Biology

Leadership

Sixue Chen - Chair and Professor of Biology

Contact

214 Shoemaker Hall
University, MS 38677
biology@olemiss.edu
http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/biology/

Overview

The Department of Biology offers a minor, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in biology. At the graduate level, the department offers a Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in biology.

Academics & Admissions

Undergraduate Studies

The B.A. and B.S. programs require BISC 1600 Biological Sciences I, BISC 1610 Biological Sciences I Laboratory, BISC 1620 Biological Sciences II, and BISC 1630 Biological Sciences II Laboratory as initial courses. The prerequisite for BISC 1600 Biological Sciences I is a minimum ACT mathematics score of 25 (SAT 580) or minimum grade of B in MATH 1230 Trigonometry, MATH 1250 Basic Mathematics for Science & Eng, or CHEM 1010 Chemical Concepts. These courses provide the foundation for subsequent work and are prerequisites for admission into advanced major courses. Nonbiological science majors wishing to satisfy the university's laboratory science requirements may take BISC 1020 Inquiry Into Life: Human Biology and BISC 1030 Inquiry into Life Laboratory I and BISC 1040 Inquiry into Life: The Environment and BISC 1050 Inquiry into Life Laboratory II. These courses are designed to be relevant to the nonscience student. The two courses are not independent; BISC 1020 Inquiry Into Life: Human Biology is prerequisite to BISC 1040 Inquiry into Life: The Environment. Students not needing a laboratory may register for the lecture course (BISC 1020 Inquiry Into Life: Human Biology or BISC 1040 Inquiry into Life: The Environment) alone. Students may also satisfy their science requirements by taking the BISC 1600-1610,1620-1630 sequence that is designed for biology majors, pre-health students, and teacher education students. BISC 1600 Biological Sciences I, BISC 1610 Biological Sciences I Laboratory, BISC 1620 Biological Sciences II, and BISC 1630 Biological Sciences II Laboratory courses are appropriate for students who have not decided on a major but who think they may later become interested in medicine, teaching, or research in biology. BISC 2060 Human Anatomy and Physiology I, BISC 2070 Human Anatomy and Physiology II, and BISC 2100 Principles of Microbiology can also be used to meet the university's lab science requirement but may not be used toward a major in biology. Students may not receive credit toward a degree for both BISC 1020 and BISC 1600, or both BISC1040 and 1620, or their respective laboratories. Pre-medical and pre-dental students considering a major in biological science are urged to follow the recommended biological science class sequence and to declare a major by the end of their sophomore year. Health pre-professional students will find a biological science major particularly appropriate for their career goals. Students must achieve a grade of C or better in all course work counted for the major in biological science, and every biological science course requires a grade of C or better in all prerequisite courses, including those prerequisite courses from other departments (except for BISC 1040 Inquiry into Life: The Environment/BISC 1050 Inquiry into Life Laboratory II which require passing grades in BISC 1020 Inquiry Into Life: Human Biology/BISC 1030 Inquiry into Life Laboratory I). For example, BISC 1600 Biological Sciences I and BISC 1610 Biological Sciences I Laboratory must be passed with a grade of C or better before BISC 1620 Biological Sciences II and BISC 1630 Biological Sciences II Laboratory may be taken. In addition, BISC 1600 Biological Sciences I, BISC 1610 Biological Sciences I Laboratory, BISC 1620 Biological Sciences II, and BISC 1630 Biological Sciences II Laboratory must be passed with a grade of C or better before any additional biological science course at the 3000 level or above is attempted. For biological science majors, some pharmacy courses may count as biological science courses at the 3000 level or above. Interested students should receive prior approval from the chair of the Department of Biology. Secondary education students should consult the School of Education for information about secondary education certification of high school science teachers. See the degree requirements under Programs.

Graduate Studies

Candidates for admission to the M.S. program in the Department of Biology must submit an online application to the Graduate School. This consists of a Graduate School application; a one-to-two-page statement of their background and future goals; a one-page statement of research interests and potential research questions; a CV or resume; official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework; and two letters of recommendation. International students must submit English language proficiency test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE-A). Students from countries with English as their official language are exempt. Acceptable results on the TSE or SPEAK tests of spoken English are required for international students to be eligible for a teaching assistantship. Candidates must (a) satisfy the Graduate School admission requirements, (b) have an undergraduate degree (B.A. or B.S), (c) have a strong record of achievement in biology, chemistry, and mathematics. Admission is also contingent upon a faculty member agreeing to serve as thesis adviser.

Candidates for admission to the Ph.D. program in the Department of Biology must submit an online application to the Graduate School. This consists of a Graduate School application; a one-to-two-page statement of their background and future goals; a one-page statement of research interests and potential research questions; a CV or resume; official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework; a statement of research interests; and two letters of recommendation. International students must submit English language proficiency test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE-A). Students from countries with English as their official language are exempt. Acceptable results on the TSE or SPEAK tests of spoken English are required for international students to be eligible for a teaching assistantship. Candidates must (a) satisfy the Graduate School admission requirements, (b) have an undergraduate degree (B.A. or B.S), (c) have a strong record of achievement in biology, chemistry, and mathematics. Admission is also contingent upon a faculty member agreeing to serve as dissertation adviser.

New graduate applications will normally be reviewed once per year during February. The committee reserves the right to consider applicants outside the review period if a compelling reason is provided by the adviser.

See the degree requirements under Programs.