Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Biology

Catalog Year 2024-2026

Based on VCCS Curriculum for BIOLOGY

Transfer Guidance

Admission into the Biology major at JMU

• Students who meet the requirements for guaranteed admission to JMU are guaranteed admission to the Biology major.

• Students must complete an approved transferable associate degree from their Virginia community college with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for guaranteed admission to JMU. Students who do not qualify for guaranteed admission are encouraged to apply to JMU through the regular admission process. For additional details about requirements for guaranteed admission, please see the JMU letter of intent for your community college: www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer-gaa.shtml.

Important Links & Dates

• University Transfer Center: https://www.jmu.edu/transfer/

• Register Intent to Transfer: Students can notify JMU of their interest in transferring through College Connect at www.TransferVirginia.org. Transfer applicants from a VCCS institution intending to apply through the Guaranteed Admission Agreement (GAA) must submit a Letter of Intent prior to applying. Requirements and forms are available at: https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer-GAA.shtml.

• Admission Application: By March 1 for Fall or October 15 for Spring at https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/apply-online.shtml

• Financial Aid: https://www.jmu.edu/financialaid

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid: Deadline is March 1. Learn more at studentaid.gov.

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Students interested in pursuing one of the pre-professional health (PPH) minors at JMU sometimes choose to major in biology. Pre-professional health minors include pre-athletic training, pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, pre-occupational therapy, pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy, pre-physician assistant, and pre-veterinary. If you are considering a PPH minor, you are encouraged to also review information from the Office of Pre-Professional Health Advising at: https://www.jmu.edu/pph/index.shtml and https://www.jmu.edu/pph/2023-2024minors.pdf. Note that in some cases, graduate schools prefer you take certain science courses, such as anatomy and physiology and organic chemistry, at your 4-year university rather than community college. Physics 201-202 can be a good choice to take at your community college before transfer if needed in your pre-professional health area.

• 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 and James Madison University within your first year. College Connect available in your account at www.TransferVirginia.org

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• Biology is a 65 - 71 cr. major, including BIO (36-40 cr.), MATH (6-7 cr.), CHEM (8-14 cr.) and PHYS (8 cr. for the B.S.). The biology major focuses on core grounding in biology, chemistry, math (calculus and/or statistics), and physics. The major covers everything from molecules to ecosystems in its four introductory BIO courses, and this broad exposure allows students to determine the area of biology of most interest to them for their upper-level BIO electives.

• The biology major is suited for any student interested in science, lab or field work, hands-on exploratory investigations, and future careers that look for a strong foundation in biology and other sciences.

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

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: An approved transferable associate degree from a Virginia Community College will waive general education requirements at JMU. The list of approved transferable associate degrees can be found at www.jmu.edu/transfer/vccs-transfer/asdegrees.shtml.

• Dual Enrollment -- Completion of Associate Degree in HS: Students who complete a transferable associate degree from a Virginia Community College through Dual Enrollment will not be eligible for guaranteed admission but will receive the general education waiver at JMU. DE associate degree earners who want to make progress toward their intended major should follow the curriculum in this guide.

• Credit for Prior Learning: Credit for prior learning may be awarded differently at JMU than at your previous institution. JMU accepts and reviews AP, IB CIE, and CLEP examinations for all students with eligible scores. JMU will complete an independent review of the test score to apply credit to your JMU student record. Other credit for prior learning is awarded on a per case basis for the ADP and RN-BSN programs in consultation with the department of expertise. Credit for learning acquired in military service is awarded by the registrar's office using the ACE guide credit recommendation for study/experience listed on the military transcript and in consultation with the department of expertise.

• Catalog Year: Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance at JMU

Is This College Right For Me?

• JMU is a mid to large size institution that behaves more like a smaller institution. Faculty and staff hold students as the top priority. JMU has a 96% satisfaction rate. 88% of classes have less than 50 students. JMU is the #1 most recommended public university in the US by the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education; JMU is the #1 Best College for Employment in Virginia according to U.S. Department of Education statistics compiled by Zippia. JMU has the highest post-graduation job levels of all Virginia colleges. Learn more about our college at www.jmu.edu and www.TransferVirginia.org.

Did You Know That…

• There is no limit to the number of credits you can transfer to JMU, but 50% of the credits required for graduation in your major must be taken at a 4-year college or university, and 25% must be taken at JMU. (Most JMU majors require 120 credits, so 60 must come from a 4-year and 30 must be taken at JMU.)

• 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 JMU.

• Students who may be eligible for Virginia's Two-Year College Transfer Grant should transfer in the fall or spring immediately following the completion of their associate degree. Learn more about the state transfer grant here: https://www.schev.edu/financial-aid/financial-aid/federal-state-financia...

What Can I Do With This Degree?

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

Program Successes & Highlights

• The JMU biology department has gained national recognition for their success at delivering course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) to a large number of students every semester through the 1st year curriculum. Undergraduate Biology majors also gain inquiry-based research experience through faculty mentored research experiences. Biology students present their research at professional symposia and research conferences, and they are co-authors on peer reviewed research articles. In 2021, the Department was awarded an NSF funded Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students (REU) Site grant, specifically targeted to students at community colleges. The Department has maintained its excellent rate of completion for Biology majors with an average 4-yr completion rate of 79.3%.

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• Generally, two-thirds of transfer applicants are admitted to JMU. Competitive applicants will have mostly As & Bs and have completed at least one class in each of our four core areas (English, mathematics, lab science, and social science).

• JMU defines a transfer student as a student that has graduated from high school (or holds a GED equivalency) AND has taken courses in college after high school graduation.

• Learn more about applying at https://www.jmu.edu/transfer/ or www.TransferVirginia.org.

Do More With Your Degree!

• The Department of Biology offers majors in Biology and in Biotechnology, as well as a minor in Biology and an accelerated dual degree program (B.S. + M.S.) in Forest Biology. Within the Biology major, students may choose a concentration, if desired, in Ecology and Environmental Biology, Microbiology, or Neuroscience. The program comprises a four-semester core and the opportunity to tailor your upper division curriculum based on interest area, particularly within the 24 cr. of BIO 300-400 level electives within the major.