| |
Dec 09, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Biological Sciences, B.S.
|
|
 Return to: Academic Programs A-Z
Offered by Biological Sciences .
The curriculum leading to the Biological Sciences, B.S. is appropriate for students desiring a focused, in-depth grounding in all the essential elements of the biological sciences and is particularly suitable for students intending to pursue graduate study in biology or in the health sciences. It also prepares students to function effectively in a variety of technical and laboratory research settings.
|
Major Requirements
- Minimum 69 credits or 21 courses. Biological Sciences evaluates completion of major requirements based on courses completed to account for variation in equivalent transfer course credits
- Minimum grade of ‘C’ in courses applied to the major and prerequisites
- Minimum four BIOL courses completed in residence at UMBC
- Students pursuing the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, B.S. in addition to the Biological Sciences, B.S. complete unique electives for each degree
Biology Electives (17-21 credits)
Complete a course/course sequence in each of the following: - One Column A Elective
- One Column B Elective
- One Column A or B Elective
- One 400-level BIOL course from Column B taken at UMBC
- Two upper-level laboratory course electives. BIOL 300L may not be used for this requirement. Students may choose to replace one upper-level laboratory with an independent research course sequence.
Some elective options are thematically similar and only one may be used towards major requirements. These courses include BIOL 305 and BIOL 307 ; BIOL 444 and BTEC 444 ; BIOL 495 and BTEC 395 ; and BIOL 430 , BTEC 430 , and CHEM 437 . Column A Electives
Complete one or two courses from the following: Column B Electives
Complete one or two courses from the following: Lab Electives
Complete two from the following: Chemistry (15 credits)
Complete the following: Physics (8 credits)
Complete the following. PHYS 121 and PHYS 122 may not satisfy some professional school admission requirements. Mathematics (4 credits)
Complete the following: Statistics (4 credits)
Choose one of the following courses: MATH/STAT/CMSC Elective (3-4 credits)
Complete one of the following courses: Four-Year Academic Pathways
The Four-Year Academic Pathways webpage offers helpful sample pathways for students eager to explore their academic options and stay on track for a four-year graduation. These pathways provide a starting point for students to plan how to complete their degree in four years. However, it’s important to remember that these are just samples. In consultation with their academic advisor, each student will create an individualized degree plan that reflects their unique academic background, interests, and career goals. Students must develop their personalized degree plan by the time they’ve earned 45 credits and regularly update it with their advisor as their goals and academic journey evolve. This approach ensures that students make thoughtful, strategic choices that set them up for success throughout their time at UMBC. Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs
Qualified students may apply to an accelerated program, which allows them to take graduate courses as undergraduate students and later apply those courses to master’s degrees. A student may apply to participate in an accelerated program even if the desired graduate program is in a department other than the one in which they are majoring. More information is available from the Accelerated Program page of the Graduate School website. |
Return to: Academic Programs A-Z
|
|
