This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 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:
- 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 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 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 490 | Capstone Research Experience in Interdisciplinary Science | 3 |
| • Additional major requirements | ||
| ENVS 301 | Introduction to Meteorology (or upper-level science elective) | 3 |
| ENVS 310 | Introduction to Oceanography (or upper-level science elective) | 3 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| • Concentration requirements | ||
| PHYS 208 | University Physics II | 5 |
| PHYS 301 | Classical Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 320 & PHYZ 320 | Modern Physics and Modern Physics Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 450 | Senior Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| • 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 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 |
| 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 (or placement; satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | 4 |
| PHYS 207 | University Physics I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 5 |
| Experiential fine arts 1 | 1-3 | |
| Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement) | 0-6 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 27-36 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
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 semester | Hours | |
| 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 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 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 or OPER 327 | 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 or URSP 204 | 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.