Biological Science, B.S.
Engage in the scientific study of living systems and all their complexities.
"UM won my heart; not only is the campus absolutely gorgeous, but the community is a welcoming place with top-of-the-line opportunities for students."
Kaitlyn Skeen ('24)
B.S. in Biological Science
About the Bachelor of Science in Biological Science
The Department of Biology in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.S. in Biological Science. By using modern scientific methods to understand and predict natural phenomena, biology majors can become part of the solution to the most important problems currently facing society. They gain a broad understanding of the natural world around them and possess an array of skills such as the ability to design and conduct experiments, operate sophisticated instruments, interpret data, and think critically.
UM students have a diversity of courses and a great variety of habitats in North Mississippi for both laboratory and field studies, including a 740-acre field station, a national forest, and flood-control reservoirs. Our students can participate in mentored scientific research and work in the laboratory with a faculty member.
Students may choose between several optional emphasis areas:
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- Integrative Biology
- Molecular, Cellular, and Microbiology
- Organismal Biology
- Pre-Health Biological Sciences
B.S. vs B.A.
Students choose between the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts in Biological Science.
- The B.S. degree requires additional mathematics and science courses, and provides more in-depth training in biology.
- The B.A. degree has a deeper and wider general education foundation and allows greater compatibility with other areas of study. B.A. students choose a minor field of study or double major.
The Value of a Biology Degree
Biology majors achieve an understanding of living systems and develop the ability to design and conduct experiments, operate sophisticated instruments, think critically, interpret data, and communicate complex ideas.
Related careers in biology include:
- Healthcare
- Education
- Research and development
- Conservation organization
- Business
- Government
- Environmental law
- Urban planning
- Science or technical writing
On this Page…
Program Information
Degree
B.S. in Biological Science
Emphases
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology ;
Integrative Biology ;
Molecular, Cellular, and Microbiology ;
Organismal Biology ;
Pre-Health Biological Sciences
Required Credit Hours
120
Program Type
Major
Minor
Program Location
School
Duration
4 Years
To enroll in the required first biology course for the major or minor, students must meet one of the following prerequisites:
ACT math subscore of 24 (SAT 580)
ALEKS online math placement test score of PPL 76
Grade of A or B in Chem 101 at the University of Mississippi
Grade of A or B in Math 121: Algebra and Math 123: Trig
Grade of A or B in Math 125: Basic Math for Science and Technology
Students in the B.S. in Biological Science complete 42 hours of biology courses and 6 courses outside the department. Students may choose an optional minor field of study.
- Bisc 160, 161: Bio Sciences I & Lab (4 hours)
- Bisc 162, 163: Bio Sciences II & Lab (4 hours)
- Bisc 498: Major Field Achievement Test
Biology Core:
- Bisc 322: General Ecology (4 hours)
- Bisc 336: Genetics (4 hours)
- One physiology course from
- Bisc 330: Introductory Physiology
- Bisc 438: Microbial Physiology
- Bisc 516: Plant Physiology
- One of the advanced biology courses from
- Bisc 415: Vertebrate Histology
- Bisc 418: Intro to Molecular Systematics
- Bisc 427: Methods in Comparative Neuroscience
- Bisc 440: Cell and Molecular Biology
- Bisc 504: Biometry
- Bisc 512: Animal Behavior
- Bisc 518: Microtechnique
- Bisc 519: Physiology of Aquatic Animals
- Bisc 521: Cell Physiology
- Bisc 530: Adv. Field Study in Ecology
- Bisc 547: Adv. Histology
- Bisc 553: Comparative Animal Physiology
Five or six biology electives (18 credit hours) at the 300-level or higher except Bisc 492
Additional Requirements:
- Chem 105, 115: Gen Chem I and Lab (4 hours)
- Chem 106, 116: Gen Chem II and Lab (4 hours)
- Chem 221, 225: Elem. Organic Chem I & lab (4 hours)
- Chem 222, 226: Elem. Organic Chem II & lab (4 hours)
- Math 261: Calculus I (3 hours)
- Math 262: Calculus II (3 hours)
The Ecology & Evolutionary Biology emphasis requires a minimum of three courses from the following:
- Bisc 300: Research Methods in Biology
- Bisc 301: Evolution
- Bisc 305: Science in Practice
- Bisc 320: Introductory Marine Biology
- Bisc 321: Introductory Aquatic Biology
- Bisc 323: Biology of Invasive Species
- Bisc 345: Symbiosis: From Parasitism to Mutualism
- Bisc 352: Coastal Ecology
- Bisc 413: Conservation Biology
- Bisc 417: Evolution and Medicine
- Bisc 435: Research in Freshwater Biology
- Bisc 443: Ecology of Plant Communities of MS
- Bisc 445: Introduction to Coral-Reef Ecology
- Bisc 448: Tropical Studies in Biology
- Bisc 451: Ecotoxicology
- Bisc 504: Biometry
- Bisc 505: Aquatic Microbiology
- Bisc 510: Theoretical Ecology
- Bisc 513: Limnological Methods
- Bisc 514: Population Genetics
- Bisc 515: Conservation Biology: Viable Populations
- Bisc 524: Aquatic Botany
- Bisc 525: Conservation and Restoration Ecology
- Bisc 528: Conservation Physiology
- Bisc 530: Advanced Field Study in Ecology
- Bisc 534: Freshwater Insects
- Bisc 535: Plant-Insect Interactions
- Bisc 540: Chemical Ecology
- Bisc 550: Biological Oceanography
- Bisc 554: Ecological Physiology
- Bisc 560: Microbial Experimental Evolution
- Bisc 566: Evolutionary Biology
- Bisc 567: Evolutionary Biology Laboratory
- Bisc 568: Infectious Disease Ecology
The Integrative Biology emphasis requires a minimum of three courses from the following.
1 course from Ecology and Evolutionary Biology list
- Bisc 301: Evolution
- Bisc 305: Science in Practice
- Bisc 320: Introductory Marine Biology
- Bisc 321: Introductory Aquatic Biology
- Bisc 323: Biology of Invasive Species
- Bisc 345: Symbiosis: From Parasitism to Mutualism
- Bisc 352: Coastal Ecology
- Bisc 413: Conservation Biology
- Bisc 417: Evolution and Medicine
- Bisc 435: Research in Freshwater Biology
- Bisc 443: Ecology of Plant Communities of MS
- Bisc 445: Introduction to Coral-Reef Ecology
- Bisc 448: Tropical Studies in Biology
- Bisc 451: Ecotoxicology
- Bisc 504: Biometry
- Bisc 505: Aquatic Microbiology
- Bisc 510: Theoretical Ecology
- Bisc 513: Limnological Methods
- Bisc 514: Population Genetics
- Bisc 515: Conservation Biology: Viable Populations
- Bisc 524: Aquatic Botany
- Bisc 525: Conservation and Restoration Ecology
- Bisc 528: Conservation Physiology
- Bisc 530: Advanced Field Study in Ecology
- Bisc 534: Freshwater Insects
- Bisc 535: Plant-Insect Interactions
- Bisc 540: Chemical Ecology
- Bisc 550: Biological Oceanography
- Bisc 554: Ecological Physiology
- Bisc 560: Microbial Experimental Evolution
- Bisc 566: Evolutionary Biology
- Bisc 567: Evolutionary Biology Laboratory
- Bisc 568: Infectious Disease Ecology
1 course from the Molecular, Cellular, and Microbiology list
- Bisc 305: Science in Practice
- Bisc 306: Virology
- Bisc 333: General Microbiology
- Bisc 370: Introductory Molecular Genetics
- Bisc 372: Introductory Cell Biology
- Bisc 414: Immunology and Serology
- Bisc 418: Introduction to Molecular Systematics
- Bisc 436: Human and Vertebrate Genetics
- Bisc 438: Microbial Physiology
- Bisc 439: Developmental Biology
- Bisc 440: Cell and Molecular Biology
- Bisc 503: Topics in Bioinformatics
- Bisc 507: Cell Biology of Cancer
- Bisc 509: Microbial Genetics
- Bisc 511: Applied Microbiology
- Bisc 520: Medical Microbiology
- Bisc 521: Cell Physiology
- Bisc 522: Microbial Ecology
- Bisc 523: Molecular Microbiol. of Soils & Sediment
- Bisc 541: Cell Biol. of Neurodegenerative Disease
- Bisc 542: Microbial Diversity
- Bisc 548: Plant Cell and Developmental Biology
- Bisc 555: Radiation Biology
- Bisc 560: Microbial Experimental Evolution
1 course from the Organismal Biology list
- Bisc 305: Science in Practice
- Bisc 310: Human Anatomy
- Bisc 318: Botany
- Bisc 327: Introductory Neuroscience
- Bisc 329: Biology of Fishes
- Bisc 330: Introductory Physiology
- Bisc 331: Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates
- Bisc 332: Comparative Embryology of Vertebrates
- Bisc 334: Ornithology
- Bisc 335: Human Reproduction
- Bisc 337: Introductory Entomology
- Bisc 338: Invertebrate Zoology
- Bisc 339: Phycology
- Bisc 342: Plant Diversity
- Bisc 349: Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives
- Bisc 350: Mammalogy
- Bisc 352: Coastal Ecology
- Bisc 415: Vertebrate Histology
- Bisc 416: Elementary Parasitology
- Bisc 427: Methods in Comparative Neuroscience
- Bisc 502: Mycology
- Bisc 504: Biometry
- Bisc 512: Animal Behavior
- Bisc 516: Plant Physiology
- Bisc 518: Microtechnique
- Bisc 519: Physiology of Aquatic Animals
- Bisc 528: Conservation Physiology
- Bisc 529: Endocrinology
- Bisc 531: Plant Morphology
- Bisc 532: Plant Taxonomy
- Bisc 533: Advanced Neuroscience
- Bisc 538: Hormones and Behavior
- Bisc 543: Functional Neuroanatomy
- Bisc 546: Herpetology
- Bisc 547: Advanced Histology
- Bisc 551: Protozoology
- Bisc 553: Comparative Animal Physiology
The Molecular, Cellular, and Microbiology emphasis requires a minimum of three courses from the following:
- Bisc 300: Research Methods in Biology
- Bisc 305: Science in Practice
- Bisc 306: Virology
- Bisc 333: General Microbiology
- Bisc 370: Introductory Molecular Genetics
- Bisc 372: Introductory Cell Biology
- Bisc 414: Immunology and Serology
- Bisc 418: Introduction to Molecular Systematics
- Bisc 436: Human and Vertebrate Genetics
- Bisc 438: Microbial Physiology
- Bisc 439: Developmental Biology
- Bisc 440: Cell and Molecular Biology
- Bisc 503: Topics in Bioinformatics
- Bisc 507: Cell Biology of Cancer
- Bisc 509: Microbial Genetics
- Bisc 511: Applied Microbiology
- Bisc 520: Medical Microbiology
- Bisc 521: Cell Physiology
- Bisc 522: Microbial Ecology
- Bisc 523: Molecular Microbiol. of Soils & Sediment
- Bisc 541: Cell Biol. of Neurodegenerative Disease
- Bisc 542: Microbial Diversity
- Bisc 548: Plant Cell and Developmental Biology
- Bisc 555: Radiation Biology
- Bisc 560: Microbial Experimental Evolution
The Organismal Biology emphasis requires a minimum of three courses from the following:
- Bisc 300: Research Methods in Biology
- Bisc 305: Science in Practice
- Bisc 310: Human Anatomy
- Bisc 318: Botany
- Bisc 327: Introductory Neuroscience
- Bisc 329: Biology of Fishes
- Bisc 330: Introductory Physiology
- Bisc 331: Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates
- Bisc 332: Comparative Embryology of Vertebrates
- Bisc 334: Ornithology
- Bisc 335: Human Reproduction
- Bisc 337: Introductory Entomology
- Bisc 338: Invertebrate Zoology
- Bisc 339: Phycology
- Bisc 342: Plant Diversity
- Bisc 349: Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives
- Bisc 350: Mammalogy
- Bisc 352: Coastal Ecology
- Bisc 415: Vertebrate Histology
- Bisc 416: Elementary Parasitology
- Bisc 427: Methods in Comparative Neuroscience
- Bisc 502: Mycology
- Bisc 504: Biometry
- Bisc 512: Animal Behavior
- Bisc 516: Plant Physiology
- Bisc 518: Microtechnique
- Bisc 519: Physiology of Aquatic Animals
- Bisc 528: Conservation Physiology
- Bisc 529: Endocrinology
- Bisc 531: Plant Morphology
- Bisc 532: Plant Taxonomy
- Bisc 533: Advanced Neuroscience
- Bisc 538: Hormones and Behavior
- Bisc 543: Functional Neuroanatomy
- Bisc 546: Herpetology
- Bisc 547: Advanced Histology
- Bisc 551: Protozoology
- Bisc 553: Comparative Animal Physiology
The Pre-Health Biological Sciences emphasis requires a minimum of three courses from the following:
- Bisc 300: Research Methods in Biology
- Bisc 305: Science in Practice
- Bisc 306: Virology
- Bisc 310: Human Anatomy
- Bisc 327: Introductory Neuroscience
- Bisc 330: Introductory Physiology
- Bisc 331: Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates
- Bisc 332: Comparative Embryology of Vertebrates
- Bisc 333: General Microbiology
- Bisc 335: Human Reproduction
- Bisc 372: Introductory Cell Biology
- Bisc 414: Immunology and Serology
- Bisc 415: Vertebrate Histology
- Bisc 417: Evolution and Medicine
- Bisc 436: Human and Vertebrate Genetics
- Bisc 439: Developmental Biology
- Bisc 440: Cell and Molecular Biology
- Bisc 507: Cell Biology of Cancer
- Bisc 520: Medical Microbiology
- Bisc 521: Cell Physiology
- Bisc 529: Endocrinology
- Bisc 533: Advanced Neuroscience
- Bisc 541: Cell Biol. of Neurodegenerative Disease
- Bisc 543: Functional Neuroanatomy
A minor in biology consists of a minimum of 18 credit hours of biology courses.
- Bisc 160, 161: Bio Sciences I & Lab (4 hours)
- Bisc 162, 163: Bio Sciences II & Lab (4 hours)
- 10 credit hours at the 300-level or higher
Video: Get to Know the Department of Biology
Hear firsthand from students, faculty, and staff about the Biological Science program.
Meet a Current Biology Student
Want to know what it's like to study a B.S. in Biological Science at Ole Miss? Hear from a current student!
Madison Greene
Why did you choose to attend UM?
See Madison’s AnswerWhat Jobs Can I Get with a Biological Science Degree?
- Research Scientist, Proctor & Gamble
- Chief Medical Officer, UM Medical Center
- President and CEO, MS Health Partners
- Vice President, Merrill Lynch
- Principal, Holly Springs School District
- Rehabilitation Specialist, Sea Turtle Hospital
- Nurse, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital
- City Planner, City of Portland
- Senior Environment Analyst, MS Department of Environmental Quality
- Team Physician, Carolina Panthers
- Editor, Environmental Management Journal
- Psychiatrist, National Institutes of Health
- Cardiologist, Jackson Heart Clinic
- Microbiologist, Indiana University Medical School
- Dentist, Gulf Coast Pediatric Dentistry
- Chief of Naval Operations, US Navy
Welcome to the College of Liberal Arts
As Coordinator of Student Recruitment for the College of Liberal Arts, I work with students, and their parents, who are interested in attending UM for their undergraduate degrees. I coordinate personalized visits to our departments, answer questions about the majors and programs in the CLA and handle all recruitment communications from the CLA. Please feel free to send me any questions you may have. It is my job to make sure you have everything you need to make an informed decision on where to spend your college career, and I hope it will be with the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi!
Annabelle Harris
Admissions Counselor
Future CLA Students
College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Students
We invite future undergraduates to learn about the College of Liberal Arts, the value of the liberal arts education, our programs, career opportunities, and resources to help you succeed. You can also request a personalized degree sheet.
Next Steps
Explore Affordability
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
Apply to the University of Mississippi
Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?