2026-2027 Academic Catalog
Biology BA JMU

Biology, B.A.

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.

Credit by Examination

When evidence of sufficient background or preparation is presented, the Department of Biology 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 general education 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 Department of Middle, Secondary and Mathematics Education in addition to the College of Education.

Special Requirements

In order for BIO 270/BIO 270L and BIO 290/BIO 290L 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 BIO 290/BIO 290L can be applied toward biology major electives; BIO 270/BIO 270L 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 BIO 200, 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.