Biological Sciences/Marine Biology/Microbiology/Biology Education, AA

Non-science and non-math courses for many of these majors can vary widely. It is STRONGLY recommended that students consult their school of choice to get current information about curriculum requirements, especially for biology education programs. The following is a generalized academic plan that may need to be modified to meet institution specific requirements.

Program Requirements

The following advisement plan is a recommended course of study. An academic advisor may alter course sequence to meet individual student needs. In addition, an academic advisor may recommend additional or different courses depending upon student career plans and/or requirements of the college or university to which the student plans to transfer.

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

PSY 2553 - Psychology of Personal Adjustment Semester Credit Hours: 3
ENG 1113 - English Composition I Semester Credit Hours: 3
MAT 1323 - Trigonometry Semester Credit Hours: 3 ¹
BIO 1134 - General Biology I Semester Credit Hours: 4
CHE 1214 - General Chemistry I Semester Credit Hours: 4

Total Hours: 17

Spring Semester

ENG 1123 - English Composition II Semester Credit Hours: 3
MAT 1613 - Calculus I Semester Credit Hours: 3 ²
BIO 1144 - General Biology II Semester Credit Hours: 4
CHE 1224 - General Chemistry II Semester Credit Hours: 4
ART 1113 - Art Appreciation Semester Credit Hours: 3
or
MUS 1113 - Music Appreciation Semester Credit Hours: 3

Total Hours: 17

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

SPT 1113 - Public Speaking I Semester Credit Hours: 3 ^3,4
CHE 2424 - Organic Chemistry I Semester Credit Hours: 4
PHY 2414 - General Physics I Semester Credit Hours: 4 ^3,4
HIS 1113 - Western Civilization I Semester Credit Hours: 3
or
HIS 2213 - American History I Semester Credit Hours: 3

Total Hours: 17

Spring Semester

CHE 2434 - Organic Chemistry II Semester Credit Hours: 4
PHY 2424 - General Physics II Semester Credit Hours: 4 ^3,4
HIS 1123 - Western Civilization II Semester Credit Hours: 3
or
HIS 2223 - American History II Semester Credit Hours: 3 ⁶
Social Science Electives (PSY, SOC, ECO, PSC)Semester Credit Hours: 6⁷

Total Hours: 17

Note(s):

¹Students unprepared for Trigonometry should take College Algebra.

²Ole Miss requires two semesters of calculus. MSU will accept college algebra AND trigonometry in place of Calculus I for biology majors. MSU microbiology majors need to complete Calculus I. USM requires one semester of Calculus.

³Not required at Ole Miss; however, the physics course sequence is REQUIRED by many professional programs, including most dental and medical schools.

⁴Ole Miss does require 6 hours of a foreign language at the 2000 level. Students may elect to begin fulfilling this requirement in place of the speech and physics.

⁵Two literature classes are required at Ole Miss. MSU and USM only require one literature class. For USM, take ENG 2413 - Survey of World Literature . For MSU, take an American or British Literature class.

⁶MSU only requires 3 hours of history. MSU biology and microbiology majors should consider scheduling BIO 2924 - Microbiology in place of the additional history class.

⁷MSU biology and microbiology majors should take PSY 1513 - General Psychology and one other course in a different social science discipline.