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Program checklist · B.S.

Biology

James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA

A checklist is the list of requirements to complete this program and receive the award, as the college publishes it in its catalog. It is the same for everyone. It does not say what you have completed; that comes from applying your own record.

Program
Award
B.S.
Credential class
ceterms:BachelorDegree
CIP
26.0101
Total credits (published)
15-16
Credits (computed from items)
276-302
Catalog edition
2026-2027
Checklist type
degree-program
Identifiers
IPEDS UNITID
232423
CourseShelf checklist
CK_232423_6855b988
CollegeTransfer.Net
Institution Transfer Profile
Source
CourseShelf publish 59

Requirements to complete

Every course or condition the catalog lists, in the catalog's order.

Major Requirements

major core · 0 items

    Core Requirements

    major core · 5 items
    1. BIO 140& 140L
      Foundations of Biology I [C3NS]and Foundations of Biology I Laboratory [C3L]
      Not resolved to a course
      4
    2. BIO 150& 150L
      Foundations of Biology IIand Foundations of Biology II Laboratory
      Not resolved to a course
      4
    3. BIO 240& 240L
      Geneticsand Genetics Laboratory
      Not resolved to a course
      4
    4. BIO 250& 250L
      Quantitative Ecology and Evolutionand Quantitative Ecology and Evolution Laboratory
      Not resolved to a course
      4
    5. Subtotal
      Not resolved to a course
      16

    Additional Biology Requirements

    1 item
    1. Students in the B.S. biology major must complete at least 24 credit hours of approved biology courses and at least 16 of these must be at the 300 and 400 levels. Up to 8 credit hours of 200 level BIO courses may count towards the 24 credit hour requirement, excluding BIO 270/BIO 270L.
      Not resolved to a course
      24

    At least one course must be from the list of 300/400-level organismal diversity courses (see list below).

    0 items

      Two 300/400-level courses must have a laboratory component (see list below).

      0 items

        Courses in both lists may count for both requirements.

        0 items

          Three credits of independent research (BIO 496 (up to a maximum of 2 credit hours), BIO 497 and/or BIO 499A/BIO 499B/BIO 499C) may be used for one, but only one, of the laboratory courses.

          1 item
          1. Subtotal
            Not resolved to a course
            24

          Cognate Requirements

          0 items

            Chemistry Cognate Requirement

            0 items

              Chemistry beyond the minimum requirement is recommended in many areas of biology. Consult with your advisor about which courses are appropriate. Students who take BIO 361/CHEM 361 in addition to CHEM 242, CHEM 353, CHEM 354 or GEOL 355/CHEM 355 will have BIO 361/CHEM 361 applied toward their BIO 300-400-level elective requirements. BIO 361/CHEM 361 may not be used for both a chemistry cognate and a biology major elective.

              electives · 12 items
              1. 3
              2. 1
              3. 3
              4. 1
              5. 3
              6. Choose one of the following:
                Not resolved to a course
                3
              7. BIO/CHEM 361
                Biochemistry I
                Not resolved to a course
              8. 3
              9. 3
              10. As published: “Environmental Chemistry Field Camp (summer only)”
                3
              11. CHEM/GEOL 355
                Geochemistry of Natural Waters
                Not resolved to a course
              12. Subtotal
                Not resolved to a course
                14

              Statistics Cognate Requirement

              4 items
              1. Statistics beyond the minimum requirement is desirable in many areas of biology. Consult your advisor about which courses are appropriate. Choose one of the following:
                Not resolved to a course
                3-4
              2. 3
              3. 3
              4. Subtotal
                Not resolved to a course
                3-4

              Mathematics Cognate Requirement

              16 items
              1. Mathematics beyond the minimum requirement is desirable in many areas of biology. Consult your advisor about which courses are appropriate. Choose one of the following:
                Not resolved to a course
                3-4
              2. 4
              3. 4
              4. As published: “Introduction to Data (This course does not fulfill the B.S. quantitative requirement.)”
                3
              5. 3
              6. 4
              7. 3
              8. 3
              9. 3
              10. 3
              11. 3
              12. 3
              13. 3
              14. 4
              15. 3
              16. Subtotal
                Not resolved to a course
                3-4

              Physics Cognate Requirement

              5 items
              1. Choose one of the following options:
                Not resolved to a course
                4-8
              2. PHYS 125& 125L
                Physics with Biological Applications [C3PP]and Physics with Biological Applications Laboratory [C3L]
                Not resolved to a course
              3. PHYS 140& 140L& PHYS 150& PHYS 150L
                College Physics I [C3PP]and General Physics Laboratory I [C3L]and College Physics IIand General Physics Laboratory II
                Not resolved to a course
              4. PHYS 240& 240L& PHYS 250& PHYS 250L
                University Physics I [C3PP]and University Physics Laboratory I [C3L]and University Physics IIand University Physics Laboratory II
                Not resolved to a course
              5. Subtotal
                Not resolved to a course
                4-8

              Organismal diversity and laboratory courses

              0 items

                Choose at least one organismal diversity course from the following list:

                19 items
                1. 3
                2. 4
                3. 3
                4. 3
                5. 4
                6. 3
                7. 3
                8. 3
                9. 4
                10. 4
                11. 3
                12. 3
                13. 4
                14. 4
                15. 4
                16. 4
                17. 3
                18. 3
                19. 4

                Choose at least two laboratory courses from the following list:

                39 items
                1. 2
                2. 4
                3. 4
                4. 2
                5. 1
                6. 4
                7. 4
                8. 1
                9. 1
                10. 4
                11. 1
                12. 4
                13. 1
                14. BIO/GEOL 400
                  Geology and Ecology of the Bahamas
                  Not resolved to a course
                15. 4
                16. 3
                17. 4
                18. 4
                19. 1
                20. 1-4
                21. 4
                22. 4
                23. 4
                24. 4
                25. 4
                26. 4
                27. 4
                28. 4
                29. 4
                30. 4
                31. 4
                32. 4
                33. 1
                34. 4
                35. 4
                36. 4
                37. 3
                38. 4
                39. 4

                Anatomy and Physiology Concentration

                concentration · 0 items

                  Anatomy Core Requirements

                  major core · 4 items
                  1. Choose one of the following:
                    Not resolved to a course
                    4
                  2. BIO 290& 290L
                    Human Anatomyand Human Anatomy Laboratory
                    Not resolved to a course
                  3. As published: “Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates 1,2,3”
                    4
                  4. Subtotal
                    Not resolved to a course
                    4

                  Physiology Core Requirements

                  major core · 2 items
                  1. As published: “Human and Animal Physiology 2”
                    4
                  2. Subtotal
                    Not resolved to a course
                    4

                  Anatomy and Physiology Electives

                  electives · 1 item
                  1. Complete 9 hours from the following:
                    Not resolved to a course
                    9

                  Choose at least one course from the following primarily anatomical or physiological courses: 4

                  10 items
                  1. 2
                  2. As published: “Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates 3”
                    4
                  3. As published: “Advanced Human Anatomy 2”
                    3
                  4. As published: “Mammalogy 1,2”
                    4
                  5. 3
                  6. 3
                  7. 3
                  8. As published: “Reproductive Physiology 1”
                    3
                  9. As published: “Human Histology 2”
                    4
                  10. As published: “Mechanics of Animal Movement 2”
                    4

                  Choose remaining credit hours from the list of primarily anatomical or physiological courses above, or from the following courses:

                  8 items
                  1. 3
                  2. 3
                  3. 3
                  4. 1
                  5. As published: “Neurobiology 2”
                    4
                  6. As published: “Experimental Neurobiology 2”
                    4
                  7. 3
                  8. Subtotal
                    Not resolved to a course
                    9

                  Ecology and Environmental Biology Concentration

                  concentration · 0 items

                    Ecology and Environmental Biology Concentration Courses

                    concentration · 37 items
                    1. Select at least 20 credit hours from the following list:
                      Not resolved to a course
                      20
                    2. BIO 245& 245L
                      General Microbiologyand General Microbiology Laboratory 1
                      Not resolved to a course
                    3. As published: “Marine Biology 1”
                      3
                    4. As published: “Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates 1,2”
                      4
                    5. 3
                    6. As published: “Morphology and Anatomy of Vascular Plants 1,2”
                      4
                    7. BIO/MATH 342
                      Mathematical Models in Biology
                      Not resolved to a course
                    8. As published: “Paleobiology 2”
                      4
                    9. 4
                    10. As published: “Galápagos Islands: Biodiversity and Conservation 1”
                      3
                    11. As published: “Plant Biology 1”
                      3
                    12. As published: “Human and Animal Physiology 2”
                      4
                    13. As published: “Field Botany 1,2”
                      4
                    14. 3
                    15. As published: “Environmental Microbiology Laboratory 2”
                      1
                    16. BIO/PSYC 395
                      Comparative Animal Behavior
                      Not resolved to a course
                    17. BIO/GEOL 400
                      Geology and Ecology of the Bahamas 2
                      Not resolved to a course
                    18. As published: “Forest Ecology 2”
                      4
                    19. 3
                    20. BIO/GEOL 405
                      Vertebrate Paleontology 1
                      Not resolved to a course
                    21. As published: “Mammalogy 1,2”
                      4
                    22. 3
                    23. As published: “Animals and their Environments 1,2”
                      4
                    24. As published: “Ornithology: Research and Current Advances 1,2”
                      4
                    25. 3
                    26. As published: “Insect Ecology 1,2”
                      4
                    27. 3
                    28. As published: “Population Ecology 2”
                      4
                    29. 3
                    30. As published: “Introduction to Biometrics 2”
                      4
                    31. As published: “Plant Physiology 2”
                      4
                    32. As published: “Ecological Models and Data 2”
                      4
                    33. As published: “Biological Applications of Geographic Information Systems 2”
                      4
                    34. As published: “Freshwater Ecology 2”
                      4
                    35. As published: “Aquatic Microbiology 1,2”
                      3
                    36. As published: “Systematics of Vascular Plants 1,2”
                      4
                    37. Subtotal
                      Not resolved to a course
                      20

                    Cognate Courses

                    0 items

                      Students must take two additional cognate courses: 3

                      11 items
                      1. Choose one Statistics course:
                        Not resolved to a course
                        3-4
                      2. 3
                      3. 3
                      4. 3
                      5. 3
                      6. As published: “Introduction to Biometrics 2”
                        4
                      7. As published: “Ecological Models and Data 2”
                        4
                      8. Choose one Geographic Information Systems course:
                        Not resolved to a course
                        3-4
                      9. 3
                      10. As published: “Biological Applications of Geographic Information Systems 2”
                        4
                      11. Subtotal
                        Not resolved to a course
                        6-8

                      Microbiology Concentration

                      concentration · 0 items

                        General Microbiology Requirements

                        4 items
                        1. 3
                        2. 1
                        3. 1
                        4. Subtotal
                          Not resolved to a course
                          5

                        Laboratory Requirement

                        12 items
                        1. Choose at least one of the following laboratory courses:
                          Not resolved to a course
                          1-3
                        2. 2
                        3. 2
                        4. 2
                        5. 2
                        6. As published: “Laboratory in Bacterial Pathogenomics 1”
                          2
                        7. As published: “Medical Microbiology Laboratory 1”
                          1
                        8. As published: “Advanced Microbiology Laboratory Techniques 1”
                          1
                        9. As published: “Environmental Microbiology Laboratory 1”
                          1
                        10. As published: “Immunology Laboratory 1”
                          1
                        11. As published: “Aquatic Microbiology 1”
                          3
                        12. Subtotal
                          Not resolved to a course
                          1-3

                        Microbial Requirements

                        0 items

                          If a student takes an elective course that is listed in both Microbial Pathogenesis and Microbial Ecology categories below, the course may only satisfy one category requirement, but not both.

                          electives · 13 items
                          1. Microbial Pathogenesis - Choose at least one of the following:
                            Not resolved to a course
                            3
                          2. As published: “Medical Parasitology 2”
                            3
                          3. 3
                          4. 3
                          5. As published: “Virology 3”
                            3
                          6. As published: “Evolution and Ecology of Infectious Disease 3”
                            3
                          7. Microbial Ecology - Choose at least one of the following:
                            Not resolved to a course
                            3
                          8. 3
                          9. As published: “Virology 3”
                            3
                          10. As published: “Evolution and Ecology of Infectious Disease 3”
                            3
                          11. 3
                          12. As published: “Aquatic Microbiology 2”
                            3
                          13. Subtotal
                            Not resolved to a course
                            6

                          Microbiology Electives

                          electives · 2 items
                          1. Microbiology courses from any of the above listed courses to reach 18 credit hours.
                            Not resolved to a course
                            4-6
                          2. Subtotal
                            Not resolved to a course
                            4-6

                          Neuroscience Concentration

                          concentration · 0 items

                            Neuroscience Concentration Courses

                            concentration · 7 items
                            1. Choose one of the following:
                              Not resolved to a course
                              3
                            2. 3
                            3. BIO/PSYC 385
                              Biopsychology
                              Not resolved to a course
                            4. Choose one of the following:
                              Not resolved to a course
                              3-4
                            5. BIO/CSD 415
                              Neuroanatomy and Neurogenic Communication Disorders 1
                              Not resolved to a course
                            6. As published: “Neurobiology 2”
                              4
                            7. Subtotal
                              Not resolved to a course
                              6-7

                            Neuroscience Concentration Electives

                            electives · 1 item
                            1. Complete 9 credits of the following:
                              Not resolved to a course
                              9

                            Choose at least one course from the following principally neurobiology courses:

                            7 items
                            1. BIO/PSYC 375
                              Sensation and Perception
                              Not resolved to a course
                            2. BIO/CSD 415
                              Neuroanatomy and Neurogenic Communication Disorders 1
                              Not resolved to a course
                            3. 3
                            4. As published: “Neurobiology 1,2”
                              4
                            5. As published: “Experimental Neurobiology 2”
                              4
                            6. 3
                            7. 3

                            Choose remaining credit hours from the list of principally neurobiology courses above, or from the following courses:

                            6 items
                            1. As published: “Animal Development 2”
                              3
                            2. 3
                            3. As published: “Advanced Molecular Biology Lab 2”
                              1
                            4. As published: “Genomics 2”
                              4
                            5. As published: “Human Histology 2”
                              4
                            6. Subtotal
                              Not resolved to a course
                              9
                            Source. James Madison University, catalog 2026-2027 — https://catalog.jmu.edu/programs/biology-bs/. Captured page pages/0177.html.gz. Assembled from the institution's published catalog as captured; every record names its captured page and source URL. Assembled, not asserted.