Bachelor of Science

The mission of the biology department at VMI is to provide students with a focused education in the biological sciences. The degree programs prepare majors to pursue post-graduate education in the biological and health sciences and allow for specialization that matches the cadet’s interests and career plans. Faculty members believe that interaction with cadets in the classroom, laboratory, and on an individual basis is critical in the development of the successful biology major. In keeping with this philosophy, class sizes are small, laboratories accompany most courses, advising is conducted on an individual basis, and undergraduate research is encouraged.

In 1991, the biology department developed a summer research experience. The Dr. Fred C. Swope Summer Scholars Program is an intensive, eight-week program that introduces selected students to the scientific method, research design and data analysis, data presentation, use of sophisticated laboratory instruments, and independent research. Each student conducts a research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor. This research is at the “cutting edge” of science and several publications have resulted from these projects. Normally, cadets are selected to participate in this program between their second and first class years.

B.S. Curriculum

All students in the B.S. curriculum are required to complete the following courses:

• BI 101 Introductory Biology I
• BI 102 Introductory Biology II
• BI 201 Biostatistics
• BI 205 Genetics
• BI 420 Biology Seminar

In addition to these courses, a B.S. major must select one laboratory course (*) from
each of the following core areas.

The Anatomy Core Area includes:

• BI 303 Developmental Biology*
• BI 304 Comparative Vertebrate Morphology*
• BI 405 Histology*

The Cell and Molecular Core Area includes:

• BI 313 Microbiology*
• BI 404 Cell Biology*
• BI 411 Immunology
• BI 430 Molecular Biology

The Organismal Biology Core Area includes:

• BI 204 Physiology*
• BI 216 Animal Behavior
• BI 218 Biology of Women
• BI 312 Ecology*
• BI 321 Invertebrate Zoology*
• BI 323 Exercise Physiology*
• BI 324 Ornithology*
• BI 410 Evolution

The Plant Biology Core Area includes:

• BI 217 Botany*
• BI 318 Plant Morphology*

An additional 10 hours are to be selected from any area within the biology curriculum except for research hours. This totals 43 hours in biology. In addition to the biology courses, B.S. majors must complete two semesters of Organic Chemistry with lab (CH 223 and 225, CH 224 and 226), CH 322 Biochemistry, MA 123 and 124, Calculus I and II, and General Physics I and II (PY 201 and PY 211, PY 202 and PY 212). To broaden the education, six credits of English above the 100 level are required. Additionally, 12 non-science elective credits must be completed in either English, history, economics, business, psychology, philosophy, fine arts, political science, or modern languages. The remainder (8) of the 135 hours required for graduation can be taken from any department on post.

Cadets completing the B.S. degree often complete minors in other disciplines. A minor in chemistry can be completed by taking one additional course from selected courses in the chemistry curriculum. The requirements for minors in psychology, English, or history, for example, fit in well to our elective requirements.