2021-2022
Biology, Bachelor of Science
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science: Science (Northern Virginia Community College)
Associate degree
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
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
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)
- 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA
VCU Major Maps
Transfer major map
2021-2022
Biology, Bachelor of Science
Northern Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: 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 | ||
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| Explore | Year 1 |
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| Experience | Year 2 |
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Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Cultivate relationships with your professors.
- Use Navigate to connect with your advisor and create a program plan.
- Meet with with your academic advisor or counselor each semester.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Register for SDV 100 or SDV 101.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Learn about the admissions process by speaking with the VCU Transfer Admissions representative at NOVA.
- Visit the VCU Transfer Admissions webpage.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend cultural events at NOVA and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
- Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
- Browse careers related to Biology through the NOVA career planning system.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Understand how you will fund your education by taking advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
- Take a career assessment through the NOVA career planning system.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and explore VCU's Career Pathways.
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Complete requirements for the associate’s degree. Earn at least a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your math and science classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Meet with your academic advisor or counselor.
- Prepare for organic chemistry at VCU by reviewing CHM 111-112 notes and textbook.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Join a professional organization related to biology: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Institute of Biological Sciences.
- Research housing in Richmond for next year.
- Participate in the STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options at VCU.
- If interested, attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café or VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week.
- Consider learning a foreign language, or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
- Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Speak with employers that visit campus throughout the year.
- Plan to complete at least two job experiences (e.g., internships) before your senior year of college.
- Create a resume.
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
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.
- Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
Recommended courses
2021-2022
Biology, Bachelor of Science
Northern Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: Science)
| Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDV 100 (or SDV 101) | College Success Skills | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
| ENG 111 | College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General education |
| HIS Elective | Select 1: HIS 101 History of Western Civilization I OR HIS 102 History of Western Civilization II OR HIS 111 History of World Civilization I OR HIS 112 History of World Civilization II OR HIS 121 United States History I OR HIS 122 United States History II | HIST ___ | 3 | General education |
| MTH 167 | Precalculus with Trigonometry Note: Students taking the two semester sequence of precalculus must take both MTH 161 and 162 for a total of 6 credits | MATH 151 | 5 | General education |
| Math or Science 1 | CHM 111 General Chemistry I | CHEM/Z 101 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| CST 110 | Select 1: CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking OR CST 110 Introduction to Communication OR CST 126 Interpersonal Communication | SPCH 121 | 3 | Elective |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
| Math or Science 2 | CHM 112 General Chemistry II | CHEM/Z 102 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| MTH 263 | Calculus I | MATH 200 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| General Education (or ITE 115/119) | BIO 101 General Biology I | BIOL/Z 151 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Math or Science 3 | PHY 201 General College Physics I | PHYS 201 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| MTH 245 (sub. for MTH 264) | MTH 245 Statistics I | STAT 210 | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | Select 1: ART 101 History and Appreciation of Art I OR ART 102 History and Appreciation of Art II OR MUS 121 Music Appreciation I OR PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy I OR REL 231 Religions of the World I | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Social/Behavioral Science Elective | Select 1: PLS 135 American National Politics OR PLS 211 United States Government I OR PSY 200 Principles of Psychology OR SOC 200 Principles of Sociology OR SOC 211 Principles of Anthropology I | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
| Laboratory Science #1 | BIO 102 General Biology II | BIOL/Z 152 | 4 | Major |
| Laboratory Science #2 | PHY 202 General College Physics II | PHYS 202 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | Select 1: CST 151 Film Appreciation I OR ENG 241 Survey of American Literature I OR ENG 242 Survey of American Literature II OR ENG 243 Survey of English Literature I OR ENG 244 Survey of English Literature II OR ENG 251 Survey of World Literature I OR ENG 252 Survey of World Literature II | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
| Social/Behavioral Science Elective | Select 1: PLS 135 American National Politics OR PLS 211 United States Government I OR PSY 200 Principles of Psychology OR SOC 200 Principles of Sociology OR SOC 211 Principles of Anthropology I or PLS 241 International Relations I | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Northern Virginia Credits Transferred to VCU | 61 | |||
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign language through the 102 level. (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 (not waived by associate degree) | |
| 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 |
| Select 0-3 credits from the following: BIOL 475, BIOZ 476, BIOL 477 | 0 to 3 | 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. | 17 to 20 | Major | |
| CHEM 301 + CHEZ 301 | Organic Chemistry I and Laboratory | 5 | Major (Ancillary) |
| CHEM 302 + CHEZ 302 | Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory | 5 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses) Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. | 6 to 9 | Elective | |
| Open electives | 3 to 14 | Elective | |
| Credits Completed at VCU | 59 | ||
| Bachelor's degree total | 120 | ||