Biology, B.S. (R, L)

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The Biology Major provides students with a strong, broadly-based foundation in biology. It is appropriate for all interests in biology, from environmental to molecular levels, including preparation for graduate and professional schools and those planning to seek teacher licensure.

REAL Curriculum

This major fulfills the R and L areas of the REAL Curriculum. Students develop proficiency at using scientific and quantitative inquiry to address biological problems. Students reflect on how their experiences relate to their professional and career goals. Students need majors and/or minors to fulfill the E and A areas to complete the REAL Curriculum requirements.

REAL Foundational Requirements

Foundational Writing (3 credits)

ENGL 111 - Principles of College Composition (GE)

Foundational Math (3 credits)

MATH 100 - Quantitative Reasoning (GE)
MATH 121 - Math Content for Teachers I (GE)
MATH 125 - Precalculus I (GE) (Recommended for Biology majors due to required course prerequisites. Requirement may be fulfilled through placement testing.)

REAL Cornerstone Requirements

Writing Intensive (WI) Courses (6 credits)

Writing Intensive courses are denoted below with a (WI). Two writing intensive courses are required to graduate, with at least one at the 300- or 400-level.

General Education Requirements

General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The Biology major includes 8 general education credits.

Major Requirements (65-74 credits)

B.S. Requirements (8 credits)

All Biology majors are expected to complete CHEM 301 :CHEM 302 (8 hrs.) to fulfill their Bachelor of Science degree requirement.

Required Biology Courses (20 credits)

Select one of these options (26-31 credits):

All majors must choose one of the two options below.

Biology Only Option (26 credits)

Choose 26 additional credits of Biology electives to complete this option.

Biology Plus Option (28-31 credits)

Choose 22 additional credits of Biology electives, plus 6-9 credits from the following courses:

Required Outside Courses (11-15 credits)

Additional Degree Requirements

Minimum in-major GPA of 2.0 required to graduate. GPA is calculated using all BIOL courses, courses cross-listed with BIOL courses, approved non-biology courses used as biology electives, and any course used in the major by petition.

Open Credit Hours (46-55 credits)

These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.

Total Credits Needed for Degree 120

Additional Information

All freshman Biology majors must register for BIOL 160 in their first or second semester.

Transfer students, and any other students, who do not take BIOL 160 must take either an additional BIOL 460 or one additional Biology elective at the 300 or 400 level of equal or greater credit hours (excluding BIOL 310 , BIOL 311 , BIOL 322 , BIOL 334 , BIOL 491 , BIOL 492 and BIOL 495 ).

Biology majors must complete the four Core courses, BIOL 131 , BIOL 132 , BIOL 231 and BIOL 232 with grades of C or better before registering for any 300- or 400-level Biology electives.

Students are allowed only one repeat or retake for each of the four Core courses, BIOL 131 , BIOL 132 , BIOL 231 and BIOL 232 .

Students who change their majors to Biology may substitute BIOL 105 for BIOL 132 . Transfer students who transfer in credit for BIOL 105 may similarly substitute the transferred course for BIOL 132 . Transfer students who transfer in BIOL 102 from a Virginia Community College, or an equivalent course from another institution, may substitute that course for BIOL 232 .

All Biology (BIOL) courses that have prerequisites, with the exception of those cross-listed with Chemistry (CHEM), require a grade of “C” or better in all courses listed as prerequisites for admission to the course, unless otherwise stated.

Students seeking teacher licensure can find details on additional requirements on the Secondary Education page.