Biology

Jump to the major map

Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost

2023-2024

College of Humanities and Sciences

Program description

The Department of Biology offers programs leading to baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees; the doctoral degree is offered through the Ph.D. in Integrative Life Sciences program. The department also has three accelerated B.S. to M.S. degree programs, which allow Biology majors to obtain both undergraduate and graduate degrees in approximately five years. For these programs, students may choose to pursue an M.S. in either Biology, Forensic Science, or Health and Movement Science.

Biology students may specialize their study within many areas, such as molecular and cellular biology, genetics, aquatic and terrestrial ecology, systematics, physiology, neurobiology, and developmental biology. Students also may develop an interdisciplinary focus to their degree program, for example within areas such as bioinformatics, cancer biology, forensic science, and environmental science.

Career opportunities

The four-year curriculum in biology prepares students for employment in laboratory or field programs in private industry or government agencies and for teaching in secondary schools. This curriculum also prepares students for graduate study in biology and for admission into schools of medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, and into allied health programs.

Change of major requirements

Submit a change of major form to declare. Schedule an advising appointment with an academic advisor in biology by emailing bioadvising@vcu.edu prior to major approval.

Bachelor-level job titles

Biological Technician
Clinical Research Coordinators
Environmental Scientist
Fish and Game Wardens
Food Science Technician
Health Educator
Museum Technician and Conservator
Park Naturalist
Secondary School Teacher
Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products

Graduate and professional level job titles

Attorney
Medical Doctor
Researcher
Scientific Publication Journalist or Editor

Professional associations and resources

Degree requirements in Bulletin

Biology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Plan of study in Bulletin

Biology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Requirements

Highest level of math required

MATH 200

Science required

5+ additional science courses

Foreign language requirements

Additional tuition/fees

GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)

2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA

Transfer Maps

View Transfer Maps for this major

Contact information

Department name:

Department of Biology

Building/room location:

Eugene P. and Lois E. Trani Center for Life Sciences, 1000 W. Cary Street, Room 126, Richmond, VA 23284

Phone:

(804) 828-1562

Email:

bioadvising@vcu.edu

http://www.biology.vcu.edu/

Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):

Monroe Park

Major map

Year 1

Explore

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals.
Map out a 4-year course plan in the DegreeWorks Student Educational Planner.
Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills.
Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to review your CSI self-report, start goal planning, and choose electives.
Sharpen your study skills in supplemental instruction sessions at the Campus Learning Center.
Explore the major through your introductory biology and chemistry courses.
Attend all supplemental instruction sessions.

GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living learning community.
Consider applying to the Honors College.
Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations.
If living on campus, connect with your Resident Assistant, attend hall events, and participate in Community Council.
Participate in RAM CAMP to get a jump start on learning about VCU’s campus community.
Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.

DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY

Check out the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and follow @vcuomsa.
Connect with the Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs like the Peace Corps Prep Certificate.
Join RAMmalogues to talk with peers about social identities in the context of acceptance, belonging, and inclusion in life at VCU.
Review Global Learning's Major Advising Sheets to explore studying abroad opportunities and other global learning opportunities.
Visit a study abroad fair and complete Rams Abroad 101.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
Complete your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
Seek research opportunities by applying for research funding through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
Set up a profile in the Student Opportunity Center to explore REAL opportunities.
Create a draft resume and meet with a career advisor in VCU Career Services to discuss it.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
Explore “What Can I Do With This Major” to learn about employers in your field of study.
Join Students Today Alumni Tomorrow to connect with VCU traditions and alumni networking opportunities.
Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.

Year 2

Experience

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Explore innovation and business/non-profit creation classes with the da Vinci Center.
Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
Schedule an appointment with your advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
Talk to professors about your research interests, electives, and strategies for success in your classes.

GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
If living on campus, join the Residence Hall Association.
Learn about the Sophomore Year Experience in Cary & Belvedere.
Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.
Join a student organization like Beta Beta Beta Nat'l Honor Society, National Science Teachers Association, Women in Science, STEM at VCU, Black Women in STEM, or a pre-professional health track club.

DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY

Apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship.
Explore social issues, develop cultural competency skills, and engage with faculty through iExcel pop-up courses.
Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty.
Make friends with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
Join a cultural organization.
Attend OMSA Social Justice Conference.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
Explore global career options with a career advisor to set goals for getting your dream job.
Organize examples of your academic and professional experiences, accomplishments, and reflections in an ePortfolio.
Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
Meet with a coach at The Money Spot to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
Explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ website.
Join the VCU Biology Study & Alumni Group on LinkedIn.

Year 3

Experience

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
See your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help.
Discuss options for fulfilling your capstone like research, internship, service-learning, or study abroad and begin to plan accordingly.
Work with a professor as a preceptor or through a directed/independent study.

GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions.
Design a community-engaged research project.
Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities, such as the Fulbright Student Scholarship.
Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.
Follow VCU Biology (@VCU BIOLOGY) on Instagram and Facebook.
Attend a program through the Wellness Resource Center.

DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY

Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
Get required REAL experience and effect community change by using iExcel’s Active Citizen’s Toolkit to vote and volunteer.
Prepare for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams by showcasing your interpersonal skills on your resume.
Update your resume to include how you have developed your communication and interpersonal skills for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
With careful planning, a study abroad semester works well during junior or senior year.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
Get expert advice from VCU Alumni ranging from graduate school to your career simply by asking a question through Ask A Ram.
Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through InterviewStream or meeting with a career advisor.
Develop tangible skills in internships that you can demonstrate to employers.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year.

Year 4

Excel

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
Apply for a Department of Biology Award.
Gain biological experiences that offer real-world learning by doing through internships, undergraduate research, and study abroad.

GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, Richmond Teacher Residency, or AmeriCorps.
Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.
Consider jobs in the nonprofit sector.
Enhance your networking skills and practice your “elevator speech” when presenting.

DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY

Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
Master your answers to interview questions about your experience working with diverse populations.
Plan for how you will grow your cultural agility after graduation.
Read scholarly articles about diversity in your field.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Consider becoming an educator through programs like RTR, which prepare graduates from a variety of majors to become teachers in high-need schools.
Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers.
Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.
Attend career fairs, employer events, and workshops to interact with employers.
Join the American Institute of Biological Sciences or the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services.
Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
Follow VCU Biology on Linkedin.
Meet with a career advisor to finalize a resume to start searching for job opportunities after graduation.

Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost

2023-2024

Biology

College of Humanities and Sciences

Concentration(s):

No concentration

		MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING	GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY	DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY	EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS	PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore	Year 1	Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals. Map out a 4-year course plan in the DegreeWorks Student Educational Planner. Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills. Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to review your CSI self-report, start goal planning, and choose electives. Sharpen your study skills in supplemental instruction sessions at the Campus Learning Center. Explore the major through your introductory biology and chemistry courses. Attend all supplemental instruction sessions.	Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living learning community. Consider applying to the Honors College. Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations. If living on campus, connect with your Resident Assistant, attend hall events, and participate in Community Council. Participate in RAM CAMP to get a jump start on learning about VCU’s campus community. Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.	Check out the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and follow @vcuomsa. Connect with the Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs like the Peace Corps Prep Certificate. Join RAMmalogues to talk with peers about social identities in the context of acceptance, belonging, and inclusion in life at VCU. Review Global Learning's Major Advising Sheets to explore studying abroad opportunities and other global learning opportunities. Visit a study abroad fair and complete Rams Abroad 101.	Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader. Complete your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists. Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake. Seek research opportunities by applying for research funding through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. Set up a profile in the Student Opportunity Center to explore REAL opportunities. Create a draft resume and meet with a career advisor in VCU Career Services to discuss it.	Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future. Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page. Explore “What Can I Do With This Major” to learn about employers in your field of study. Join Students Today Alumni Tomorrow to connect with VCU traditions and alumni networking opportunities. Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
Experience	Year 2	Explore innovation and business/non-profit creation classes with the da Vinci Center. Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide. Schedule an appointment with your advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience. Talk to professors about your research interests, electives, and strategies for success in your classes.	Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty. If living on campus, join the Residence Hall Association. Learn about the Sophomore Year Experience in Cary & Belvedere. Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit. Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities. Join a student organization like Beta Beta Beta Nat'l Honor Society, National Science Teachers Association, Women in Science, STEM at VCU, Black Women in STEM, or a pre-professional health track club.	Apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship. Explore social issues, develop cultural competency skills, and engage with faculty through iExcel pop-up courses. Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty. Make friends with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization. Join a cultural organization. Attend OMSA Social Justice Conference.	Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events. Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field. Explore global career options with a career advisor to set goals for getting your dream job. Organize examples of your academic and professional experiences, accomplishments, and reflections in an ePortfolio. Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value. Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.	Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation. Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest. Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships. Meet with a coach at The Money Spot to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans. Explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ website. Join the VCU Biology Study & Alumni Group on LinkedIn.
Experience	Year 3	Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning. See your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning. Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help. Discuss options for fulfilling your capstone like research, internship, service-learning, or study abroad and begin to plan accordingly. Work with a professor as a preceptor or through a directed/independent study.	Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions. Design a community-engaged research project. Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities, such as the Fulbright Student Scholarship. Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU. Follow VCU Biology (@VCU BIOLOGY) on Instagram and Facebook. Attend a program through the Wellness Resource Center.	Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning. Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals. Get required REAL experience and effect community change by using iExcel’s Active Citizen’s Toolkit to vote and volunteer. Prepare for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams by showcasing your interpersonal skills on your resume. Update your resume to include how you have developed your communication and interpersonal skills for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams. With careful planning, a study abroad semester works well during junior or senior year.	Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience. Get expert advice from VCU Alumni ranging from graduate school to your career simply by asking a question through Ask A Ram. Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through InterviewStream or meeting with a career advisor. Develop tangible skills in internships that you can demonstrate to employers.	Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship. Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility. Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year.
Excel	Year 4	Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree. Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met. Apply for a Department of Biology Award. Gain biological experiences that offer real-world learning by doing through internships, undergraduate research, and study abroad.	Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, Richmond Teacher Residency, or AmeriCorps. Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships. Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization. Consider jobs in the nonprofit sector. Enhance your networking skills and practice your “elevator speech” when presenting.	Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners. Master your answers to interview questions about your experience working with diverse populations. Plan for how you will grow your cultural agility after graduation. Read scholarly articles about diversity in your field.	Consider becoming an educator through programs like RTR, which prepare graduates from a variety of majors to become teachers in high-need schools. Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers. Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity. Attend career fairs, employer events, and workshops to interact with employers. Join the American Institute of Biological Sciences or the American Association for the Advancement of Science.	Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter. Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services. Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities. Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation. Follow VCU Biology on Linkedin. Meet with a career advisor to finalize a resume to start searching for job opportunities after graduation.