For best results, print using Chrome.
 Jump to Transfer Major Map
 Jump to recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Science: Biology

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science: Life Science (Richard Bland College of William and Mary)
Richard Bland College
Richard Bland College
Associate degree

Associate of Science: Life Science

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. Students may specialize 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 graduate study in biology and for admission into schools of medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, and into allied health programs.   
Bachelor-level job titles
  • Biological Technician
  • Clinical Research Coordinators
  • Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
  • 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
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 200
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Biology

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Science: Biology

Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Life Science)

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
  • Attend RBC Orientation.
  • Schedule an appointment with your Learner Mentor to discuss your degree and class plan.
  • Register for ESE 101 if you have not taken any college level classes.
  • Attend FAFSA Fridays to understand how you will fund your education. These events are available every Friday in October and February.
  • Use tutoring to get ahead.
  • Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Experience Year 2
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Biology Department.
  • Participate in the STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Join a professional organization related to biology: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS).
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Continue learning a foreign language or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Biology department-related events.
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two job experiences, (e.g., internships) before your senior year of college.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Attend RBC Orientation.
  • Schedule an appointment with your Learner Mentor to discuss your degree and class plan.
  • Register for ESE 101 if you have not taken any college level classes.
  • Attend FAFSA Fridays to understand how you will fund your education. These events are available every Friday in October and February.
  • Use tutoring to get ahead.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Biology Department.
  • Participate in the STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Join a professional organization related to biology: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS).
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Continue learning a foreign language or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Biology department-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two job experiences, (e.g., internships) before your senior year of college.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Science: Biology

Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Life Science)

Richard Bland College of William and Mary courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
ENGL 101 Rhetoric and Research I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENGL 102 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
ENGL 102 Rhetoric and Research II UNIV 200 3 General education
ENGL Core course in The Art and Language of Ideas (select 1): ENGL 203, 204, 205, 206,210, 211, 214, 215. ENGL 3 General education
Fine Arts Core course in The Language and History of the Fine Arts (select 1): ART 201, 202, 231, MUS 103, 123, THEA 201. VCU equivalent 3 General education
Human Experience SOC 201 General Sociology (or PSY 201-202 but both courses must be taken to receive credit for PSYC 101) VCU Equivalent 3 General education
U.S. & World Cultures Core courses in U.S. and World Cultures (select 1): GEO 103, GOVT 201, 202, HIST 101, 102, 201, 202 VCU equivalent 3 General education
MATH 251 Calculus I MATH 200 4 Major
MATH 217 Statistics STAT 210 3 Major
BIO 151 + Lab Biological Science I + Lab BIOL/Z 151 4 Major
BIO 152 + Lab Biological Science II + Lab BIOL/Z 152 4 Major
CHEM 101 + Lab General Chemistry I + Lab CHEM/Z 101 4 Major
CHEM 102 + Lab General Chemistry II + Lab CHEM/Z 102 4 Major
CHEM 230 Organic Chemistry I CHEM/Z 301 4 Major
CHEM 231 Organic Chemistry II CHEM/Z 302 4 Major
CSCI 121 or 202 Computer proficiency test or CSCI 121 or 202 VCU equivalent 0 to 3 Elective
Electives No more than 2 credits of PE may be chosen VCU equivalent 8 to 11 Elective
Richard Bland credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement). (This requirement can be fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) 0 to 8 General education
PHYS Select either PHYS 201 or PHYS 207 4 to 5 Major
PHYS Select either PHYS 202 or PHYS 208 4 to 5 Major
BIOL 200 Quantitative Biology 3 Major
BIOL 300 Cellular and Molecular Biology 3 Major
BIOL 310 Genetics 3 Major
BIOL 317 Ecology 3 Major
BIOL 318 Evolution 3 Major
BIOL Select 1-4 credits from the following: BIOL 475, BIOZ 476, BIOL 477 1 to 4 Major
Select from all biology (BIOL and BIOZ) courses applicable to the biology major and biochemistry (CHEM 403). All majors must complete at minimum three additional upper-level biology lab courses. The laboratory experiences may be fulfilled by a separate laboratory section (BIOZ) or by laboratory hours included in a lecture-based (BIOL) course. Not all courses are offered each semester. 13 to 16 Major
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses) Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 8 to 16 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 60
Bachelor's degree total 120