undergraduate Programs

B.S. in Biology, Marine and Freshwater Biology Concentration

This concentration is offered to students seeking a biology degree that focuses on the biology of organisms in marine and freshwater environments. Students must fulfill all requirements for bachelor's degrees  including university general education requirements. In addition, students mustcomplete the following. (Through the course work below, they satisfy the university-wide general education requirements in natural science, quantitative reasoning, and information technology proficiency.)

Degree Requirements

• 24 credits of biology core courses:

BIOL 213 - Cell Structure and Function Credits: 4
BIOL 303 - Animal Biology Credits: 4
BIOL 304 - Plant Biology Credits: 4
BIOL 305 - Biology of Microorganisms Credits: 3
BIOL 306 - Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory Credits: 1
BIOL 307 - Ecology Credits: 4
BIOL 311 - General Genetics Credits: 4

• 13 credits of marine and freshwater courses:

BIOL 309 - Introduction to Oceanography Credits: 3
BIOL 350 - Freshwater Ecosystems Credits: 4
BIOL 449 - Marine Ecology Credits: 3
EVPP 421 - Marine Conservation Credits: 3

• 7 credits of biology electives chosen from:

BIOL 331 - Invertebrate Zoology Credits: 4
BIOL 440 - Field Biology Credits: 1-4
BIOL 472 - Introductory Animal Behavior Credits: 3
BIOL 473 - Introductory Laboratory in Animal Behavior Credits: 1
BIOL 536 - Ichthyology Credits: 4
EVPP 363 - Coastal Morphology and Processes Credits: 4
EVPP 419 - Marine Mammal Biology and Conservation Credits: 3
NCLC 318 - Exploring Virginia's Watersheds Credits: 4

• Plus 29 credits of physical sciences:

CHEM 211 - General Chemistry Credits: 4
CHEM 212 - General Chemistry Credits: 4
CHEM 313 - Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
CHEM 315 - Organic Chemistry Lab I Credits: 2
GEOL 101 - Introductory Geology I Credits: 4
GEOL 102 - Introductory Geology II Credits: 4
PHYS 243 - College Physics Credits: 3
PHYS 244 - College Physics Lab Credits: 1
PHYS 245 - College Physics Credits: 3
PHYS 246 - College Physics Lab Credits: 1

• 7-8 credits of math:

BIOL 312 - Biostatistics Credits: 4

and one of the following:

MATH 108 - Introductory Calculus with Business Applications Credits: 3
MATH 111 - Linear Mathematical Modeling Credits: 3
MATH 113 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus I Credits: 4
MATH 114 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus II Credits: 4

• 3 credits of computer science:

IT 103 - Introduction to Computing Credits: 3

• Note: PHED 255 is strongly recommended but not required.

Download the requirements checklist (.pdf)
Advising sheets (.doc)