Biology

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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost

2026-2027

College of Humanities and Sciences

Program description

The Biology program is housed in the School of Life Sciences and Sustainability within the College of Humanities and Sciences. The program offers four accelerated B.S. to M.S. degree programs, which allow Biology majors to obtain both undergraduate and graduate degrees in approximately five years.

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

Environmental Health Specialist
Epidemiologist
Medical Doctor
Researcher

Professional associations and resources

Degree requirements in Bulletin

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)

Plan of study in Bulletin

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)

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

Contact name:

Biology Advising

Building/room location:

Eugene P. and Lois E. Trani Building School of Life Sciences and Sustainability, 1000 West Cary Street, Suite 111, Box 842012, Richmond, VA 23284

Phone:

(804) 828-1562

Email:

bioadvising@vcu.edu

https://slss.vcu.edu/undergraduate/bs-in-biology/

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 DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner.
Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills.
Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to start goal planning, and choose electives.
Sharpen your study skills in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) at the Campus Learning Center.
Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help.
Explore the major through your introductory biology and chemistry courses.
Attend all supplemental instruction sessions.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living-learning community.
Connect with Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs and review resources such as Global Learning's Major Advising Sheets, study abroad fairs or complete Rams Abroad 101. to explore studying abroad opportunities and other global learning opportunities.
Consider applying to the Honors College.
Create a profile on RamsConnect to explore student organizations and get involved, meet people, and develop your interests.
Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations (BSPS Student club, Chemistry, etc.)
Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.
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.
Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni.
Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.

Year 2

Experience

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship.
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.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
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

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 Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
Explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ website.

Year 3

Experience

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
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.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions.
Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
Design a community-engaged research project.
Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities.
Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.
Follow VCU Biology (@VCU BIOLOGY) on Instagram and Facebook.
Update your resume to include how you have developed your communication and interpersonal skills for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
Attend a program through the Wellness Resource Center.
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.
Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
Update your ePortfolio.
Develop tangible skills in internships that you can demonstrate to employers.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
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.
Apply to CHS Scholarships in the Scholarship Hub and view Biology-specific scholarships.

Year 4

Excel

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
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.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field.
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.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, or AmeriCorps.
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.
Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
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

2026-2027

Biology

College of Humanities and Sciences

		MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING	EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY	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 DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner. Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills. Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to start goal planning, and choose electives. Sharpen your study skills in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) at the Campus Learning Center. Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help. 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. Connect with Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs and review resources such as Global Learning's Major Advising Sheets, study abroad fairs or complete Rams Abroad 101. to explore studying abroad opportunities and other global learning opportunities. Consider applying to the Honors College. Create a profile on RamsConnect to explore student organizations and get involved, meet people, and develop your interests. Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations (BSPS Student club, Chemistry, etc.) Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.	Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader. Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services. Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists. Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake. Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app. Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones. Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage. 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. Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni. Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
Experience	Year 2	Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide. Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.	Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty. Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship. 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.	Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events. Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake. Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field. 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.	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 Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans. Explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ website.
Experience	Year 3	Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning. Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning. 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. Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning. Design a community-engaged research project. Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals. Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities. Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU. Follow VCU Biology (@VCU BIOLOGY) on Instagram and Facebook. Update your resume to include how you have developed your communication and interpersonal skills for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams. Attend a program through the Wellness Resource Center. 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. Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor. Update your ePortfolio. Develop tangible skills in internships that you can demonstrate to employers.	Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center. 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. Apply to CHS Scholarships in the Scholarship Hub and view Biology-specific scholarships.
Excel	Year 4	Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree. 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.	Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships. Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners. Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field. 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.	Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, or AmeriCorps. 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. Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey. 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.