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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | 60 | |
| Core Curriculum Areas A, B, C, D.2.a, and E | 42 | |
| See VSU Core Curriculum, to include: | ||
| Area A: | ||
| MATH 1113 | Precalculus | 3 |
| Area C: | ||
| Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Area D.2.a: | ||
| MATH 1401 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| Science: | ||
| BIOL 1107 & 1107L | Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology Laboratory I | 4 |
| CHEM 1211 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 1211L | Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| Core Curriculum Area F | ||
| Foreign Language | 6 | |
| Science: 1 | 12-13 | |
| Biology Freshmen Seminar - Introduction to the Biological Sciences | ||
| Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology Laboratory I | ||
| Principles of Biology II and Principles of Biology Laboratory 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 Curriculum | 60 | |
| BIOL 3200 | Introductory Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 3250 | Ecology and Evolution | 4 |
| BIOL 4900 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| Biology Electives 2 | 16 | |
| Foreign language 3 | 3 | |
| General Electives (15 hours of upper-level required) | 32 | |
| Carry-over from core | 1 | |
| Total hours required for the degree | 120 | |
| 1 | One hour transfer to senior curriculum. A minimum grade of “C” is required for all BIOL, CHEM, and MATH courses. |
| 2 | 3000-level and above (but not BIOL 4830, BIOL 4840, BIOL 4850) BIOL 4950 limited to 3 hours Three courses with labs required |
| 3 | 12 hours of a single foreign language required |
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:
- 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;
- completion of 90 semester hours of undergraduate coursework, at least 18 hours of which is in Biology; and
- 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.
