School of Science & Agriculture · Bachelor’s degree
Bachelor’s in Biology
Explore life, from cells to ecosystems.
Fascinated by living things? MVU’s biology major builds a strong base in biology, chemistry, and research, then lets you focus on general biology, conservation, or a pre-medical/pre-veterinary path.
120
credit hours to graduate
71–86
credit hours in the major
On campus
in Marshall, Missouri
4 years
at a full-time pace
Why biology at MVU
Three paths, one strong core
Every biology major shares a 47-hour core, then chooses a concentration.
General Biology
A broad base in biology, ecology, and chemistry, with an emphasis on preparing for graduate study.
Conservation
Field and lab skills in ecology and wildlife, from field biology and dendrology to wildlife management.
Pre-Medical / Pre-Veterinary
Anatomy, physiology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physics for students headed toward health careers.
In the field
Take biology outside the classroom
In Field Biology (BIOL 413), you study an ecosystem up close, typically one outside Missouri, through readings, seminars, and an extended field trip.
Conservation students take Field Biology twice (or once plus an approved internship). General Biology students can choose it as an elective.
Is this program for me?
This program may be a great fit if you want to…
- Understand how living things work.
- Do lab and field research.
- Prepare for medical, veterinary, or graduate school.
- Work in conservation or wildlife management.
What will I learn to do?
Skills you’ll practice and grow
- Design experiments, collect and interpret data, and read scientific literature.
- Describe molecular biology and metabolism.
- Compare plants and animals and classify them.
- Explain how organisms and their environment interact.
- Explain how evolution shapes the diversity of life.
How the degree works
How your 120 credit hours add up
Here’s how the degree is built. Your advisor helps you choose courses each term.
01
General education core
At least 42 credit hours across writing, speaking, math, science, social science, and the humanities.
02
Biology core
47 credit hours of biology, chemistry, research methods, and statistics, shared by every concentration.
03
Your concentration
General Biology, Conservation, or Pre-Medical/Pre-Veterinary, each with its own required courses.
04
Electives or a minor
Use the rest of your 120 hours for electives, a minor, or even a second major.
Good to know: The Pre-Medical/Pre-Veterinary concentration is open to students with sophomore standing who keep a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students who fall below 3.0 move to the General Biology concentration. All biology majors take the Major Field Test in Biology before graduating.
Explore the curriculum
What you’ll study
Every concentration starts with the same biology core. Planning on graduate or professional school? Check the requirements of the schools you’ll apply to.
Biology core (47 credit hours)
- BIOL 104 Principles of Biology (4 credits)
- BIOL 210 General Botany (4 credits)
- BIOL 212 or BIOL 215 Vertebrate Zoology, or General Zoology (4 credits)
- BIOL 250 Introduction to Cell Biology
- BIOL 315 Research Methods
- BIOL 320 Principles of Microbiology (4 credits)
- BIOL 323 Genetics (4 credits)
- BIOL 332 Ecology (4 credits)
- CHEM 111 General Chemistry I (5 credits)
- CHEM 112 General Chemistry II (5 credits)
- MATH 200 Introduction to Statistics
General Biology concentration
- Six courses (at least 19 credit hours) from biology electives such as Human Anatomy and Physiology, Ichthyology, Ornithology, Herpetology, Mammalogy, Entomology, Wildlife Ecology and Management, Field Biology, Evolution Seminar, an internship, or Environmental Science
- One course from CHEM 300 Analytical Chemistry, CHEM 331 Organic Chemistry I, or PHSC 315 General Physics I (5 credits)
Conservation concentration
- BIOL 335 Dendrology (2 credits)
- BIOL 404 Wildlife Ecology and Management
- BIOL 413 Field Biology, taken twice (or once plus an approved internship or independent study)
- BIOL 420 Conservation Biology Seminar (2 credits)
- BIOL 430 Taxonomy of Higher Plants (4 credits)
- CHEM 331 or CHEM 300 Organic Chemistry I, or Analytical Chemistry (5 credits)
- Three courses from Ichthyology, Ornithology, Herpetology, Mammalogy, or Entomology (4 credits each)
- Recommended: PHSC 315 General Physics I and MATH 190 Calculus I
Pre-Medical / Pre-Veterinary concentration
- BIOL 275 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
- BIOL 285 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
- CHEM 331 Organic Chemistry I (5 credits)
- CHEM 332 Organic Chemistry II (5 credits)
- CHEM 451 Biochemistry I (5 credits)
- PHSC 315 General Physics I (5 credits)
- BIOL 401 Internship in Biology, 4 credit hours in all (some can be field biology or independent study)
- Recommended: pharmacology, psychology, sociology, humanities, General Physics II, and Calculus I
General education core (at least 42 credit hours)
- Social and behavioral science (9 hours) from at least two subjects, including one constitution course: HIST 104, HIST 105, or POLS 100
- Written communication (6 hours): ENGL 130 Rhetoric and Composition, plus ENGL 160 or HONR 190
- Oral communication (3 hours), such as COMM 100 Public Speaking & Introduction to Communication
- Natural science: 7 hours from at least two subjects, including a lab (BS); 3 hours (BA and BFA)
- Mathematics (3 hours)
- Humanities and fine arts: 9 hours (BS) or 12 hours (BA and BFA) from at least three subjects, covering the arts and creativity, ethics, and culture and society
- Additional general education from any area, to reach at least 42 hours
- Plus one Writing Intensive (WI) course and one Service Learning (SL) course, which can overlap with other requirements
Graduation requirements
- Complete at least 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Earn a major GPA of 2.0 or higher, with no grade below C and no pass/fail grades in the major.
- Complete at least 36 credit hours of upper-division (300- and 400-level) courses.
- Complete your last 30 credit hours, and at least 12 hours of your major, at MVU.
- Complete the major assessment requirement.
- Apply for graduation and pay the $100 graduation fee.
Getting started
Three steps to begin
Applying to MVU is free, and most students finish the application in a few minutes.
02
Send your transcripts
Send your high school transcript, plus official transcripts from any college or dual credit courses. Transferring? See the transfer steps.
03
Plan how you’ll pay
Explore scholarships, grants, and loans on Tuition & Financial Aid, or request information for current tuition.
Which concentration should I choose?
Choose General Biology for a broad base and graduate study, Conservation for ecology and wildlife work, or Pre-Medical/Pre-Veterinary if you’re planning on a health profession. Your advisor can help you decide.
Is there a minor?
Yes. The biology minor adds biology to any other major.
Can I add a minor or a second major?
Yes. A minor is optional and appears on your transcript; it must be in a different subject than your major. You can also double major by completing all the requirements for both majors. You’ll receive one diploma.
What do I need to graduate?
- At least 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- A C or higher in every major course.
- At least 36 upper-division credit hours.
- Your last 30 credit hours at MVU.
- An application for graduation and the $100 graduation fee.
Talk with the Dean
Have questions about courses, concentrations, or how to plan your degree? Reach out. We’re happy to talk through your goals.
Bachelor’s in Biology
