Biology
College of Humanities and Sciences
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.
- 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
- Environmental Health Specialist
- Epidemiologist
- Medical Doctor
- Researcher
Biology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Biology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), accelerated Bachelor's-to-Master's
Biology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), accelerated Bachelor's-to-Master's (forensic science)
Biology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), accelerated Bachelor's-to-Master's (health and movement science)
Biology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), accelerated Bachelor's-to-Master's (medical laboratory science)
Biology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Biology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), accelerated Bachelor's-to-Master's
Biology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), accelerated Bachelor's-to-Master's (forensic science)
Biology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), accelerated Bachelor's-to-Master's (health and movement science)
Biology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), accelerated Bachelor's-to-Master's (medical laboratory science)
- MATH 200
- 5+ additional science courses
- No
- Yes
- 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA
Contact information
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 full degree 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 Living-Learning Community.
- Consider applying to the Honors College.
- Get involved, meet people, and develop your interests by joining one of VCU's 50 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
- 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
- Activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
- Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
- 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 an affordability plan with your financial counselor.
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 the Community Foundation 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.
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.
- Join the Biology Internship Preparation Program Canvas page to learn more about preparing for and applying to Biology internships.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- 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.
- 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 in the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
- Explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ website.
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- 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.
- Use LinkedIn Learning to enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills.
- 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 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 Citizens Toolkit to vote and volunteer.
- Prepare for future work on multidisciplinary 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 Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
- Develop tangible skills in internships that you can demonstrate to employers.
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.
- Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services.
- Make a plan with your 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.
- Apply to CHS Scholarships in the Scholarship Hub and view Biology-specific scholarships.
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.
- Plan for how you will grow your second language fluency after graduation.
- Read scholarly articles about internationalization 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.
- 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.
Biology
College of Humanities and Sciences
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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Explore | Year 1 |
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Experience | Year 2 |
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Excel | Year 4 |
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