This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2026-2027 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:
Interdisciplinary science core learning outcomes
- Demonstrate competency in at least two sciences or in a non-science area
- Apply learning to selection and pursuit of professional or graduate career objective
- Demonstrate proficiency in communication of scientific or research findings
- Demonstrate ability to apply the scientific method/approach to professional problems
- Demonstrate appreciation of the interrelation of core sciences to interdisciplinary problems
Biology concentration-specific learning outcome:
- Demonstrate broad science proficiency, with special emphasis on the core discipline of biology
Special requirements
The Bachelor of Science in Science requires a minimum of 120 credits.
Along with the general education requirements of the undergraduate programs and the College of Humanities and Sciences for a Bachelor of Science degree, this curriculum requires 28 to 33 credits in foundation science and mathematics courses and 36 to 38 credits in supplemental courses in the concentration. In preparation for the required mathematical sciences courses, all students must take the Mathematics Placement Test. Science majors are strongly encouraged to select a minor in an area different from their area of concentration that will complement their career interests and contribute additional upper-level credits to their curriculum.
Science majors declaring the biology concentration may not simultaneously declare a major or minor in biology.
Grade requirements
A minimum grade of C is required in each prerequisite course:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 100 | Introductory Chemistry (if required through placement test) | 3 |
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 301 | Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 302 | Organic Chemistry | 3 |
A minimum grade of C is required in the following courses before enrollment in advanced BIOL courses:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 151 & BIOZ 151 | Introduction to Biological Sciences I and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I | 4 |
| BIOL 152 & BIOZ 152 | Introduction to Biological Sciences II and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory II | 4 |
| BIOL 300 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 3 |
Degree requirements for Science, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a concentration in biology
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| INSC 490 | Capstone Research Experience in Interdisciplinary Science | 3 |
| • Additional major requirements | ||
| CHEM 102 & CHEZ 102 | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| ENVS 301 | Introduction to Meteorology (or upper-level natural science or health science elective from the lists below) | 3 |
| ENVS 310 | Introduction to Oceanography (or upper-level natural science or health science elective from the lists below) | 3 |
| PHYS 202 | General Physics II | 4-5 |
| or PHYS 208 & PHYZ 208 | University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Physical Geology and Physical Geography Laboratory | ||
| Physical Geography and Physical Geography Laboratory | ||
Or a 200 level or higher natural science elective and a 200 level or higher natural science laboratory elective from the lists below | ||
| • Major electives | ||
| Select one upper-level animal course or one upper-level plant course, with laboratory, from the list below | 4 | |
| Select two upper-level biology electives | 6 | |
| Concentration requirements | ||
| BIOL 152 & BIOZ 152 | Introduction to Biological Sciences II and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory II | 4 |
| BIOL 300 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 310 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 317 | Ecology | 3 |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| BIOL 151 & BIOZ 151 | Introduction to Biological Sciences I and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I | 4 |
| BIOZ 310 | Laboratory in Genetics (or other upper-level biology laboratory) | 2 |
| CHEM 101 & CHEZ 101 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I (CHEM 101 satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 4 |
| HUMS 203 | Career Compass | 1 |
| MATH 151 | Precalculus Mathematics (or placement; satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | 3-4 |
| or SCMA 212 | Differential Calculus and Optimization for Business | |
| or STAT 314 | Applications of Statistics | |
| PHYS 201 | General Physics I (all satisfy general education AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 4-5 |
| or PHYS 207 & PHYZ 207 | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory | |
| STAT 208 | Statistical Thinking | 3 |
| or STAT 210 | Basic Practice of Statistics | |
| AI literacy course 1 | 3 | |
| Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement) | 6 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 23 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Any three credit course offered through the minor in AI studies in humanities and sciences. Students who chose a general education course from the minor will take additional electives to fulfill degree requirements.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
Animal and plant courses
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Animal group | ||
| BIOL 309 | Entomology 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 312 | Invertebrate Zoology | 3 |
| BIOZ 312 | Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 313 | Vertebrate Natural History | 3 |
| BIOZ 313 | Vertebrate Natural History Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 391 | Topics in Biology (as approved) | 1-4 |
| BIOZ 391 | Topics in Biology Laboratory (as approved) | 1-4 |
| BIOL 402 | Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | 5 |
| BIOL 416 | Ornithology | 3 |
| BIOZ 416 | Ornithology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOL 435 | Herpetology 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 445 | Neurobiology and Behavior 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 503 | Fish Biology 1 | 4 |
| Plant group | ||
| BIOL 320 | Biology of the Seed Plant 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 321 | Plant Development | 3 |
| BIOL 322 | Plants, People and Culture | 3 |
| BIOL 391 | Topics in Biology (as approved) | 1-4 |
| BIOZ 391 | Topics in Biology Laboratory (as approved) | 1-4 |
These courses include laboratory hours and may be used to satisfy laboratory requirements.
Health science electives
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFAM/ANTH/INTL/GSWS 309 | Gender and Global Health | 3 |
| AFAM 310 | Black Health Matters: Social Determinants of Health in the African American Community | 3 |
| HPEX 345 | Nutrition for Health and Disease | 3 |
| HPEX 350 | Nutrition | 3 |
| HPEX 353 | Disease Trends, Prevention and Control | 3 |
| HPEX 373 | Structural Kinesiology | 3 |
| HPEX 374 | Musculoskeletal Structure and Movement | 4 |
| HPEX 375 | Physiology of Exercise | 3 |
| HPEX 440 | Chronic Disease and Exercise Management | 3 |
| PSYC 401 | Physiological Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 412 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC/GSWS 414 | Psychology of Women's Health | 3 |
| SCTS 301 | Illness Narratives | 3 |
| SCTS 392 | Revolutions in Science I | 3 |
| SCTS 393 | Revolutions in Science II | 3 |
| SCTS 397 | Genetics and Society: 1865 to the Present | 3 |
| SCTS 398 | Medicine and Public Health: ____ | 3 |
| SOCY 344 | Medical Sociology | 3 |
Natural science electives
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LFSC 301 | Integrative Life Sciences Research | 3 |
| LFSC 401 | Faith and Life Sciences | 3 |
| PHTX 400 | Drugs and Their Actions | 3 |
| Any 200-level or higher BIOL, BNFO, CHEM, CLSE, EGRB, ENVS, FRSC, INSC or PHYS course, except: | ||
| Introduction to Research | ||
| Biology Capstone Seminar: ____ | ||
| Biology Capstone Experience | ||
| Research Writing | ||
| Presenting Research | ||
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Biology Internship | ||
| Research and Thesis II | ||
| Biology Preceptorship: ____ | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Bioinformatics Preceptorship | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Chemistry Internship | ||
| Engineering Seminar | ||
| Independent Study in Engineering | ||
| Research Seminar in Environmental Studies | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Environmental Studies Internship | ||
| Professional Practices in Forensic Science | ||
| Forensic Science Independent Study | ||
| Forensic Science Internship | ||
| Capstone Research Experience in Interdisciplinary Science | ||
| Seminar in Conceptual Physics | ||
| Independent Study | ||
Natural science laboratory electives
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 205 | Basic Human Anatomy 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 309 | Entomology 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 320 | Biology of the Seed Plant 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 402 | Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy 1 | 5 |
| BIOL 417 | 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 435 | Herpetology 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 445 | Neurobiology and Behavior 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 503 | Fish Biology 1 | 4 |
| BIOZ: any 200-level or higher course | ||
| BNFO 380 | Introduction to Mathematical Biology 1 | 4 |
| BNFO 420 | Applications in Bioinformatics 1 | 3 |
| CHEZ: any 200-level or higher course | ||
| EGRB 307 | Biomedical Instrumentation 1 | 4 |
| EGRB 308 | Biomedical Signal Processing 1 | 4 |
| EGRB 310 | Biomechanics 1 | 4 |
| FRSZ: any 200-level or higher course | ||
| PHIZ 206 | Human Physiology Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 202 | General Physics II 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 208 & PHYZ 208 | University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory | 5 |
| PHYZ 320 | Modern Physics Laboratory | 1 |
Courses have a combined lecture and lab and will satisfy both natural science lecture and laboratory requirements.
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| MATH 151 | Precalculus Mathematics (or placement; MATH 151 satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
| STAT 208 or STAT 210 | Statistical Thinking or Basic Practice of Statistics | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | Introduction to the University (satisfies open elective) | 1 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication | Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education courses | 5 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| CHEM 101 & CHEZ 101 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I (CHEM 101 satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 4 |
| HUMS 203 | Career Compass | 1 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Differential Calculus and Optimization for Business or Applications of Statistics | 3-4 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course (select BOK to satisfy breadth of knowledge requirement and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 4 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| BIOL 151 & BIOZ 151 | Introduction to Biological Sciences I and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I | 4 |
| CHEM 102 & CHEZ 102 | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| PHYS 201 | General Physics I (all satisfy general education AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) or University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory | 4 |
| AI literacy course 1 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| BIOL 152 & BIOZ 152 | Introduction to Biological Sciences II and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory II | 4 |
| PHYS 202 | General Physics II or University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory | 4 |
| General education course (select BOK to satisfy breadth of knowledge requirement and AOI for creativity, innovation and aesthetic inquiry) | 4 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| BIOL 300 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 317 | Ecology | 3 |
| ENVS 105 or URSP 204 | Physical Geology (or 200-level science) or Physical Geography | 3 |
| URSZ 204 | Physical Geography Laboratory | 1 |
| Foreign language 101 | 3 | |
| Open elective or upper-level minor elective | 2 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| BIOL 310 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOZ 310 | Laboratory in Genetics (or another upper-level biology laboratory) | 2 |
| ENVS 301 | Introduction to Meteorology (or upper-level science elective) | 3 |
| Foreign language 102 | 3 | |
| Open elective or upper-level minor elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ENVS 310 | Introduction to Oceanography (or upper-level science elective) | 3 |
| Upper-level animal or upper-level plant course, with laboratory | 4 | |
| Open electives or upper-level minor electives | 8 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| INSC 490 | Capstone Research Experience in Interdisciplinary Science | 3 |
| Upper-level biology electives | 6 | |
| Open electives or upper-level minor electives, as needed | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Total Hours: | 120 | |
Any three credit course offered through the minor in AI studies in humanities and sciences. Students who chose a general education course from the minor will take additional electives to fulfill degree requirements.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.