Undergraduate Programs
Degree Information
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.A. in Biological Science complete 46 credit hours for the major, including 8-9 biology courses, 2 chemistry courses, and 2 math courses. Students also complete a required minor field of study or double major.
- Bisc 160, 161: Bio Sciences I and Lab (4 hours)
- Bisc 162, 163: Bio Sciences II and Lab (4 hours)
- Bisc 322: General Ecology (4 hours)
- Bisc 336: Genetics (4 hours)
- One physiology course (4 hours) chosen from
- Bisc 330: Introductory Physiology
- Bisc 438: Microbial Physiology
- Bisc 516: Plant Physiology
- Biology electives (12 hours)
Additional Requirements
- Chem 105, 115: Gen Chem I and Lab (4 hours)
- Chem 106, 116: Gen Chem II and Lab (4 hours)
- 2 mathematics courses (6 credit hours) from
- Math 115: Elementary Statistics
- Math 121: Algebra or Math 125: Basic Math for Science and Engineering (but not both)
- Math 123: Trigonometry
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)
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 of biology electives at the 300 level or above
Optional Emphasis Areas
Students pursuing the B.A. or B.S. in Biology can use their biology electives for an optional emphasis for their major.
Beyond the required core courses, the emphasis in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology requires a minimum of three courses from the following:
- Bisc 300: Research Methods in Biology
- Bisc 301: Evolution
- 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
Beyond the required core courses, the emphasis in Molecular, Cellular, and Microbiology 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
Beyond the required core courses, the emphasis in Organismal Biology 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
Beyond the required core courses, the emphasis in Pre-Health Biological Sciences 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