B.     Biology “Core” Course Requirements: Majors are required to complete three Core courses: BIOL 300 (Cell Biology & Biochemistry), BIOL 301 (Genetics & Molecular Biology), and BIOL 302 (Evolution & Ecology). It is required two of these courses be completed by the end of the third year. EXCEPTION for Transfer Students Only: Transfer students entering in their third year do not have to complete two Core courses during their third year.

C.     Biology Laboratory Course Requirements: Majors are required to complete at least 3 hours of laboratory course work at or above the 300 level. This lab requirement can be satisfied by a departmental course, a course taught at Mountain Lake Biological Station, or with two semesters of Independent Research conducted in one laboratory. Summer research, unless enrolled in BIOL 491‑497, does not satisfy the upper-level lab requirement. Lab courses offered by other departments do not fulfill the Biology major laboratory requirement.

D.     Upper-Level Biology Course Requirements: Majors are required to complete a total of 22 hours of upper-level (300 or above) biology courses. The three core courses (BIOL 300, 301, and 302) and the required laboratory course are included in these minimum 22 hours. The overall grade point average for courses presented for the major must be at least 2.0. Sixteen of the 22 hours of upper-level credits required for the major must be taken from courses listed by the Biology Department. Students should take the opportunity to broaden their training by taking elective courses from among several biology subdisciplines. Up to 6 of the 22 upper level credits required for majors may be taken from the following two options outside the Biology Department:
    1. Students who complete both CHEM 441 and CHEM 442 may apply 4 credits toward the upper-level Biology courses.
    2. Courses offered by the Environmental Sciences Department including EVSC 320/320L (Fundamentals of Ecology) and upper level (400+) courses that have EVSC 320 as a prerequisite may count toward the upper level Biology courses. Students may petition the Biology Undergraduate Committee to have credit for other biologically oriented courses in Environmental Sciences count toward the
Biology major.

E.     Restrictions: Biology 385, 386, 395, and 481-498: No more than 6 semester hours of credit toward the Biology major may be awarded for any combination of research courses, including 385, 386, 395, and 481-498. Two semesters of independent research (491-498, 3 credits each) taken with the same mentor contribute 3 credits toward the major. Two more semesters of research will give an additional 3 credits toward the major.

F.     Chemistry Requirement: Majors are required to complete two semesters of general chemistry with lab. The chemistry requirement must be satisfied by completing CHEM 141, 142, 141L, and 142L. (CHEM 181, 182, 181L, and 182L also satisfies this requirement). Students with AP chemistry credit for 141 and 142 must still complete the laboratory courses. The laboratory requirement can be met with 141L plus 142L, 181L plus 182L, two higher level lab courses, or the one-semester CHEM 222 course (Solutions Chemistry). Students anticipating a career in the biological sciences are strongly advised to also take two semesters of organic chemistry with lab (e.g., CHEM 241, 242, 241L, and 242L).

G.      Math & Physics Requirements: Majors are required to complete one course in calculus (MATH 121, 122, 131, or 132) or statistics (STAT 202, 212 or an equivalent or higher level course in another department). Students anticipating a career in the biological sciences are strongly advised also to take at least one additional math course as well as two semesters of physics with lab (PHYS 201, 202, 201L, and 202L). 

Transfer Credit

Students may petition to have upper-level transfer credits count toward the biology major. In general, one-half credit hour will be granted for each transfer credit hour (up to a maximum of 6 hours) for courses taken after a student has matriculated to UVA. Unique courses that broaden the undergraduate experience (e.g., field courses, marine biology, studies abroad, research opportunities, etc.) can receive full transfer credit. NOTE: Once matriculated, students may not receive transfer credit for any of the three core courses (BIOL 300-302). In all cases, prior approval should be arranged with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Petitions: Students with special academic requirements or backgrounds may seek relief from these regulations by petitioning the Undergraduate Committee of the Biology Department. The first part of the petition should contain background information (major, academic year) and a summary statement of why the student is petitioning. The remainder of the petition should provide the detailed information necessary to allow the undergraduate committee to evaluate the request. If appropriate, describe the courses planned to complete the major requirements. If you are petitioning for a course to be applied to your major credits, please include the course syllabus. Finally, attach a copy of your VISTAA or Transcript to the petition. Petitions must be accompanied by a letter (or e-mail) of endorsement from the student's Biology advisor. Petitions should be addressed to the Undergraduate Committee and submitted to Rita Webb, Biology Department Graduate and Undergraduate Student Coordinator, in Gilmer 229 (rea2d@virginia.edu for e-mail endorsement letters).

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