Skip UM navigation Skip to Main Navigation

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

The Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy operate on both the Oxford and Jackson campuses. The Schools of Dentistry, Health Related Professionals and Medicine, and the Health Sciences Graduate School, are based in Jackson only. (Additional healthcare programs are available through the School of Applied Sciences on the Oxford campus.) Other than these exceptions, the schools above are on the Oxford campus.

Emphasis-Pre-Health Biological Sciences

B.S. in Biological Science

Description

The B.S. in biological science offers in-depth study of biology and other natural sciences while preparing the student for a variety of careers or for graduate work in many fields including medicine, organismal biology, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, education, cell or molecular biology, ecology and conservation biology. This is the degree of choice for those aspiring to be professional scientists. Students may choose one optional emphasis in ecology and evolutionary biology; integrative biology; molecular, cellular, and microbiology; organismal biology; pre-health biological sciences.

Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

General Education Requirements

Math 261 and 262 are required for the B.S. degree.

Course Requirements

A major in biological science for the B.S. degree consists of a minimum of 42 semester hours of biology including including the introductory courses Bisc 160, 161, 162, 163; ecology (Bisc 322); genetics (Bisc 336); physiology (Bisc 330 or Bisc 438 or Bisc 516); one of the following advanced biology courses (BISC 415, 418, 427, 440, 504, 512, 518, 519, 521, 530, 547, 553); and biology electives to bring the total to 42 credit hours with at least 34 hours at the 300-level or above. Graduating seniors are required to complete the major field achievement test (Bisc 498)

Biology majors may choose to specialize by using their biology electives to add one optional emphasis, which requires a minimum of three courses from the approved list for the emphasis. The same course may not satisfy the biology core courses and an emphasis area. Students who complete relevant special topics, travel course, or research course will consult with the department prior to enrollment in the course to determine if it fulfills a course for an emphasis area.

Seminars and nonmajor courses do not satisfy the minimum or 300-level requirements. In addition, two courses in calculus (Math 261 and 262), 8 hours of general chemistry (Chem 105, 106, 115, and 116), and two semesters of organic chemistry (Chem 221, 222, 225, 226) are required. Bisc 336 and Bisc 330 should be taken during the sophomore year, and Bisc 322 and Bisc 440 should be taken during the junior year.

Other Academic Requirements

Students must achieve a grade of C or better in all course work counted for the major in biological science, and every biology course requires a grade of C or better in all prerequisite courses, including those prerequisite courses from other departments. For example, Bisc 160 and 161 must be passed with a grade of C or better before Bisc 162 and 163 may be taken. In addition, Bisc 160, 161, 162, and 163 must be passed with a grade of C or better before any additional biology course at the 300 level or above is attempted.

Bisc 150, 206, 207, 210, 220, and 492 can not be used toward a major in biological sciences.

Emphasis-Pre-Health Biological Sciences

Course Requirements

Emphasis in Pre-Health Biological Sciences:

Requires a minimum of three courses from the following list:

Degree Requirements

The academic regulations for this degree program, as entered in the University of Mississippi Catalog, are in effect for the current or selected academic year and semester. The University of Mississippi reserves the right to 1) change or withdraw courses; 2) change rules for registration, instruction, and graduation; and 3) change other regulations affecting the student body at any time.

B.S. in Biological Science

General Education

Requirement Hours Description
First Year Writing I 3 Complete Hon 101, Writ 100 or Writ 101 with a passing grade.
First Year Writing II 3 Complete one of the following courses with a passing grade: Liba 102, Writ 102 or Hon 102.
3 hrs fine arts 3 Complete 3 hours in the area of fine or performing arts. Choose from art history, music, dance, and theatre arts. Studio and workshop courses cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. Acceptable freshman or sophommore-level courses are: AH 101, AH 102, AH 201, AH 202; Music 101, Music 102, Music 103, Music 104, Music 105; Dance 200; Theatre 201 and 202
6 hrs literature survey 6 Complete 6 hours of literature survey with a passing grade. Choose from the following courses: Eng 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, or Eng 226.
6 hrs modern/ancient language 200+ 6 Successfully complete at least 6 hours at the 200 level or above in one modern or ancient language.
6 hrs social science 6 Successfully complete 6 semester hours in anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, or sociology.
6 hrs social science/humanities 6 Complete 6 hours of additional social science or humanities coursework. The courses may be chosen from African American studies, anthropology, classical civilization, economics, gender studies, history, Liba 202, philosophy, political science, psychology, religious studies, Rhet 201,sociology, and Southern studies.
6 hrs science 6 Successfully complete 2 courses of laboratory science.
2 science labs 8 Successfully complete at least two science laboratory courses.

General Education II

Requirement Hours Description
Related subjects residence 6 Students must complete at least 6 of the required 18 hours of related subject course work in residence.
Related subjects residence GPA Student must acheive a GPA of 2.00 in resident hours in related subjects.
Related subjects 18 Complete at least 18 credit hours in the following areas: anthropology, chemistry, geology, math, physics, or psychology.
Related subject GPA Student must achieve a GPA of 2.00 overall in the related subjects.

Major Requirements

Requirement Hours Description
Bisc 160 and 161 4 Bisc 160: Biological Sciences I, Bisc 161: Biological Sciences I Laboratory
Bisc 162 and 163 4 Bisc 162: Biological Sciences II, Bisc 163: Biological Sciences II Laboratory
Bisc 322 4 Bisc 322: General Ecology
Bisc 330 or 438 or 516 4 Bisc 516: Plant Physiology, Bisc 330: Principles of Physiology, Bisc 438: Microbial Physiology
Bisc 336 4 Bisc 336: Genetics
4 hrs advanced Biology 4 Complete 4 hrs of advanced Biology with a grade of C or better chosen from the following courses: Bisc 415, 418, 427, 440, 504, 512, 518, 519, 521, 530, 547, and Bisc 553.
18 hrs electives 18 Complete a minimum of 18 credit hours of Bisc electives at the 300 level or above with a grade of C or better.
Bisc 498 Bisc 498: Major Field Achievement Test
34 hrs Biology 300+ 34
42 hours Biology 42 Complete at least 42 hours of Biology courses with a grade of C or better.
Biology residency hrs 18 Student must earn at least 18 hours of their major courses in residence. Directed Study (Bisc 492), Bisc 102, Bisc 103, Bisc 104, Bisc 105, Bisc 206, Bisc 207, seminars, and non-major courses do not satisfy departmental core requirements for biology majors.
Overall Major GPA Please contact your academic advisor for grade point requirements.
Resident Major GPA Please contact your academic advisor for grade point requirements.

Major Requirements II

Requirement Hours Description
6 hrs in calculus 6 Successfully complete Math 261 and Math 262.
Chem 105 3 Complete Chem 105 with a passing grade.
Chem 106 3 Complete Chem 106 with a passing grade.
Chem 115 1 Complete Chem 115 with a passing grade.
Chem 116 1 Complete Chem 116 with a passing grade.
Chem 221 3 Complete Chem 221 with a passing grade.
Chem 222 3 Complete Chem 222 with a passing grade.
Chem 225 1 Complete Chem 225 with a passing grade.
Chem 226 1 Complete Chem 226 with a passing grade.

Emphasis-Pre-Health Biological Sciences

Requirement Hours Description
3 courses Pre-Health Biol 12 Complete 3 courses with a grade of C or better chosen from the following: Bisc 300, 305, 306, 310, 327, 330, 331, 332, 333, 335, 372, 414, 415, 417, 436, 439, 507, 520, 521, 529, 533, 541, and Bisc 543.
The policies and regulations contained in this online University of Mississippi Catalog are in effect for the current or selected semester. The catalog is not a contract, but rather a guide for the convenience of students. The University of Mississippi reserves the right to 1) change or withdraw courses; 2) change the fees, rules, and schedules for admission, registration, instruction, and graduation; and 3) change other regulations affecting the student body at any time. Implicit in each student’s enrollment with the university is an agreement to comply with university rules and regulations, which the university may modify to exercise properly its educational responsibility.