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The B.A. degree with a major in biology is ideal for students who do not need the extra math, chemistry, and physics requirements that are found in the B.S. degree with a major in biology. For instance, most allied health programs do not require a full year of organic chemistry, calculus, or even physics. Therefore, students pursuing those careers after graduating from VSU may wish to consider this B.A. degree option rather than the B.S. degree.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Biology

Core Curriculum 60
Core Curriculum Areas A, B, C, D.2.a, and E 42
See VSU Core Curriculum, to include:
Area A:
MATH 1113Precalculus3
Area C:
Foreign Language3
Area D.2.a:
MATH 2620Statistical Methods3
or MATH 2261 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
Science:
BIOL 1107KPrinciples of Biology I4
CHEM 1211Principles of Chemistry I3
CHEM 1211LPrinciples of Chemistry Laboratory I1
Core Curriculum Area F
Foreign Language 6
Science: 112-13
Biology Freshmen Seminar - Introduction to the Biological Sciences
Principles of Biology I
Principles of Biology II
History of the Life Sciences
Principles of Chemistry I
Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I
Principles of Chemistry II
Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II
Senior College Curriculum60
BIOL 3200Introductory Genetics3
BIOL 3250Ecology and Evolution4
BIOL 4900Senior Seminar1
Biology Electives 216
Upper-level math or science sequence (not biology)6
Foreign language 33
General Electives (9 hours of upper-level required)26
Carry-over from core 1
Total hours required for the degree120

Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track

Contingent upon acceptance in to the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track, students wishing to pursue a Master of Science in Biology at Valdosta State University may take up to 9 semester hours of graduate-level coursework (courses numbered 5000 or above) that will count toward Biology electives or general electives for the undergraduate degree.

Acceptance in to the Accelerated track requires:

  1. written notification by a Biology faculty member to the Biology Graduate Program Coordinator of her/his willingness to serve as the student's thesis advisor;
  2. completion of 90 semester hours of undergraduate coursework, at least 18 hours of which is in Biology; and
  3. an overall GPA in undergraduate coursework of at least 3.0.

Graduate courses taken as an undergraduate will count toward the 120-hour graduation requirement but will not count toward the student’s undergraduate GPA or the calculation of academic honors.

Upon acceptance into the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track in Biology, students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing. Students who do not maintain good standing or who do not wish to continue with the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track in Biology may revert to their original track to complete the remaining requirements for the B.A. in Biology.