microscopic view of green algae

Elective Lists

The lists below fulfill elective requirements for the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Biology for students applying during or after Fall 2026. 

For students who entered the Biology major before Fall 2026, please see our previous handouts and forms page. 

Students must take 6 credits (18 credits total) from each major subdiscipline of Biology (Ecology and Evolution, Organismal Physiology, Cellular and Molecular Biology). The remaining upper division elective requirements can be additional credits from these areas or approved general electives from Biology or other departments.  

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Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

6 credits from the list below 

  • BIOL 305 – Science Communication: Video Storytelling in Biology — 3 credits

  • BIOL 354 – Foundations in Evolution and Systematics — 4 credits

  • BIOL 356 – Foundations in Ecology (Lab) — 4 credits

  • FHL 375 –  Marine Mammals of the Salish Sea –  5 credits (Offered at Friday Harbor Labs) 

  • FHL 403 –  Novel Marine Ecosystems –  5 credits (Offered at Friday Harbor Labs) 

  • BIOL 406 – Conservation of Large Vertebrates — 3 credits

  • BIOL 410/FHL 420 – Marine Ecology of the Salish Sea (Offered at FHL) (Lab) — 5 credits (Offered at Friday Harbor Labs) 

  • BIOL 423 – Marine Ecological Processes — 3 credits

  • BIOL 434 – Invertebrate Zoology (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 441 – Trends in Land Plant Evolution (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 442 – Genetics of Plant Innovations — 5 credits

  • BIOL 443 – Evolution of Mammals and their Ancestors (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 444 – Ornithology (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 445/FHL 440 –  Marine Botany  —  5 credits (Offered at Friday Harbor Labs) 

  • BIOL 446 – Plant Classification and Identification (Lab) — 5 credits

  • FHL 446 –  Marine Botany - Diversity and Ecology —  9 credits  (Offered at Friday Harbor Labs) 

  • BIOL 447 – The Greening of the Earth: Influence of Plants on the Evolution of Terrestrial Ecosystems (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 448 – Mammalogy (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 450 – Vertebrate Paleontology (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 451 – Invertebrate Paleontology (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 452 – Vertebrate Biology (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 453 - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy - (5 credits) 

  • BIOL 468 – Ecology of Animal Movement (Lab) — 4 credits

  • BIOL 472 – Community Ecology (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 476 – Conservation Biology — 4 credits

  • BIOL 480 – Field Ecology (Lab) — 4 credits

  • BIOL 481 – Experimental Evolutionary Ecology (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 483 – Seminar in Paleobiology — 1–3 credits

  • BIOL 486 – Seminar in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation — 1–3 credits

  • BIOL 489 – Seminar in Plant Biology — 1–3 credits

  • BIOL 497 – Citizen Science (Hurme) — 2 credits

  • BIOL 497 – Wildlife Forensic Science (Wasser) — 2 credits

  • FHL 528 –  Advanced Topics in Fish Biology –  9 credits 

  • BIOL/FHL 539  – Evolutionary Development of Marine Invertebrates  — 9 credits (Offered at Friday Harbor Labs) 

Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology 

6 credits from the list below 

  • BIOL 302 – Laboratory Techniques in Cell and Molecular Biology (Lab) — 4 credits

  • BIOL 355 – Foundations in Molecular Cell Biology — 4 credits

  • BIOL 400 – Experiments in Molecular Biology (Lab) — 4 credits

  • BIOL 401 – Current Topics in Cell and Developmental Biology — 4 credits

  • BIOL 402 – Functional Genomics (Lab) — 4 credits

  • BIOL 403 – Knowledge Synthesis in Cell Biology — 4 credits

  • BIOL 405 – Cellular and Molecular Biology of Human Disease — 3 credits

  • BIOL 407 – Stem Cell Biology — 4 credits

  • BIOL 411 – Developmental Biology — 4 credits

  • BIOL 412 – Developmental Biology Lab (Lab) — 4 credits

  • BIOL 415 – Evolution and Development — 3 credits

  • BIOL 416 – Molecular Genetics of Plant Development — 3 credits

  • BIOL 426 – Comparative Immunology — 3 credits

  • BIOL 428 – Sensory Neurophysiology and Ecology Lab (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 429 – Organ Development, Homeostasis and Regeneration — 3 credits

  • BIOL 436 – Molecular Cell Biology of Protozoan Parasites — 3 credits

  • BIOL 454 – Molecular Mechanisms of Somatosensation — 3 credits

  • BIOL 457 – Chemical Communication — 4 credits

  • BIOL 459 – Developmental Neurobiology (Lab) — 3 credits

  • BIOL 464 – Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Seminar — 3 credits

  • BIOL 466 – Pathobiology of Emerging Diseases — 3 credits

  • BIOL 485 – Senior Seminar in Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology — 1–3 credits

  • BIOL 495 – Biology of Fermentation (Lab) — 3 credits

  • BIOL 497 – Neurogenetics — 3 credits

  • BIOL/FHL 536 - Evolutionary Development of Marine Invertebrates - 9 credits (Offered at Friday Harbor Labs) 

 

Organismal Physiology 

6 credits from the list below 

  • BIOL 315 – Biological Impacts of Climate Change — 3 credits

  • BIOL 350 – Foundations in Physiology — 4 credits

  • BIOL 385 – Evolutionary Medicine and Public Health — 3 credits

  • BIOL 404 – Animal Physiology: Cellular Aspects — 3 credits

  • BIOL 408 – Neuroethology — 4 credits

  • BIOL 413 – Survey of Human Anatomy (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 417 – Comparative Reproductive Physiology of Vertebrates — 4 credits

  • BIOL 418 – Biological Clocks and Rhythms — 4 credits

  • BIOL 421 – Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology of Animals (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 425 - Plant Physiology and Development (5 credits) 

  • BIOL 427 – Biomechanics (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL/FHL 430 - Marine Zoology - 5 credits (Offered at Friday Harbor Labs) 

  • BIOL 439 – Functional Morphology (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 455 – Human Immunology and Pathology of Infectious Diseases — 4 credits

  • BIOL 461 – Neurobiology — 3 credits

  • BIOL 462 – Advanced Animal Physiology — 3 credits

  • BIOL 463 – Advanced Animal Physiology Lab (Lab) — 3 credits

  • BIOL 465 – Comparative Endocrinology — 4 credits

  • BIOL 467 – Comparative Animal Physiology — 3 credits

  • BIOL 469 – Evolution and Medicine — 3 credits

  • BIOL/FHL 471 – Comparative Anatomy and Physiology — 5 credits (Offered at Friday Harbor Labs) 

  • BIOL 488 – Seminar in Physiology — 1–3 credits

  • BIOL 497 – Special Topics: Computational Neuroscience — 3 credits

 

Other approved courses to fulfill elective requirements 

Bachelor of Science: 18 credits, Bachelor of Arts: 23 credits

Choose additional courses from other elective lists above or select courses from the list below 

Biochemistry (BIOC)

  • BIOC 405 – Introduction to Biochemistry — 3 credits

  • BIOC 406 – Introduction to Biochemistry — 3 credits

  • BIOC 426 – Basic Techniques in Biochemistry (Lab) — 4 credits

  • BIOC 440 – Biochemistry — 4 credits

  • BIOC 441 – Biochemistry — 4 credits

  • BIOC 442 – Biochemistry — 4 credits


 

Biology (BIOL)


 

Cross‑Listed Biology & Environmental / Marine Sciences

  • BIOL/ESRM 331 – Landscape Plant Recognition — 3 credits

  • BIOL 424 / ESRM 478 – Plant Eco‑physiology (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 438 / ESS 448 – Analytical Paleobiology (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL/FHL 432 – Marine Invertebrate Zoology — 9 credits (Offered at Friday Harbor Labs) 

  • BIOl/FHL 435 – Research Apprenticeship in Marine Sciences — 15 credits (Offered at Friday Harbor Labs) 

  • FHL 468 – Advanced Topics in Ecology and Biomechanics — 9 credits (Offered at Friday Harbor Labs) 

  • FHL 470 – Research in Marine Biology — 1-15 credits (Offered at Friday Harbor Labs) 

  • FHL 472  – Pelagic Ecosystem Function Apprenticeship — 15 credits (Offered at Friday Harbor Labs) 

  • BIOL/FISH 311 – Biology of Fishes (Lab) — 5 credits

  • BIOL 473 / FSH 474 – Limnology and Lab (Lab for FSH 474 only) — 3 or 2 credits

  • BIOL/FISH/ENVIR 478 – Topics in Sustainable Fisheries — 3 credits

  • BIOL/MARBIO 433 – Marine Ecology (Lab) — 5 credits

     

Bioethics & History (BH)

  • BH 311 – Ethical Issues in Modern Medicine — 3 credits

  • BH 402 – Ethical Theory — 5 credits

  • BH 404 – Metaethical Theory — 5 credits

  • BH 421 – History of Eugenics — 5 credits

  • BH 444 – Ethical Implications of Emerging Biotechnology — 3 credits

  • BH 488 – Global Perspectives in Bioethics — 3 credits


 

Environmental & Natural Resources

  • ENVIR 280 – Natural History of the Puget Sound Region — 5 credits

  • ENV H 311 – Introduction to Environmental Health — 3 credits

  • ENV H 444 – Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria and Genes — 4 credits

  • OCEAN 330 - Marine Biogeochemical Cycles - 5 credits 

  • OCEAN 402 - Advanced Marine Biogeochemicals Processes - 3 credits

  • OCEAN 403 - Southern Ocean: Climate and Ecosystems - 5 credits

  • OCEAN 432 - Microbes in a Changing Ocean - 3 credits 


 

ESRM (Environmental Science & Resource Management)

  • ESRM 250 – Introduction to Geographic Information — 5 credits

  • ESRM 325 – Environmental Application of Plants — 3 credits

  • ESRM 350 – Wildlife Biology and Conservation — 5 credits

  • ESRM 400 – Natural Resource Conflict Management — 3 credits

  • ESRM 404 – Plant Microbiology Laboratory (Lab) — 5 credits

  • ESRM 408 - The Biology and Ecology of Fungi - 5 credits 

  • ESRM 411 – Plant & Propagation: Principles and Practice — 3 credits

  • ESRM 412 – Native Plant Production — 3 credits

  • ESRM 415 – Terrestrial Invasion Ecology — 5 credits

  • ESRM 422 – Plant Microbiology Seminar — 2–4 credits

  • ESRM 430 – Remote Sensing in the Environment — 5 credits

  • ESRM 435 – Insect Ecology — 3 credits

  • ESRM 452 – Field Ornithology (Lab) — 3 credits

  • ESRM 456 – Biology and Conservation of Birds — 3 credits

  • ESRM 458 – Management of Endangered, Threatened, or Sensitive Species — 5 credits

  • ESRM 465 – Economics of Conservation — 3 credits

  • ESRM 470 – Natural Resource Policy and Planning — 5 credits


 

Fisheries (FISH)

  • FISH 312 - Aquatic Ecology - 5 credits 

  • FISH 406 – Parasite Ecology (Lab) — 5 credits

  • FISH 444 – Conservation Genetics (Lab) — 5 credits

  • FISH 450 – Salmonid Behavior and Life History — 3 credits

  • FISH 464 – Arctic Vertebrate Ecology — 4 credits

  • FISH 470 - Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Mammals - 5 credits 


 

Genomics (GENOME)

  • GENOME 372 – Genomics and Proteomics — 5 credits

  • GENOME 465 – Advanced Human Genetics — 4 credits

  • GENOME 466 – Cancer Genetics — 4 credits

  • GENOME 475 – Debates in Genetics — 3 credits


 

Immunology & Microbiology

  • IMMUN 441 – Introduction to Immunology — 4 credits

  • MICROM 301 – General Microbiology — 3 credits

  • MICROM 302 – General Microbiology Laboratory (Lab) — 2 credits

  • MICROM 402 – Fundamentals of General Microbiology Laboratory (Lab) — 3 credits

  • MICROM 410 – Fundamentals of General Microbiology I — 3 credits

  • MICROM 411 – Bacterial Genetics (Lab) — 4 credits

  • MICROM 412 – Prokaryotic Diversity — 3 credits

  • MICROM 431 – Prokaryotic Recombinant DNA Techniques (Lab) — 3 credits

  • MICROM 435 – Microbial Ecology — 3 credits

  • MICROM 442 – Medical Bacteriology — 3 credits

  • MICROM 445 – Medical Virology — 3 credits

  • MICROM 460 – Medical Mycology and Parasitology — 3 credits


 

Health, Nutrition & Physiology

  • NURS 301 – General Anatomy — 4 credits

  • NUTR 405 – Physical Activity in Health and Disease — 3 credits

  • NUTR 406 – Sports Nutrition — 3 credits

  • P BIO 376 – Human Physiology in Health and Disease — 4 credits

  • PGH 301 – Introduction to Genetic Epidemiology — 5 credits


 

Quantitative & Psychological Sciences

  • Q SCI 482 – Statistical Inference in Applied Research I — 5 credits

  • GWSS/PSYCH 357 – Psychobiology of Women — 5 credits

  • PSYCH 300 – Animal Behavior — 5 credits

  • PSYCH 416 – Animal Communication — 4 credits

  • PSYCH 419 – Behavioral Studies of Zoo Animals (Lab) — 5 credits