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

Core Curriculum60
Core IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum) 142
Core Field of Study
Science14-15
Biology Freshmen Seminar - Introduction to the Biological Sciences
Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology Laboratory II
Principles of Chemistry I
Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I
Principles of Chemistry II
Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II
Introductory Physics I
Introductory Physics II
Principles of Physics I
Principles of Physics II
A minimum grade of “C” is required for all BIOL, CHEM, MATH, and PHYS courses.
MATH 2262Analytic Geometry and Calculus II3-4
or MATH 1401 Elementary Statistics
Senior College Curriculum60
A minimum grade of “C” is required for all BIOL and CHEM courses.
Required Biology Courses 8
BIOL 3200Introductory Genetics3
BIOL 3250Ecology and Evolution4
BIOL 4900Senior Seminar1
Biology Electives 226-27
Required Chemistry courses
CHEM 3401Organic Chemistry I4
CHEM 3402Organic Chemistry II4
CHEM 3601Biochemistry I3
General Electives11-12
Carry-over from Core3-4
Total hours required for the degree120
1

Biology majors are required to take pre-calculus (MATH 1113) in Mathematics and Quantitative Skills and calculus (MATH 2261) in Technology, Mathematics, and Sciences. One hour of calculus will transfer to the upper elective hours. Biology majors must take 8 hours of science in Technology, Mathematics, and Sciences and may choose any of the following courses: BIOL 1107 and BIOL 1107L, CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1211L, CHEM 1212 and CHEM 1212L, or calculus-based physics (PHYS 2211K and PHYS 2212K). If biology or chemistry courses are taken in Technology, Mathematics, and Sciences, biology majors may take non-calculus-based physics (PHYS 1111K and PHYS 1112K) in Core Field of Study.

2

3000-level and above (but not BIOL 4830, BIOL 4840, BIOL 4850)
Four courses with labs required
BIOL 4950 limited to 3 hours.
 

Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track

Contingent upon acceptance into 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 into 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.S. in Biology.