May 08, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology Minor


Advisor: Julia Stutzman
Email: stutzmjk@jmu.edu
Phone: (540) 568-4018

The biology minor offers students a way to explore primary concepts in biology from molecules to ecosystems through four core biology classes with their associated labs. Main topics include cell and molecular biology, organismal biology, biodiversity, genetics, ecology and evolution. Students also choose one or more upper-level level courses in biology within their area of interest. The biology minor is an ideal minor for any student interested in the biological sciences. The biology minor also pairs well with other science and social science majors, or pre-professional health minors.

Special Requirements


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 minor are transferred as specific courses or as BIO 426  or BIO 427 . A maximum of eight credit hours of first year (100) level BIO courses may be applied to the biology major  or minor requirements. Biology  and biotechnology  majors may not minor in biology.

Required Courses


Students completing the biology minor must earn minimum grades of “C-” in BIO 140 BIO 140L BIO 150  and BIO 150L .

Students choosing to minor in biology must complete the following courses:

Total: 19-20 Credit Hours