Qualifying Courses (complete 1 BIOL course at UVA)

You are eligible to declare the Biology BA Major once you complete any one of the following Biology courses at UVA.  Students who receive test or transfer credit for both BIOL 2100 and BIOL 2200 should plan to take a 3000 level core class at UVA. Incoming 3rd year transfer students may declare the Biology BA major during their first semester, provided they are enrolled in either BIOL 3000, 3010, or 3020 (spring only).

• BIOL 2100 Intro Bio w/Lab: Cell Biology & Genetics
• BIOL 2200 Intro Bio w/Lab: Organismal & Evolutionary
• BIOL 3000 Cell Biology
• BIOL 3010 Genetics and Molecular Biology
• BIOL 3020 Evolution and Ecology

Science Foundation Courses (8 courses + related labs)

Introductory Biology (2 courses- lecture and labs are combined in these courses)

• BIOL 2100 Intro Bio w/Lab: Cell Biology & Genetics
• BIOL 2200 Intro Bio w/Lab: Organismal & Evolutionary
• AP and Transfer Credit: Students, who score a 5 on the AP Biology exam or at least a 6 on the upper-level examinations in the International Baccalaureate program, will receive eight credits for BIOL 2100 and BIOL 2200. All labs must be taken in-person, and transfer credit after matriculation must be pre-approved.

Chemistry (2 courses + labs)

• CHEM 1410 Intro College Chemistry I (may use CHEM 1810)
• CHEM 1411 Lab (may use CHEM 1811 for both labs, less common)
• CHEM 1420 Intro College Chemistry II (may use CHEM 2820)
• CHEM 1421 Lab (may use CHEM 1811 for both labs, less common)
• AP and Transfer Credit: Students with AP credit for CHEM 1410 and CHEM 1420 must enroll in the laboratory courses, unless granted credit for CHEM 1411 and CHEM 1421. All labs must be taken in-person, and transfer credit after matriculation must be pre-approved.  Transfer students who received 1000T credit for labs that were completed in-person should contact the Chemistry Dept, Cindy Knight, to request equivalent credit for their transferred lab courses.

Math and Statistics (2 courses)

Complete at least one of the following statistics courses:

• STAT 2020 Statistics for Biologists
• STAT 2120 Intro to Statistical Analysis

And, complete at least one of the following additional math or statistics courses:

• MATH 1190 A Survey of Calculus I with Algebra
• MATH 1210 A survey of Calculus I
• MATH 1310 Calculus I
• STAT 1601 Introduction to Data Science with R
• STAT 1602 Introduction to Data Science with Python
• STAT 3220 Introduction to Regression Analysis

Physics (2 courses + workshops)

• PHYS 2010 Principles of Physics 1 for Pre-Health Students (may also use PHYS 1420 or 1425)
• PHYS 2030 Principles of Physics 1 Workshop
• PHYS 2020 Principles of Physics 2 for Pre-Health Students (may also use PHYS 2410 or 2415)
• PHYS 2040 Principles of Physics 2 Workshop (may also use PHYS 2419)
• AP and Transfer Credit: Credit for specific AP exams in Physics may fulfill, in part or whole, the lecture component of this requirement. All workshops must be taken in-person, and transfer credit after matriculation must be pre-approved.  

Biology Core Requirements (3 courses, 9 credits)

The core requirements for the B.A. in Biology include:

• BIOL 3000 - Cell Biology Credits: 3
• BIOL 3010 - Genetics and Molecular Biology Credits: 3
• BIOL 3020 - Evolution and Ecology Credits: 3

Biology Electives (4-5 courses, 15 credits)

Students must complete 15 additional elective credits in biology at or above the 3000 level. The elective courses must include the following:

One upper-level laboratory course

One upper-level laboratory course of at least 3.0 credit hours. Refer to the courses offered page for a complete list of approved biology laboratory courses. The required laboratory course may be satisfied by any of the following options: 

1. A three or four credit Biology Department laboratory course
2. Any 3000 level or higher course taught at Mountain Lake Biological Station
3. Two semesters of independent research (BIOL 4910 or 4920) completed in the same laboratory. (Summer research applies if the student has enrolled in BIOL 4910/4920.)

Three 3000-level or higher courses of at least 3.0 credit hours each. One course must be selected from the following list:

• BIOL 3030 - Biochemistry Credits: 3
• BIOL 3040 - Developmental and Regenerative Biology Credits: 3
• BIOL 3050 - Introduction to Neurobiology Credits: 3
• BIOL 3090 - Our World of Infectious Disease Credits: 3
• BIOL 3180 - Introduction to Plants and Society Credits: 3
• BIOL 3240 - Introduction to Immunology Credits: 3
• BIOL 3250 - Introduction to Animal Behavior Credits: 3
• BIOL 3270 - General Microbiology with Laboratory Credits: 4
• BIOL 3450 - Biodiversity and Conservation Credits: 3

The second and third courses taken to fulfill this requirement may be selected from the above list or can be other 3000-level or higher courses (3.0 or more credit hours), except for the Core Courses (BIOL 3000, BIOL 3010, BIOL 3020) and independent research or study courses.

*No more than 6 credit hours of independent study and research courses may be applied towards the B.A. in Biology, including BIOL 3900, BIOL 4910/4920, or BIOL 4900.

Step 1: Complete one qualifying BIOL course at UVA

You are eligible to declare the Biology BA Major once you complete any one of the following Biology courses at UVA.  Students who receive test or transfer credit for both BIOL 2100 and BIOL 2200 should plan to take a 3000 level core class at UVA. Incoming 3rd year transfer students may declare the Biology BA major during their first semester, provided they are enrolled in either BIOL 3000 or BIOL 3010. Incoming 3rd year transfer students may initially only declare the BA major in Biology.

• BIOL 2100 Intro Bio w/Lab: Cell Biology & Genetics
• BIOL 2200 Intro Bio w/Lab: Organismal & Evolutionary
• BIOL 3000 Cell Biology
• BIOL 3010 Genetics and Molecular Biology
• BIOL 3020 Evolution and Ecology

Step 2: Complete your course plan

Follow the steps below to complete your course plan

1. Download your unofficial transcript: Download your transcript from SIS and save as a PDF.  You will use this information to help you identify requirements you have already completed and courses you will need to add to your course plan.
    
2. Complete your course plan: Select the checklist below based on the catalog year you will declare.  Use your unofficial transcript and the courses offered page to fill out your course plan. List the courses that you have already finished or that you plan to take to complete the major. The courses listed on your plan are your best guess for how you will fulfill your requirements and are subject to suitable changes based on course availability and preference. Once you declare the major, you are responsible for checking your SIS Academic Requirements report to ensure you are fulfilling the courses required for your degree and your major.

   • 2024-2025 BA Course Plan/Checklist

Step 3: Submit your major form using DocuSign

Read the following instructions below first before completing the DocuSign Major form (linked below).

The PowerForm is where you will enter the form routing information.  The form is initiated by the student, routed to the Biology department, and ultimately approved by the College of Arts and Sciences Registrar. On the “Student” section of the routing PowerForm enter your name and email. Move to the next section, “Declaration of Major Contact (DMC)”, enter the Biology Undergraduate Coordinator’s information.

• DMC Name: Lisa Ishler
• DMC Email: dli3a@virginia.edu

Then click "Begin Signing" at the bottom of the PowerForm. This will lead you to the actual Major Declaration form.

Make sure to enter the total credits according to your Catalog Year plan, 2023-2024 = 22 credits, and 2024-2025 = 24 credits: Requirements for the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology

Now that you have read the instructions, you are ready to submit your major declaration form. Click on the link below and you will be linked to the College's webpage to access the Docusign PowerForm: 

• Start the BA Major Form Process 

Step 4: Check SIS to ensure your form was processed

Completed Declaration forms received during the scheduled application deadlines normally appear in SIS within 3 weeks.  Please check your SIS account to verify your form was processed. Processing times may vary depending on the time of year. Incomplete forms or forms without the correct attachments will not be processed. You will receive an email from the Undergraduate Coordinator with further instructions if something is wrong with your form.

Contact the Undergraduate Coordinator if you have any concerns at BIOL-UG@virginia.edu. 

Once your declaration is approved you will receive an email from the Undergraduate Coordinator with your new program advisor.  You can find this information in SIS as well.  You may contact your advisor (available during the fall and spring semester) to discuss your proposed courses, questions about major requirements, conversations about possible career paths, and other opportunities for majors. You will find their contact information in this email and on our Faculty Directory.

Step 5: Join the Biology Majors email listing

Join the Biology Major Email List (bio-majors@virginia.edu) to receive important information regarding the major from the Biology Department

Double majors, minors, and sharing courses

• Students who have a second major may only share a limited number of courses between majors upon approval of Director Jess Manson.

• As of January 2024, students who declare a Biology major (BA or BS) may not double major with the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience BA major, or the Cognitive Science BA Major-Neuroscience Concentration. 

• Students who double major must submit at least 18 credits in each major.

• Credits applied toward one major may not be included in the core 18 credits of the other major, unless one or both majors is interdisciplinary.

• No more than two courses can be counted simultaneously for two non-interdisciplinary majors; an interdisciplinary major may share up to three courses with another major.

• There is no triple major.

• Two minors are permitted but one must be from the College of Arts & Sciences.

• Courses used for a minor may not be shared with any other major or minor.

Visit the College's Declaring a Major webpage for more details on this policy.

Biochemistry options for the Biology BA major (07/7/2022)

• Starting Fall 2022, biology majors (BA) who are interested in biochemistry should plan to enroll in BIOL 3030, which satisfies the Area 1 (Cell/Molecular Biology) disciplinary requirement. CHEM 4440 will no longer be considered an alternative to taking BIOL 3030 and will no longer be eligible for Area 1 elective credit.

• Students who complete CHEM 4410 may apply 3 credits towards their elective credits (Area 1).

• Students who complete both CHEM 4410 and CHEM 4420 may apply 3 credits towards their elective credits (Area 1) and three credits towards upper-level electives; note that CHEM 4420 does NOT qualify as an area requirement. 

• Students who completed either CHEM 4410, CHEM 4420 or CHEM 4440 between Fall 2021 and Summer 2022 may apply 3 credits towards their degree as upper-level Biology courses (Area 1). 

Course Restrictions

BIOL 3420 Human Anatomy and Physiology II

Only the first semester of Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 3410) may be applied toward the Biology major. The second semester of Human Anatomy & Physiology II (BIOL 3420) cannot be applied toward the Biology major, but can be used as college elective credit and contribute to the overall GPA.

Transfer and Test (AP/IB) Credit

Foundational Science Courses: 

• Transfer credit after matriculation must be pre-approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
• All labs must be taken in-person to be considered for transfer credit to meet the requirements of the biology major.
• Students, who score a 5 on the AP Biology exam or at least a 6 on the upper-level examinations in the International Baccalaureate program, will receive eight credits for BIOL 2100 and BIOL 2200. 
• Students with AP credit for CHEM 1410 and CHEM 1420 must enroll in the laboratory courses, unless granted credit for CHEM 1411 and CHEM 1421. Transfer students who received 1000T credit for labs that were completed in-person should contact the Chemistry Dept, Cindy Knight, to request equivalent credit for their transferred lab courses.
• Credit for specific AP exams in Physics may fulfill, in part or whole, the lecture component of this requirement. Students who receive a score of 4 or 5 on both Physics 1 and Physics 2, can ask their Registrar to have the transfer credit converted to PHYS 2010 and PHYS 2020.
• Refer to the Advanced Placement (AP) page for latest scores accepted and corresponding transfer credit.

Upper-level Major Courses:

• Transfer credits for upper-level courses taken at another institution after matriculation at the University of Virginia may be considered for outside elective credit toward the biology major; however, required core (BIOL 3000,3010, and 3020) and lab courses must be taken at the University of Virginia (transfer students exempted). After matriculation, transfer students must also complete required core courses and lab courses at the University of Virginia, unless credit was given for these courses at time of matriculation.
• All transfer credit after matriculation must be pre-approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Catalog year 2024-2025 (effective August 1, 2024)

2024-2025 BA Course Plan/Checklist

2024-2025 BA Course Map

Catalog year 2023-2024 (August 1, 2023 - July 30, 2024)

2023-2024 BA Course Plan/Checklist

2023-2024 BA Course Map

Catalog year 2022-2023 (August 1, 2022 - July 30, 2023)

2022-2023 BA Course Plan/Checklist