Program Description
The department offers a four-year B.A. degree program for a major in biology and for a major in biology qualifying for the Secondary Collegiate Professional License and is distinguished from the four-year B.S by two key university requirements (the completion of an intermediate level foreign language and three credit hours in philosophy) and several key program requirements (a capstone experience, writing courses, and required Integrated Science and Technology and Anthropology courses). Students may not major in both biology and biotechnology.
Biology majors seeking a BA must complete 36 credit hours of biology courses including 20 credit hours of biology electives, plus a capstone course (3 cr. hr., which may or may not be BIO credit). Specific requirements include 16 credit hours of four core courses (/, /, / and /), at least two upper-division laboratory courses, and one course from a list of courses with an emphasis on organismal diversity. In addition, Biology BA majors must complete a set of required cognate courses in chemistry, mathematics/statistics, writing, ISAT and anthropology. Students are encouraged to participate in independent research with a faculty mentor and are required to participate in a capstone experience. Credits earned doing research in biology will count toward the biology major, but some restrictions apply.
When requested, senior biology majors are expected to participate in program assessment test activities as a graduation requirement. Assessment information helps the department modify the curriculum to meet student needs.
Credit by Examination
When evidence of sufficient background or preparation is presented, the offers credit by examination in many of its non-lab courses at the discretion of the course instructor or coordinator. Students seeking such credit should make arrangements with the course instructor or coordinator and obtain approval of the department head.
Teaching Licensure
Biology majors need courses in physics, geology and organic chemistry for many science education positions.
In addition to the and academic major requirements, biology majors desiring secondary teacher licensure must be admitted to teacher education, complete the pre-professional program in secondary education at the undergraduate level and complete the graduate level Master of Arts in Teaching degree.
It is critical that students seeking licensure consult regularly with both their education advisor and their major advisor to support their progression through the programs. For a full description of the program in secondary teaching, refer to the in addition to the .
Special Requirements
In order for / and / credit to be transferred, both semesters of an Anatomy and Physiology course (A&P I and A&P II) must be completed with a minimum grade of ”C” from the same institution. A single semester of either of these sequences transfers as BIO 000. Only / can be applied toward biology major electives; / does not apply toward biology electives.
Practical hands-on experience in the field and/or laboratory is important content of laboratory-based courses. Transfer credit for courses including laboratories will only be awarded for those having skill and application content comparable to that of JMU courses. Elective biology credits applicable toward the major or minor are transferred as specific courses or as , or . Credits not applicable toward the major or minor, but applicable toward the 120-hour degree requirement, are transferred as BIO 000. A maximum of eight credit hours of first year (100) level BIO courses may be applied to the biology major or minor requirements.
Degree and Major Requirements
Degree Requirements | Credit Hours |
1 | *41 |
| Foreign Language requirements2 | 0-14 |
| Philosophy requirement (in addition to General Education courses) | 3 |
| Biology Major and Capstone3 requirements | 36-39 |
Cognate requirements | 26 |
University Electives
Total | 7-24
*120 |
Footnotes
1 The program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some requirements are fulfilled by courses within the major. It is strongly recommended that students work with their advisors to identify strategic selections for their general education requirements.* (10 credit hours) is entirely covered by the Biology B.A. major requirements, and therefore those credits are accounted for only once in the 120 credit hour total.
2 The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student’s chosen language (typically 232), or by placing out of that language through the Department of World Languages and Cultures’
placement test.
3 If the capstone experience is comprised of BIO credit, this can also count toward the 20 credits of BIO electives, reducing the total number of required courses.
Major Requirements
Core Requirements: 16 Credit Hours
Cognate Requirements
The following five groups of support courses are required for the biology major. Consult your academic advisor about which courses are appropriate.
Recommended Schedule for Majors
First semester first year biology majors are encouraged to start with a 14-15 hour course load. This will generally include /, and , and/or a math course plus . The work load will then be increased in the second semester based on the level of first semester success.
Program Total: 120 Credit Hours
