Student learning outcomes

Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:

  • Demonstrate broad and core science proficiency
  • 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
 

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 27 credits in foundation science and mathematics courses and 34 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

Grade requirements

A minimum grade of C is required in each prerequisite course:

Course Title Hours
CHEM 100Introductory Chemistry (if required through placement test)3
CHEM 101General Chemistry I3
CHEM 102General Chemistry II3
CHEM 301Organic Chemistry3
CHEM 302Organic Chemistry3

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 300Cellular and Molecular Biology3

Degree requirements for Science, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a concentration in physics

Course Title Hours
General education
Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser.30
Major requirements
• Major core requirements
INSC 490Capstone Research Experience in Interdisciplinary Science3
• Additional major requirements
ENVS 301Introduction to Meteorology (or upper-level science elective)3
ENVS 310Introduction to Oceanography (or upper-level science elective)3
MATH 201Calculus with Analytic Geometry II4
MATH 301Differential Equations3
MATH 307Multivariate Calculus4
• Concentration requirements
PHYS 208University Physics II5
PHYS 301Classical Mechanics I3
PHYS 320
PHYZ 320
Modern Physics
and Modern Physics Laboratory
4
PHYS 450Senior Physics Laboratory3
• Major electives
Select an additional eight to nine credits from the following:8-9
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
Mathematical Modeling
Elementary Astronomy
and Elementary Astronomy Laboratory
The Physics of Sound and Music
Or any course allowable for the B.S. in Physics, or a science elective approved by adviser
Ancillary requirements
Select one of the following:4
Biological Concepts
and Biological Concepts Laboratory
Introduction to Biological Sciences I
and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I
Introduction to Biological Sciences II
and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory II
HUMS 202Choices in a Consumer Society1
CHEM 101
CHEZ 101
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I (both satisfy general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning)
4
MATH 151Precalculus Mathematics (or placement; satisfies general education quantitative foundations)4
MATH 200Calculus with Analytic Geometry I4
PHYS 207University Physics I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning)5
Experiential fine arts 11-3
Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement)0-6
Open electives
Select any course.27-36
Total Hours120
1

Course offered by the School of the Arts

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.

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.

Freshman year
Fall semesterHours
CHEM 101
CHEZ 101
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I (both satisfy general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning)
4
MATH 151 Precalculus Mathematics (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) 4
UNIV 101 Introduction to the University 1
UNIV 111 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry I Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) 3
General education course 3
 Term Hours: 15
Spring semester
CHEM 102
CHEZ 102
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
4
HUMS 202 Choices in a Consumer Society 1
MATH 200 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I 4
PHYS 207 University Physics I (satisfies general education AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) 5
UNIV 112 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry II Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) 3
 Term Hours: 17
Sophomore year
Fall semester
Select one of the following: 4
BIOL 101
BIOZ 101
Biological Concepts
and Biological Concepts Laboratory
-
BIOL 151
BIOZ 151
Introduction to Biological Sciences I
and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I
-
BIOL 152
BIOZ 152
Introduction to Biological Sciences II
and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory II
-
MATH 201 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II 4
PHYS 208 University Physics II 5
UNIV 200 Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) 3
 Term Hours: 16
Spring semester
MATH 301 Differential Equations 3
PHYS 320
PHYZ 320
Modern Physics
and Modern Physics Laboratory
4
General education course (select BOK to satisfy breadth of knowledge requirement and AOI for creativity, innovation and aesthetic inquiry) 3
General education course (select BOK to satisfy breadth of knowledge requirement and AOI for diversities in the human experience) 3-4
 Term Hours: 13-14
Junior year
Fall semester
PHYS 103
Elementary Astronomy
or Mathematical Modeling
3
PHYS 301 Classical Mechanics I 3
PHYS 307 The Physics of Sound and Music (fulfills experiential fine arts gen ed requirement) 3
Foreign language 101, upper-level open elective or minor elective 3
Open elective 3
 Term Hours: 15
Spring semester
ENVS 301 Introduction to Meteorology (or upper-level science elective) 3
ENVS 310 Introduction to Oceanography (or upper-level science elective) 3
PHYS 450 Senior Physics Laboratory 3
Foreign language 102, upper-level open elective or minor elective 3
Upper-level open elective or minor elective 3
 Term Hours: 15
Senior year
Fall semester
BIOL 317
Ecology
or Energy and the Environment
or Energy and the Environment
or Environmental Pollution
or Environmental Pollution
3
ENVS 105
Physical Geology
or Physical Geography
3
URSZ 204 Physical Geography Laboratory 1
Experiential fine arts (if not fulfilled by PHYS/MHIS 307, upper-level recommended) 1-3
Open elective 3
Upper-level open elective or minor elective 3
 Term Hours: 14-16
Spring semester
INSC 490 Capstone Research Experience in Interdisciplinary Science 3
Upper-level electives or minor electives 9
Upper-level science elective 3
 Term Hours: 15
 Total Hours: 120-123

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.