2021-2022
Biology, Bachelor of Science
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science: Science (Reynolds Community College (program specific pathway))
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
Reynolds Community College (program specific pathway) (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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Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Register for SDV 101 Orientation to STEM Disciplines
- Cultivate relationships with your professors
- Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your ENG, CHM, and MTH classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Meet with VCU STEM Transitions Transfer Coordinator to discuss options and create a plan for a successful transition to VCU.
- Attend Reynolds Orientation (SOAR).
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Explore the Biology department website.
- Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity
- Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Build a LinkedIn profile
- Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future
- Browse careers related to biology through the Virginia Wizard
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ Website
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility)
- Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your BIO and CHM classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Meet with VCU STEM Transitions Transfer Coordinator to discuss options and create a plan for a successful transition to VCU.
- Meet with your academic advisor.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Join a professional organization related to biology: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), Ecological Society of America (ESA)
- Participate in the STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
- Attend a talk or event sponsored by the Biology department.
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options
- Consider learning a foreign language
- Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Biology-related events
- Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
- Create, upload and update your resume to the College Central Network.
- Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
- Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest
- 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
Reynolds Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Science)
| Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDV 100 or 101 | College Success Skills or Orientation to STEM Disciplines | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
| MTH 167 | Precalculus with Trigonometry (or MTH 161-162 Precalculus I-II) | MATH 151 | 5 | General education |
| 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 |
| Laboratory Science I | CHM 111 General Chemistry I | CHEM/Z 101 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| HIS | U.S. or Western Civilization History (select 1): HIS 101, 102, 121, 122 | HIST | 3 | General education |
| CSC 155 | Computer Concepts and Applications | INFO 160, 161, 162 | 3 | Elective |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
| Laboratory Science II | CHM 112 General Chemistry II | CHEM/Z 102 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| MTH 263 | Calculus I | MATH 200 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| HLT/PED | Personal Wellness Elective | VCU equivalent | 1 | Elective |
| HIS | U.S. or Western Civilization History (select 1): HIS 101, 102, 121, 122 | HIST | 3 | General education |
| Laboratory Science III | BIO 101 General Biology I | BIOL/Z 151 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Laboratory Science elective | CHM 241 + CHM 245 Organic Chemistry and Laboratory | CHEM/Z 301 | 5 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Social/Behavioral Science | Select 1: PSY 200, 230, SOC 200, 210, PLS 211 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Humanities/Fine Arts | Select any approved humanities/fine arts elective. | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Laboratory Science IV | BIO 102 General Biology II | BIOL/Z 152 | 4 | Major |
| Laboratory Science elective | CHM 242 + CHM 246 Organic Chemistry II and laboratory | CHEM/Z 302 | 5 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Humanities/Fine Arts | Select any approved humanities/fine arts elective | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Transfer elective | MTH 245 Statistics I | STAT 210 | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Reynolds credits transferred to VCU | 64 | |||
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language | Foreign language (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) |
| 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 |
| 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) to satisfy the 40 biology credits required for the major. 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. BIOL courses at the 500 level are available to seniors and graduate students only. | 17 to 20 | Major | |
| Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses) Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. | 7 to 16 | Elective | |
| Credits completed at VCU | 56 | ||
| Bachelor's degree total | 120 | ||