Bachelor of Science in Biology

Catalog Year 2024-2028

Based on VCCS Curriculum for BIOLOGY

Transfer Guidance

Guaranteed Admission Agreement

• By meeting the following criteria, you are guaranteed admission to Hollins University:

• Virginia Community College students (VCCS) graduating from transfer-oriented degree programs with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on a four-point scale are guaranteed admission.

• A GPA of 2.5 or higher on all college-level work is recommended for all students seeking to transfer to Hollins University.

• This policy applies for all undergraduate majors. All students declare a major after they arrive at Hollins.

• Program Specific Benefits

• By meeting the indicated criteria in addition to the GAA, students in this program receive the listed benefits:

• You will receive a faculty advisor from day one.

• You will be guaranteed a seat in BIOL 200, a required course that you would take the spring of your junior year.

Important Links & Dates

• Hollins University Transfer Information: https://www.hollins.edu/admission-aid/transfer-students/

• Register Intent to Transfer: through College Connect at www.TransferVirginia.org

• Admission Application: Preferred admission deadlines: February 1 for fall term or November 15 for spring term matriculation; apply at https://admissions.hollins.edu/apply/

• Financial Aid: https://www.hollins.edu/admission-aid/undergraduate-financial-aid-schola...

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid: Apply at studentaid.gov

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year. For help, see Transfer Steps and Resource Center at www.TransferVirginia.org

• Connect with an advisor at your community college within your first year and your transfer counselor (transfer@hollins.edu) at Hollins University if you have questions regarding your transfer pathway. College Connect is available in your account at www.TransferVirginia.org

• Be sure to complete BIO 140, 141, 206, and 270, as well as CHEM 111 & 112 to ensure that you are well-positioned to graduate in two years once you arrive at Hollins.

• If you plan to be pre-health, pre-vet, or attend graduate school, we strongly recommend the BS track. We also recommend that you look at the particular veterinary, medical, etc. schools you plan to apply to and see what course requirements they have and let that guide the 200-level electives you take prior to Hollins.

• If you are pre-health, plan to go straight into your health program (e.g. medical school, etc.) and the school/s you plan to apply to require you to take the MCAT, you must take MATH 161 and 162 prior to Hollins to ensure that you are eligible to take Physics in your junior year which is covered on the MCAT that you would take the summer after your junior year.

• Note that almost all upper-level electives at Hollins are offered every other year. You can look at past years' course catalogs or inquire to someone in the Biology department if you'd like to know what year specific courses will be offered. This knowledge may help guide you on the 200-level electives you take prior to Hollins.

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• Biology students at Hollins develop a broad understanding of life – both plant and animal. You'll explore the organization and processes of each, from cells through organ systems to species and evolution to populations and ecosystems. Complete a Bachelor of Arts in biology and you can pursue a variety of careers in the biological sciences. You can become a laboratory technician, environmental consultant, or a teacher at the elementary or secondary level.

What Is The Impact On My Degree Of Work I Have Already Completed?

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: Fulfills all Hollins general education requirements. Courses listed above satisfy Hollins major requirements.

• Dual Enrollment – Completion of Associate Degree in HS: Dual enrollment courses may count toward general education requirements. Completion of an Associate Degree through dual enrollment does not automatically satisfy all general education requirements at Hollins, but all dual enrollment courses will be considered on an individual basis. Students who have not completed college credits after completing their high school degree must take Core 101: First-year Foundations and Core 102: Conflict and Collaboration at Hollins.

• Credit for Prior Learning: Credit for prior learning, including CLEP examinations and AP and IB test scores will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for Hollins credit. Visit www.transfervirginia.org "Check All My Credits" to see how your prior learning will earn credit.

• Catalog Year: Transfer students follow the requirements in the catalog year that they first enter Hollins but may elect to move to a later catalog if they wish.

• Total Credits: Typical semester courses at Hollins carry 4 credits, rather than 3 credits. This explains why credits completed at Hollins may be higher than those completed at the community college. This does not increase the number of courses required, nor the cost. For full-time students, Hollins bills per semester, not per credit. Typically, full time students take 16 to 20 credits at Hollins in one semester.

Is This College Right For Me?

• Known for its creative and highly engaged student body, Hollins University prides itself on its nationally recognized and award-winning undergraduate and graduate academic programs, its deeply committed alumnae/i network, its extraordinarily beautiful campus surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, and its unique ability to ensure that each of its students can design a transformational college experience. Hollins is a small, close-knit community with fewer than 1,000 students, focused on holistic support for each student. The average class size is 12, and only women are admitted as undergraduate students. On-campus housing is guaranteed for undergraduates, and a scholarship of at least $20,000 is guaranteed for transfer students. A $2,000 scholarship is available for Phi Theta Kappa members. Top majors for transfer students include business, psychology and biology but all programs welcome transfer students. Hollins offers a 5-year Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program and offers a renowned English and creative writing program. We are a small community with big outcomes for students; more than 90% of recent graduates are employed or in graduate school within one year of graduation.

• Learn more about our college at www.TransferVirginia.org - Transfer Partners

Did You Know That…

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?

• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at Hollins University?

What Can I Do With This Degree?

• Hollins biology majors excel in graduate school, professional schools (e.g. medical school, veterinary school, etc.), and in the workforce. Recent careers paths our students have pursued include veterinarian, microbiologist, high school science teacher, and physical therapist to name a few.

• Explore possible careers, salaries, and job outlook at www.TransferVirginia.org

Program Successes & Highlights

• Hollins students have opportunities to work closely with faculty mentors to conduct meaningful research. Whether it's a several-week summer research project in Hollins' Summer Fellows research program or a yearlong senior honors thesis, students at all stages and of all interests can gain valuable research experience here at Hollins.

• Biology majors at Hollins can go abroad for a semester or during our January short term. Some of our most popular abroad programs include semester-long programs at the University of Limerick in Ireland and the School for Field Studies (Hollins is a partner-institution) which has locations around the world. Many students also pursue biology faculty-led travel courses during our short term to places like Ecuador. All financial aid and scholarships transfer to these abroad programs and additional grants and scholarships are available to make these programs financially feasible. Note that the deadline to apply to go abroad is usually on March 1st the spring prior to the academic year in which you wish to go abroad. Transfer students interested in semester-long abroad programs are encouraged to go abroad in their junior year because seniors at Hollins are not allowed to do semester-long abroad programs unless granted permission which is not guaranteed. For more information or to ask questions, contact, e-mail: abroad@hollins.edu

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• 89% of applicants applying for the fall 2022 cohort were admitted to Hollins University.

• Learn more about applying at www.TransferVirginia.org and https://www.hollins.edu/admission-aid/transfer-students/

Do More With Your Degree!

• 90% of recent graduates were employed, in graduate school or engaged in service within six months of graduation.

• Consider a minor or certificate that complements your major and extends your learning. See the complete list of offerings at www.hollins.edu/majors-and-minors

• Hollins students receive discipline-specific training and guidance in their BIOL 200 & 471 courses that helps them prepare for and learn about finding and applying to internships, jobs, graduate, and professional schools and are required to complete a biology internship prior to graduation. These things set our students up for success with their next steps after graduation.

Other Than Classes, Are There Other Program Requirements?

• All Hollins students, other than Horizon students, complete two half-semester physical activity classes not for credit. Varsity athletes may count a sport for one of these requirements.

• Hollins courses are primarily taught on campus during the traditional workday.

• Biology majors must complete a biology-related internship prior to graduation. This internship can be paid or unpaid and can be completed during the summer, regular semester, or short term. Hollins offers a limited number of "Signature Internships" in biology (which includes housing if it's not local) which students can apply to through Hollins to fulfill this requirement but are also welcome to secure their own internships which biology faculty members and Hollins' Career Development and Life Design Center can provide guidance and mentorship in securing.