Program Details

Science with concentration in Physics, Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Science

Virginia Commonwealth University

The interdisciplinary science major provides a broad background in the physical and biological sciences, and is ideal if you are interested in teaching, science and health careers. You will choose one of four concentrations, and are encouraged to also consider a minor in an area different from your concentration that will complement your career interests. While the biology, chemistry and physics concentrations will satisfy some of the prerequisites for many graduate and professional-level programs — such as medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and physician assistant studies — our professional science concentration is designed to help you meet all prerequisites for a majority of those programs.

Outcomes

Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following: Demonstrate broad and core science proficiency Demonstrate competency in at least two sciences or in a non-science area Apply learning to selection and pursuit of professional or graduate career objective Demonstrate proficiency in communication of scientific or research findings Demonstrate ability to apply the scientific method/approach to professional problems Demonstrate appreciation of the interrelation of core sciences to interdisciplinary problems

Program Overview & Guidance

Program Web Page

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Delivery Mode

In-Person

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Delivery Mode

Online

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Delivery Mode

Hybrid

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Program Guidance Element	What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree	The B.S. in Interdisciplinary Sciences or (SCIENCE) degree program provides an interdisciplinary bachelor's degree curriculum that contains broad and fundamental grounding in the physical, life, earth, and mathematical sciences that prepares students to confront the challenges of additional graduate training or careers in STEM or healthcare-related fields. Due to the flexibility of the SCIENCE major, transfer students with completed A.S. degrees can more easily earn dual degrees in STEM or another major (i.e. two B.S. diplomas). This major also accepts the majority of prerequisites for most healthcare programs. This allows students to apply to clinical professional programs offered on the VCU medical campus while simultaneously completing a 4-yr degree on the academic campus.
Program Requirement Notes	Program Requirement Notes The Bachelor of Science in Science requires a minimum of 120 credits. Along with the general education requirements of the undergraduate programs and the College of Humanities and Sciences for a Bachelor of Science degree, this curriculum requires 28 to 33 credits in foundation science and mathematics courses and 36 to 38 credits in supplemental courses in the concentration. In preparation for the required mathematical sciences courses, all students must take the Mathematics Placement Test. Science majors are strongly encouraged to select a minor in an area different from their area of concentration that will complement their career interests and contribute additional upper-level credits to their curriculum. Science majors declaring the biology concentration may not simultaneously declare a major or minor in biology. A minimum grade of C is required in each prerequisite course: CHEM 100, CHEM 101, CHEM 102, CHEM 301, and CHEM 302. A minimum grade of C is required in the following courses before enrollment in advanced BIOL courses: BIOL 151, BIOZ 151, BIOL 152, BIOZ 152, and BIOL 300.
Considerations When Selecting Courses	Complete equivalent introductory level courses in chemistry, biology, physics, geology and math. If you are interested in healthcare programs like nursing and pharmacy, complete anatomy and physiology courses at your 2-yr institution. 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 Connect with an advisor at your community college and Virginia Commonwealth University within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses
Doing More With Your Degree	In addition to the required foundational mathematics and science courses, students can select a concentration in biology, chemistry, physics or professional science. Students selecting the chemistry or biology concentrations will be exposed to course content that is greater or equivalent to earned 'minors' in those content areas while having flexibility in the curriculum to explore cross-disciplinary lower or upper-level coursework in other areas such as psychology, anthropology, history, gender or African-American studies, to courses in forensic science, business, or mass communications that fit into their career aspirations. The physics concentration requires the foundational math and physics courses required of physics majors that are suitable for use in secondary school teaching as well as the ability to explore research opportunities in theoretical or experimental physics applications, such as medical imaging or nanoscience. The professional science (PS) concentration is particularly well-suited for students interested in careers in the health professions. As of Fall 2024, students in this concentration are eligible to pursue a unique 4+1 accelerated program in medical (or clinical) laboratory sciences (MLS) that allows them to graduate with combined undergraduate and graduate degrees in SCIENCE and MLS in 5-years. Starting salaries for BS-level clinical laboratory scientists are about $100k.
Program Successes & Highlights	Although most entering freshman students are unaware of the SCIENCE major, the majority of our majors who transition in their junior or senior years will graduate with over 75% reporting their intent to apply to graduate programs. Of those employed after graduation, 67% were very satisfied with their outcome and indicated that their outcome was very related to their career goals and their degree program.

Program Credit Requirements

Credit and Course Requirements for the Program are expected in a future release. Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.

If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:

Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.

If you are interested in the cost of attending this institution, please visit the institution's cost page to review costs

Applicable Admissions Agreements

The table below lists admissions agreements between Virginia Commonwealth University and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.

Institution Name	Type	Title
Richard Bland College	GAA	Transfer Agreement - Virginia Commonwealth University and Richard Bland College
Blue Ridge Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Central Virginia Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Danville Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Mountain Gateway Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Eastern Shore Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Germanna Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Brightpoint Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Laurel Ridge Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Mountain Empire Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
New River Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Northern Virginia Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Paul D. Camp Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Patrick & Henry Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Piedmont Virginia Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Rappahannock Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Southside Virginia Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Southwest Virginia Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Tidewater Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Peninsula Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Highlands Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Western Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Wytheville Community College	GAA	Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University

You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center

What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?

Transfer Guidance Element	What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion	Students who earn an Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts & Sciences, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science, General Education Certificate, or Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System, Richard Bland College, or the College of Southern Maryland may be eligible to participate in the Guaranteed Admission Agreement. Students with one of these degrees may also be eligible to have the majority of their general education requirements waived. Students who have earned a transfer-oriented associate degree from any regionally accredited institution or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements satisfied. The Associate of Science in Science or the Associate of Arts & Sciences in Science are the recommended associate degrees for this major.
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School	Students who have earned a transfer-oriented associate degree from any regionally accredited institution or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements satisfied. The Associate of Science in Science or the Associate of Arts & Sciences in Science are the recommended associate degrees for this major.
Credit for Prior Learning	VCU accepts a variety of types of credit for prior learning, including but not limited to Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), military experience, Cambridge, and industry certifications that are recommended for credit by the American Council on Education or the National College Credit Recommendation Service.
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: Virginia Commonwealth University

College Level Information

Transfer Center

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External Link

Transfer Admission Application

Transfer Students - Apply Here

External Link

Transfer Student Aid

Financial Aid for Transfer Students

External Link

Number of Transfer Students

1902

Percent of Accepted Transfer Students

VCU prefers transfer applicants with a cumulative college GPA of a 2.5 or higher who are in good standing with their pre

College Fit Guidance	What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me?	VCU is a large, research-driven institution nestled on two campuses in downtown Richmond, Virginia, offering a vast array of degree programs from arts to dental hygiene to engineering to education. VCU students have access to hundreds of student organizations, which is a great way to connect with others whether or not you choose to live in one of our many on-campus residence halls. Take advantage of VCU's location with access to the James River and its park system, internship and job opportunities, community engagement, and interstates to travel to the beach, the mountains, and Washington, D.C..
Transfer Student Catalog Year	Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU.
First Year Student Catalog Year	Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions	https://admissions.vcu.edu/apply-to-vcu/undergraduate/transfer/

Where Can This Degree Transfer

This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

Institution	Title	Degree	Award Name	Award Level	Delivery Mode
Virginia Highlands Community College	Associate in Science Degree in Science	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Hybrid
Virginia Highlands Community College	Associate of Science Degree in Science - Major in Biology	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Hybrid
Virginia Highlands Community College	Associate of Science in Degree - Chemistry Major	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Hybrid
Virginia Highlands Community College	Associate of Science Degree in Science - Major in Mathematics	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Hybrid
Virginia Highlands Community College	Associate of Science Degree in Science - Major in Medical Lab Science	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Hybrid
Virginia Highlands Community College	Associate of Science Degree in Natural Resources	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Hybrid
Blue Ridge Community College	Associate of Science in Computer Science	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Hybrid, Online
Blue Ridge Community College	Associate of Science in Engineering	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Hybrid
Blue Ridge Community College	Associate in Science in Science	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Hybrid
Mountain Gateway Community College	Associate of Science Degree in Science	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online
Eastern Shore Community College	Associate of Science Degree in Science	Associate	Associate in Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online, Hybrid
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College	Associate of Science in Science	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online, Hybrid
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College	Associate of Science in Science - Mathematics Major	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online, Hybrid
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College	Associate of Science in Science - Biotechnology Laboratory Technician	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	Not Specified
Brightpoint Community College	Associate of Science Degree in Science	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Hybrid
Laurel Ridge Community College	Associate of Science Degree in Computer Science	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online, Hybrid
Laurel Ridge Community College	Associate of Science Degree in Health Sciences	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online, Hybrid
Laurel Ridge Community College	Associate of Science Degree in Science	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	Hybrid
Laurel Ridge Community College	Associate of Science Degree in Science: Computational & Data Science Major	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online, Hybrid
Laurel Ridge Community College	Associate of Science Degree in Science: Mathematics Major	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online, Hybrid
New River Community College	Associate of Science in Science	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online, Hybrid
Northern Virginia Community College	Science, A.S.	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online
Northern Virginia Community College	Science: Mathematics Specialization, A.S.	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online
Piedmont Virginia Community College	Associate of Science in Biotechnology	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online, Hybrid
Piedmont Virginia Community College	Associate of Science in Physical and Natural Science	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online, Hybrid
Virginia Peninsula Community College	Associate of Science in Science	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online
Virginia Peninsula Community College	Associate of Science in Science/Education	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person
Virginia Peninsula Community College	Associate of Science in Science/Math Education	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person
Tidewater Community College	Associate of Science - Science	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person
Tidewater Community College	Associate of Science: Science (Chemistry Major)	Associate	Associate of Applied Science	2-Year	In-Person
Tidewater Community College	Associate of Science: Science (Biology Major)	Associate	Associate of Applied Science	2-Year	In-Person
Wytheville Community College	Associate of Science Degree in Science	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online, Hybrid
Wytheville Community College	Associate of Science in Science Degree Mathematics Major	Associate	Associate of Science	2-Year	In-Person, Online, Hybrid
The University of Virginia's College at Wise	Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences, Major in Environmental Science	Bachelor	Bachelor of Arts	4-Year	In-Person
The University of Virginia's College at Wise	Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences, Major in Environmental Science	Bachelor	Bachelor of Science	4-Year	In-Person
The University of Virginia's College at Wise	Bachelor of Arts, Major in Earth Science	Bachelor	Bachelor of Arts	4-Year	In-Person
Regent University	B.S. in Biophysical Sciences	Bachelor	Bachelor of Science	4-Year	In-Person

Careers Where This Degree Applies

O*Net Code	Name	Description	Parent
11-9121.01	Clinical Research Coordinators	Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.	Management Occupations
11-9121.00	Natural Sciences Managers	Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.	Management Occupations
25-1199.00	Postsecondary Teachers, All Other	All postsecondary teachers not listed separately.	Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
25-2031.00	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.	Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
11-9121.02	Water Resource Specialists	Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.	Management Occupations

Cost To Complete

This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 120 credits remaining to be completed

Residence State

Delivery Mode

Service Member?

Service Status *

Branch

GI Bill (for Spouses/Dependants)

Disability Discharge

Residence City

Hours to Complete Degree *

Minimum Term of Active Duty

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.

Estimated Cost for the Plan Name Not Provided at Virginia Commonwealth University These costs are based on an estimated 8 semesters or 4 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category	Cost	Basis	Cost (To You)	Estimated Benefits	Net Cost	Notes
Tuition	$6,600	Per Semester	$52,800	$0	$52,800	Every credit above 14 credits in a semester is charged at half price ($230 per credit for credits 15 and above; credits 1 -14 are charged the full rate)
Fees
University Fee	$1,341	Per Semester	$10,728	0	$10,728
Technology Fee	$158	Per Semester	$1,264	0	$1,264
Library Fee	$44	Per Semester	$352	0	$352
Student Activity Fee	$45	Per Semester	$360	0	$360	MCV Campus students pay a flat rate of $18
Academic Support Services Fee	$50	Per Semester	$400	0	$400
Health Fee	$123	Per Semester	$984	0	$984
Program Fee	$45	Per Semester	$360	0	$360
Transition Fee	$150	Per Semester	$1,200	0	$1,200	New undergraduate transfer students will be charged the Student Transition Fee in their first semester to cover Orientation. The Transition Fee for new First-Year Students is $225 and will be assessed in the first semester.

*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.

Tuition & Fee Notes:

Potential Additional Fees
- Additional fees may include on-campus housing, meal plan, parking, technology, and program- and course-specific fees.

Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:

You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.