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Biology degree
Executive summary
Undergraduate B.S. programs in biology vary by campus but commonly require about 120–122 credit hours and include a mix of core science courses, labs, upper‑division electives, and GPA thresholds for major progression or honors (examples: 122 credits at Georgia Tech [1]; 120 credits at Iowa State [2]). Program rules differ sharply on transfer credit, required departmental courses, minimum GPAs, and how many upper‑division or in‑department courses must be taken (examples: transfer limits and required in‑residence core at UVA [3]; minimum in‑department upper‑division courses at UCLA EEB [4]). Available sources do not mention tuition, career outcomes, or admissions competitiveness in detail.
1. Degree length and credit totals — “120 is the common target, but not universal”
Most universities present their Biology B.S. as a four‑year program centered on roughly 120 semester credit hours: Iowa State’s interdepartmental Biology B.S. is built around 120 credits [2], while Georgia Tech lists a minimum of 122 credit hours for its B.S. in Biology [1]. These published credit minima are the baseline for degree planning; individual students will exceed or rearrange credits depending on transfer credit, electives, double majors, or institutional general‑education rules [1] [2].
2. Core curriculum and STEM preparation — “Chemistry, math, physics and labs are standard”
Biology majors are commonly required to complete foundational courses across chemistry, mathematics, and at least one physics sequence plus multiple laboratory experiences. Iowa State notes a required semester of general physics with lab and advises students that some career paths require additional physics [5]. Many programs also mandate multiple lab courses as part of upper‑division requirements, for example UCLA’s EEB major requires at least two lab courses including one upper‑division lab [4].
3. Upper‑division and in‑department residency rules — “You can’t outsource all advanced work”
Departments restrict how much advanced biology can be fulfilled outside their courses. Iowa State caps how many credits from certain undergraduate research/individual instruction courses may count toward advanced requirements [5]. University of Virginia requires key core courses and associated labs (BIOL 3000, 3010, 3020) to be taken at UVA for degree credit except for some transfer exceptions [3]. UCLA’s program requires at least five upper‑division courses to be taken within the department [4]. These rules preserve departmental standards and affect transfer students or those using coursework from other units.
4. Grading standards and progression — “Minimum GPAs and grade rules differ”
Schools set different minimum grade and GPA thresholds for major eligibility, core requirements, and honors. Georgia Tech allows letter grades of D and higher in its Biology degree requirements as stated in its checklist [1]. CSULB requires students to maintain a 2.5 GPA in the STEM MSDR suite to declare or remain in the major [6] [7]. UNC–Chapel Hill’s biology major requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in major core requirements, while honors tracks often demand much higher GPAs (example: UNC’s honors and ODU honors GPA thresholds referenced) [8] [9].
5. Flexibility and specializations — “Most programs emphasize electives and tracks”
Departments emphasize flexibility to tailor a biology degree to student interests. Iowa State highlights more than 200 advanced biology course options and allows majors to tailor programs through electives, research, internships and field courses [2]. Georgia Tech’s program also permits 39 hours of upper‑division coursework that can fulfill various degree categories, offering room for specialization or “fall‑through” electives [1].
6. Fast‑track, graduate‑link and honors options — “Pathways into advanced study exist but differ”
Some programs explicitly provide accelerated pathways into graduate studies or combined degrees. UT Dallas outlines Fast Track BS/MS options where students meeting GPA and course prerequisites can apply graduate credit in their senior year [10]. Honors‑level designations and departmental honors require higher GPAs and specific coursework at institutions such as ODU and UNC [9] [8].
7. Transfer policies and AP credit — “Accepted, but with limits and caveats”
AP, transfer, and external credits are accepted unevenly and often with limits. UVA specifies transfer‑credit rules that allow some upper‑level outside credits as electives but require core lab courses to be taken in‑residence [3]. AP and IB exam scores may grant specific course credit in some cases (examples present in UVA BA notes) [11]. Students should consult departmental advisers and official degree audits to understand how external credits will apply [3] [11].
Limitations and next steps: this briefing is drawn solely from the provided program pages and catalog snippets; it does not cover admissions criteria, tuition, job placement, or comprehensive national averages because those topics are not in the supplied sources. For school‑specific planning, consult the full degree sheet and an academic advisor at the institution of interest (examples: Georgia Tech degree checklist [1]; Iowa State program factsheet and catalog [5] [2]).