Search

Chat With Us

    Key Facts

    Program Level

    Bachelor

    Study Type

    Full Time

    Delivery

    On Campus

    Application Fee

    USD 65 

    Campuses

    Main Campus - Cullowhee

    Program Language

    English

    Start & Deadlines

    Next Intake Deadlines22-Aug-2022
    Apply to this program

    Go to the official application for the university

    Duration 4 year(s)
    Tuition Fee
    USD 5,534  / semester
    Next Intake 22-Aug-2022

    Biology Major Minor B.S.

    About

    Western Carolina University biology students are prepared for careers in the sciences and for graduate and professional programs that lead to careers in the biological sciences. Students thrive under the tutelage of a faculty dedicated to teaching and research, and they benefit from on-campus research facilities such as an herbarium of more than 25,000 specimens. The main campus is located amidst an extraordinary outdoor laboratory that includes Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Students and faculty alike enjoy the unique research and learning opportunities that these incredible environments provide.
    The WCU Biology Program prepares students to succeed at the next level of their career. The program is designed around five foundational courses: Principles of Biology I and II, Introduction to Genetics, Introduction to Ecology and Evolution, and Senior Research. Students may select from four concentrations: Pre-health Professional, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, General Biology, and Molecular Biology. In tandem with an inclusive curriculum, smaller class sizes foster strong relationships and strengthen students' learning processes. Juniors and seniors are encouraged to participate in faculty-directed independent research projects carrying academic credit, while all majors are encouraged to pursue cooperative education and internships. These popular programs provide job experience, income, and professional opportunities for post-graduation employment.

    Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    All international students must demonstrate a proficiency in English in order to be admitted to Western Carolina University. Students may be exempt from demonstrating English proficiency in certain situations. Some of these situations may include:

    • Students from countries where English is the primary native language (listed below).
    • Students who have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) high school.
    • Students who have completed high school or higher education in an English-medium institution.
    • Students who have successfully completed 24 credit hours or more at a US college or university.
    • Students who achieve proficiency and conditional admission from WCU's Intensive English Program

    Countries with English as Primary Native Language (Exempt): Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Greenland, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tobago, Tonga, Trinidad, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

    All others must take either the (International English Language Testing System), , SAT, or ACT, or achieve Conditional Admission through our English requirements must be met when entering as a degree-seeking undergraduate student.

    Career

    A biology degree from WCU prepares students for immediate employment or further graduate study. Jobs can be focused on biomedical, biotech, ecological and other areas of biology and science in general. Through the years, WCU graduates have gone on to become scientists, researchers, program directors and coordinators, and educators and practitioners. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of biological technicians is projected to grow 10 percent from 2012 to 2022. Continued growth in the areas of biotechnology and medical research is expected to increase demand for biological technicians.

    Fee Information

    Tuition Fee

    USD 5,534  / semester

    Application Fee

    USD 65 

    How to Apply

    • Complete and submit the online application. (If you are a returning student, please make sure to check our Readmission Policy.) Pay the $65 application fee and submit official copies of all required transcripts. The $65.00 application fee is non-refundable. Send transcripts and other application materials to:

      Western Carolina University

      Office of Admissions 

      110 H.F. Robinson 
      
Cullowhee, NC 28723

      If you are sending your transcript via secure electronic transcript service, please send it to [email protected]

      Transcripts uploaded into the Slate application system are not considered official. Official transcripts must be submitted before Birth to Kindergarten, RN to BSN, Emergency Medical Care, or Emergency and Disaster Management will make a decision on admission (step 2 & 4). Official transcripts are sent electronically or via mail directly from the previous school(s) you attended. 

    • Submit Supplemental Application to the program, if required.  Some programs do not require a separate application but instead just review your official transcripts after they have been submitted to admissions to determine program acceptance. Please note: Programs have separate deadlines and closure dates from the University process (as some programs close sooner than others). Thus, you need to make sure you are following PROGRAM deadlines and closures. If you are still moving through the University Admissions (step 1) process and the program closes, this means you will not be able to enroll for that term (you must be accepted to both the UNIVERSITY and PROGRAM for admittance). 

      • Criminal Justice: Applications are still open for spring 2022.  Completion Deadlines are  November 15 for spring  and June 1 for fall. This means you must have been accepted by the  University by this date and have your program application in for CJ as well. We would recommend having your University application submitted and transcripts sent by October 15for spring 2020 and May 1 for fall admission to ensure enough time to be accepted by these dates. No summer admission.
      • Emergency Medical Care:  The fall 2022 program application is now open.   Fall admit only. Due April 1. You need to have both a University acceptance and program application on file by April 1, for you to be reviewed. You can still be working through the admissions office for this process as long as you have a supplemental application on file. Decisions will be given by May 1. 
      • RN-BSN:  The spring 2022 program application is now open. Completion Deadlines are September 29  for spring 2022 and March 15 for fall. This means you must have been accepted by the  University by this date and have your program application in for RN to BSN as well. We would recommend having your University application submitted and transcripts sent by  September 10th for spring 2022 and February 10 for fall  admission to ensure enough time to be accepted by these dates. No summer admission. The program does not make admissions decisions until after the deadline, and works to have decisions to students within a month following the deadline. 
      • Birth to Kindergarten degree seeking, AIG, RALC and Alternative Licensure students:  The BK Degree Seeking students for spring 2022 will receive a link to the program application starting in September 2021. There is currently no supplemental application for licensure only (have a bachelor's adlready) students. If you are a licensure only student (not degree) you will need to send verifcation of your bachelor's degree and copies of your unofficial transcripts to Greg McLamb - [email protected] once you complete the University application. The programs' priority deadline are March 20th and October 20th. If you are fully accepted to the University by the 15th you will receive notification by the 20th. If not, you will have to wait till the next monthly 15th-20th review cycle. This continues till the program is full.
    • Once University Admissions has all of your materials (supplemental applications go to the program, not Admissions) they will make a decision and send you a letter notifying you of your university admission decision. This is the end of stage one.

      Transcripts uploaded into the Slate application system are not considered official. Official transcripts must be submitted before Birth to Kindergarten, RN to BSN, Emergency Medical Care, or Emergency and Disaster Management will make a decision on admission (step 2 & 4). Official transcripts are sent electronically or via mail directly from the previous school(s) you attended. 

    • If you are accepted by the university, then your application materials and supplemental application (if required, see above programs requiring supplemental applications) will be reviewed by the program. This can take several days to several weeks, depending on the program and your university admission date. Once a decision is made, you will be notified via email and provided with an Intent to Enroll form. Follow the instructions on the form and return the form as directed.

      Review for Intent to Enroll does not start till January for summer/fall, and September for spring terms. Please remember, if you are applying to RN to BSN, Birth to Kindergarten, or EMC (fall only) they have their own deadline and review schedules

    • After you return your ITE, you will get one final email with all the instructions you need to contact your advisor and prepare to register.
      The timeline for completion of the application process varies for most programs. EMC and RN-BSN generally takes 8-10 weeks from the deadline to begin sending out decisions, but it could take longer depending on the number of applicants and available seats. Most other programs take 1-3 weeks from the completion of stage one to making an offer of admission to stage two. Again, this could take longer during peak enrollment periods.

    Western Carolina University

    Biology Major Minor B.S.

    Western Carolina University

    [object Object]

    United States of America,

    Cullowhee

    Similar Programs

    Other interesting programs for you

    Find More Programs
    Wishlist