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2024-2025

Science, Bachelor of Science with a concentration in professional science

VCU

Community college:
AA&S or AS in Science (Virginia Community College System)
Virginia Community College System
Associate degree

Associate of Science in Science or Associate of Arts and Sciences in Science

Completing the associate degree will waive VCU's general education requirements.

Program description

The interdisciplinary program in science provides students with a broad, yet fundamental, grounding in the sciences. In addition to the spectrum of required mathematics and science courses, students select a concentration from biology, chemistry, physics, or professional science.

Career opportunities

The B.S. in Science provides a foundation for science oriented careers ranging from teaching and meteorology to research and technical sales. Flexibility is available within the curriculum for students to select specific courses to prepare them for careers or professional level training programs in the health sciences. Many students pursuing interdisciplinary sciences as a primary major have sufficient elective space to pursue a minor in another discipline. The professional science concentration is designed for students who wish to focus on specific science courses required for graduate or professional school admission.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Biological Technician
  • Food Science Technician
  • Health Educator
  • Middle School Teacher
  • Museum Technician and Conservator
  • Park Naturalist
  • Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
  • Social Science Research Assistant
  • Tutor
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Attorney
  • Medical Doctor
  • Researcher
  • Scientific Publication Journalist/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
  • STAT 314
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0 overall GPA required to graduate; a minimum grade of C is required in each prerequisite course
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Science with concentration in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Professional Science

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2024-2025

Science, Bachelor of Science with a concentration in professional science

Virginia Community College System (AA&S or AS in 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
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Explore community college financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.
Experience Year 2
  • Be prepared for academic challenges. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Be prepared: Once you enroll at VCU, your VCU GPA will be determined by your grades at VCU.
  • Meet with your community college advisor to finalize plans to complete your associate degree.
  • Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
  • Submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Submit a transfer advising request to the VCU Transfer Center.
  • Explore the accelerated BS in Science and MS in MLT.
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Science Program, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Participate in the VCU STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Interdisciplinary Science Program-related events.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about VCU's REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
  • 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.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Explore community college financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Be prepared for academic challenges. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Be prepared: Once you enroll at VCU, your VCU GPA will be determined by your grades at VCU.
  • Meet with your community college advisor to finalize plans to complete your associate degree.
  • Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
  • Submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Submit a transfer advising request to the VCU Transfer Center.
  • Explore the accelerated BS in Science and MS in MLT.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Science Program, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Participate in the VCU STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Interdisciplinary Science Program-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about VCU's REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • 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.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2024-2025

Science, Bachelor of Science with a concentration in professional science

Virginia Community College System (AA&S or AS in Science)

Virginia Community College System courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 or 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
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
MTH 162 or MTH 167 Precalculus II or Precalculus with Trigonometry MATH 151 3 to 5 Major (Ancillary)
MTH 261 or MTH 263 Applied Calculus or Calculus I BUSN 212 or MATH 200 4 Major (Ancillary)
MTH 245 Statistics I STAT 210 3 Major (Ancillary)
Humanities/Fine Arts Select one of the following (UCGS Block II): ART 100, ART 101, ART 102, CST 130, CST 151, MUS 121, MUS 221, MUS 222, MUS 226, HUM 201, HUM 202, HUM 210, HUM 216, HUM 220, HUM 256, HUM 259, PHI 100, PHI 111, PHI 220, REL 100, REL 230, REL 237, REL 240. VCU equivalent 3 General education
Humanities/Fine Arts/Literature Select one of the following (UCGS Block II): ART 100, ART 101, ART 102, CST 130, CST 151, MUS 121, MUS 221, MUS 222, MUS 226, HUM 201, HUM 202, HUM 210, HUM 216, HUM 220, HUM 256, HUM 259, PHI 100, PHI 111, PHI 220, REL 100, REL 230, REL 237, REL 240, ENG 225, ENG 245, ENG 246, ENG 250, ENG 255, ENG 258, ENG 275 (the course must come from a different group than the previous requirement). VCU equivalent 3 General education
Social science Select one of the following (UCGS Block III): ECO 150, ECO 201, ECO 202, GEO 210, GEO 220, PLS 135, PLS 140, PLS 241, PSY 200, SOC 200, SOC 211, SOC 268. VCU equivalent 3 General education
History Select one of the following (UCGS Block VI): HIS 101, HIS 102, HIS 111, HIS 112, HIS 121, HIS 122. VCU equivalent 3 General education
BIO 101 General Biology I BIOL/Z 151 4 Major (Ancillary)
BIO 102 General Biology II BIOL/Z 152 4 Major (Ancillary)
CHM 111 General Chemistry I CHEM/Z 101 4 Major (Ancillary)
CHM 112 General Chemistry II CHEM/Z 102 4 Major (Ancillary)
PHY 201 or PHY 241 General College Physics I or University Physics I PHYS 201 or PHYS 207 4 to 5 Major (Ancillary)
GOL 105 Physical Geology ENVS/Z 105 4 Major
Complete requirements for associate degree VCU equivalents 6 Elective
Community college credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
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 6 Major (Ancillary)
INSC 490 Capstone Research Experience in Interdisciplinary Science 3 Major
BIOL 341/ANTH 301 Human Evolution (or upper-level natural science elective from approved list) 4 Major
INSC 300 or ENVS/ENGL 368 Experiencing Science (or upper-level natural science elective from approved list) or Nature Writing 3 Major
Select one: BIOL 317 Ecology (or upper-level natural science elective from approved list) BIOL 332/ENVS 330 Environmental Pollution ENVS/PHYS 315 Energy and the Environment. 3 Major
ENVS 301 or ENVS 401 Introduction to Meteorology (or upper-level natural science elective from approved list) or Oceanography 3 Major
Select an ethics or upper-level health-related science elective (see VCU advisor for course options) 3 Major
Select research, internship (see research experience electives list) or upper-level service-learning experience (to equal a minimum of three credits alone or in combination with other upper-level natural or health science electives). 3 Major
Select two additional courses at the 200-level or higher in mathematics, science, teaching mathematics and/or science with advisor’s approval. Choose from the following: EDUS 300, EDUS 301, LFSC/RELS 401, MATH/STAT 200-level, or a 200-level or higher natural or health science elective 5 to 6 Major
Select one of the following: BIOL/Z 101, BIOL 103, CHEM 110, PHYS 103, a 200-level or a 200-level or higher natural science elective and a 200-level or higher natural science laboratory elective 3 to 4 Major (Ancillary)
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses): consider a minor or second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 28 to 30 Elective
REAL The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved “REAL” co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. See VCU advisor for options. 0 Major
Credits completed at VCU 60
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 120
The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. in Science with a concentration in professional science and M.S. in Medical Laboratory Sciences categorical concentration in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 90 undergraduate credit hours including UNIV 111, UNIV 112 and UNIV 200; CHEM 101 and CHEZ 101, CHEM 102 and CHEZ 102, CHEM 301 and CHEZ 301, or CHEM 309 and CHEZ 309; 12 credits of biology; MATH 151 or higher; general education requirements; and an overall GPA of 3.0.