• Welcome to the Biology Department at the University of Virginia. The expansion of knowledge within the life sciences as we enter the second decade of the 21st century is unprecedented. Our program spans the breadth of contemporary biological research and provides exceptional educational opportunities in both the classroom and laboratory. Our internationally recognized faculty are committed to excellence in teaching and bring emerging disciplines into our undergraduate curriculum.
  • Because biology in the 21st century is increasingly integrated with physics, mathematics, chemistry and computational sciences, pursuing an undergraduate degree in the life sciences is challenging and requires the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills that can be applied in diverse contexts.
  • Transferring to the University of Virginia and completing a degree in Biology, particularly if you are entering as a 3rd year transfer student from a community college, requires careful planning and prior completion of certain prerequisite courses before you matriculate at UVA. Refer to the online transfer credit evaluator  to be certain that the courses you complete transfer as equivalent to the specific UVA courses noted below.
  • Entering 3rd year transfer students will only be allowed to declare a biology major provided they have completed the specific biology, chemistry and math prerequisites noted below.
  • You should also plan to enroll in organic chemistry and physics courses beginning with your first semester at UVA, particularly if you are planning to apply to medical, optometry, dental or veterinary school at the end of your 3rd year and not intend to take a “gap” year after graduation.
  • You are required to attend one of the transfer student orientation sessions and to have met in person with either the Biology undergraduate director or the designated Biology transfer student advisor before enrolling in your fall courses. You will only be able to declare a biology major provided you have met these requirements.

 

You are expected to have satisfactorily completed the following prerequisite courses before matriculating at UVA:

 

Biology Prerequisites

  1. Completion of two semesters of introductory biology lecture courses that transfer as equivalent to UVA BIOL 2010 and BIOL 2020. This requirement can also be satisfied by scoring at least a 4 on the AP Biology examination or at least a 5 on upper-level examinations in the International Baccalaureate Program.
  2. Completion of two semesters of introductory biology laboratory courses that transfer as equivalent to UVA BIOL 2030 and BIOL 2040. Students with AP or IB credit for BIOL 2010 and BIOL 2020 may be exempted from completing BIOL 2030 and BIOL 2040 if their laboratory courses qualify as equivalent experiences.

In many instances, introductory biology lecture and laboratory components are combined into a single course. Completion of such courses will satisfy both the introductory biology lecture and laboratory requirements. 

 

Chemistry Prerequisites

  1. Completion of two semesters of general (inorganic) chemistry lecture courses that transfer as equivalent to UVA CHEM 1410 and CHEM 1420.
  2. Completion of two semesters of general (inorganic) laboratory courses that transfer as equivalent to UVA CHEM 1411 and CHEM 1421.

In many instances, general (inorganic) chemistry lecture and laboratory components are combined into a single course. Completion of such courses will satisfy both the general (inorganic) chemistry lecture and laboratory requirements.

 

Math Prerequisite

  1. Completion of either one course in calculus that transfers as equivalent to any one of UVA MATH 1210, 1220, 1310, or 1320 or one course in statistics that transfers as equivalent to any one of UVA STAT 2020, 2120, or 2559. Students anticipating a career in the biological sciences are strongly advised to also complete one additional course in either calculus or statistics.

 

Biology Core Course Requirement for 1st semester at UVA

  1. The Biology major has 3 required core courses: BIOL 3000 (Cell Biology), BIOL 3010 (Genetics & Molecular Biology) and BIOL 3020 (Evolution and Ecology). These three courses do not need to completed in any particular order. However, you must enroll in either BIOL 3000 (Cell Biology) or BIOL 3010 (Genetics & Molecular Biology) during your first semester at UVA. You should then plan to enroll in BIOL 3020 during the following spring semester and to take the remaining core (either BIOL 3000 or BIOL 3010) during the next fall semester.

 

Biology Elective Course Requirement for 1st semester at UVA

In addition to taking either BIOL 3000 or BIOL 3010, you are strongly advised to enroll in no more than one additional 3000 level or higher elective BIOL course based on your interests during your first semester at UVA. Similarly, you should enroll in one additional 3000 level or higher elective BIOL course during the spring semester.  

 

Organic Chemistry

If you are planning to apply to medical, optometry, veterinary, or dental school, you will need to complete two semesters of organic chemistry lecture courses, CHEM 2410 and 2420, and the associated laboratory courses, CHEM 2411 and CHEM 2421. CHEM 2410 and CHEM 2420 are also required for the Biology BS degree. Since chemistry courses are taught in a fall-spring sequence, you should plan on enrolling in CHEM 2410 and CHEM 2411 during the fall semester when you matriculate to UVA.

 

Physics

If you are planning to apply to medical, optometry, veterinary, or dental school, you will need to complete two semesters of Physics lecture courses, PHYS 2010 and 2020, and the associated laboratory courses, PHYS 2030 and PHYS 2040. PHYS 2010 is also required for the Biology BS degree. Since physics courses are taught in a fall-spring sequence, you should plan on enrolling in PHYS 2010 and PHYS 2030 during the fall semester when you matriculate to UVA.

 

Major Declaration Process

Incoming 3rd year transfer students can only initially declare the BA degree in Biology. The overall GPA for courses presented for the BA degree must be at least 2.000. These courses consist of: BIOL 3000, BIOL 3010, BIOL 3020; the course (or two semesters of independent research) used to satisfy the laboratory course requirement; your "best" remaining 3000 level or higher elective BIOL courses up to a total of 22 credit hours.  

In order to declare the BS degree in Biology, all students are required to have first completed all three core courses, BIOL 3000 (Cell Biology), BIOL 3010 (Genetics & Molecular Biology), and BIOL 3020 (Evolution & Ecology) at UVA and have attained a 2.700 cumulative GPA (B- average) for these three courses. This is an overall GPA requirement for the 3 core courses, not an individual course grade requirement. Students must also have attained a 2.000 cumulative GPA at UVA and be in good academic standing prior to declaring the BS degree in Biology. All students who meet this eligibility after completing the 3 core courses at UVA can change their BA declaration to the BS degree.