential field work opportunities in other areas also are available for qualified students.
Biology Department Scholarships are available to incoming and returning majors.
Find your people on campus with one of four biology student clubs.
Graduate with research experience guided by a faculty mentor, which could lead to a conference presentation or publication.

Apply now

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Admissions scholarships

Washburn University offers generous scholarships based on your interests, career aspirations, community service and academic success.

Biology department scholarships

The biology department offers a variety of scholarships based on academic performance and career pursuits. New and transfer students are eligible. Applications are due early in the spring.

Admissions scholarships
Admissions scholarships
Biology department scholarships
Biology department scholarships

Tuition and fees

Courses in this program are offered at the Traditional Undergraduate rate.

Financial aid

Washburn University offers generous undergraduate financial aid, including scholarships and grants.

Tuition waivers

If you don’t currently live in Kansas, learn about our Tuition Waiver programs that may qualify you for in-state tuition.

Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees
Financial aid
Financial aid
Tuition waivers
Tuition waivers

Curious about field work?

Dr. Benjamin Reed and environmental biology students are tracking box turtles in the region. Read more about the project from the Ichabod Magazine.

Read more about the project

Degree options:

Bachelor of Science

University and general education requirements
44 credit hours in biology
- 23 credit hours of environmental biology core requirements, plus
- 21 credit hours of biology electives, plus
- 3 credit hours of a quantitative course, plus
Required 30-hour natural science concentration
- 20 credit hours in one discipline

Sample schedule (PDF)

Major map (PDF)

Bachelor of Arts

University and general education requirements
38 credit hours in biology
- 23 credit hours of environmental biology core requirements, plus
- 15 credit hours of biology electives
Foreign language competency requirement (see required courses)

Sample schedule (PDF)

Major map (PDF)

Required course for B.S.

Required core biology courses for all EB majors:

BI 102 General Cellular Biology (5)
BI 103 General Organismal Biology (5)
BI 310 Ecology (4)
BI 333 General Genetics (4)
BI 340 Evolutionary Biology (3)
BI 390 Biology Seminar – Capstone Course (1)
BI 395 Biology Research – Capstone Course (1)

Total core biology hours: 23

Required chemistry, math and physics courses:

CH 151/152 Fundamentals of Chemistry (1 year with lab) (10)
CH 340/342 Organic Chemistry I (with lab) (5)
MA 151 Calculus & Analytical Geometry I (5)
PS 261/262 College Physics (1 year with lab) OR PS 281/282 General Physics (1 year with lab) (10)

Total CH, MA, PS hours: 30

Elective supportive organismal courses:

BS in EB students must complete a minimum of 21 additional credit hours of biology electives; a minimum of 14 credit hours must be from the following lists, with at least 1 course from the field electives section. Any remaining credits needed may be taken from any BI course that counts for the major.

BI 301 General Microbiology (4)
BI 303 Invertebrate Zoology (4)
BI 305 Parasitology (4)
BI 322 Advanced General Botany (4)
BI 328 Plant Anatomy and Physiology (3)
BI 330 Animal Physiology (4)

Field Electives:

BI 300 Field Biology (3)
BI 302 Entomology (4)
BI 315 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
BI 324 Systematic Botany (3)

Total elective hours: at least 14

Quantitative course requirement:

(BS in EB students must complete 1 quantitative course from the list below)

MA 140 Statistics (3)
MA 145 Mathematics for Decision Making (3)
BI 314 Statistics for Biologists (3)

Total hours: at least 3

Required courses for B.A.

Required core biology courses for all EB majors:

BI 102 General Cellular Biology (5)
BI 103 General Organismal Biology (5)
BI 310 Ecology (4)
BI 333 General Genetics (4)
BI 340 Evolutionary Biology (3)
BI 390 Biology Seminar – Capstone Course (1)
BI 395 Biology Research – Capstone Course (1)

Total core biology hours: 23

Required chemistry, math and physics courses:

CH 151/152 Fundamentals of Chemistry (1 year with lab) (10)
CH 340/342 Organic Chemistry I (with lab) (5)
MA 140 Statistics (3) or MA 151 Calculus & Analytical Geometry I (5)
PS 261/262 College Physics (1 year with lab) OR PS 281/282 General Physics (1 year with lab) (10)

Total CH, MA, PS hours: 28-30

Elective supportive organismal courses:

BA in EB students must complete a minimum of 15 additional credit hours of biology electives; a minimum of 10 credit hours must be from the following lists, with at least 1 course from the field electives section. Any remaining credits needed may be taken from any BI course that counts for the major.

BI 301 General Microbiology (4)
BI 303 Invertebrate Zoology (4)
BI 305 Parasitology (4)
BI 322 Advanced General Botany (4)
BI 328 Plant Anatomy and Physiology (3)
BI 330 Animal Physiology (4)

Field Electives Section

BI 300 Field Biology (3)
BI 302 Entomology (4)
BI 315 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
BI 324 Systematic Botany (3)

Total elective hours: at least 10

Foreign language competency requirement:

Must satisfy the requirements for a foreign language (0, 4, or 8 hours of Foreign Language that includes the 102-level course or higher, OR achieving a minimum score on an AP or CLEP test OR successfully challenging the Modern Languages Departmentally administered 102 level examination.)

Fill out the Undergraduate Admissions Application and enroll to pursue biology. It's common to declare a major in biology at enrollment and then determine your specific interest.

Conduct research with a faculty mentor and plan to present and/or publish your findings.

The best things you can do to succeed in biology at Washburn are: attend class regularly, complete assignments and develop strong study routines, come to class prepared, and access free tutoring and professor office hours when you have questions.

Washburn Career Engagement offers resume workshops and career fairs to help connect you with opportunities.

11% of environmental biology majors in the last five years have gone right to graduate school right graduation.

Washburn's Biology program offers specialization in:

Biology

This is right for you if you want a strong foundation in biology but aren't ready to choose a specialty area, or want to combine it with another major.