UMass Boston

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Please review the first-year and transfer apply pages for important information about application requirements, deadlines, and application status check.

Apply as a First-Year Student

Apply as a Transfer Student

Early action deadline: November 1; Regular Decision Deadline: June 15

Financing Your Education

Become a Beacon and pursue your passion in UMass Boston’s diverse, supportive environment. Many students across our 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs receive financial aid—providing access to an education that’s exceptional and affordable. Click below to learn more about financial aid opportunities and deadlines.

Financial Aid Deadlines & Application Process 

Scholarships for First-Year & Transfer Students

For additional information regarding tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar’s Office or send an email to Bursar@umb.edu.

Biology Core (40 to 45 Credits):

Complete 19 credits in biology and 21-26 credits in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

• BIOL 111 - General Biology I 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 112 - General Biology II 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 210 - Cell Biology 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 252 - Genetics 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 290 - Population Biology 3 Credit(s)

• CHEM 115 - Chemical Principles I Lecture 3 Credit(s)
• CHEM 116 - Chemical Principles II Lecture 3 Credit(s)
• CHEM 117 - Chemical Principles I Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
• CHEM 118 - Chemical Principles II Laboratory 2 Credit(s)

• MATH 135 - Survey of Calculus 3 Credit(s)
  or
• MATH 140 - Calculus I 4 Credit(s)
  or
• MATH 145 - Calculus I for Life & Environmental Sciences 4 Credit(s)

• PHYSIC 107 - College Physics I 3 Credit(s)
  or
• PHYSIC 113 - Fundamentals of Physics I 4 Credit(s)

• PHYSIC 108 - College Physics II 3 Credit(s)
  or
• PHYSIC 114 - Fundamentals of Physics II 4 Credit(s)

• PHYSIC 171 - Introductory Physics Lab for Life Sciences I 1 Credit(s)
  or
• PHYSIC 181 - Physics Laboratory I 2 Credit(s)

• PHYSIC 172 - Introductory Physics Lab II for Life Sciences 1 Credit(s)
  or
• PHYSIC 182 - Physics Laboratory II 2 Credit(s)

Advanced Courses (20 credits):

Biology courses at the 300-level or higher, including a minimum of 4 credit hours in the laboratory. Biochemistry 383 through 386 are also acceptable. Up to 8 of these 20 credits may be taken from organic chemistry.

Students may also elect to declare a track in biotechnology, which will fulfill the advanced course requirements.

Advanced Biology:

Biology courses at the 300-level or higher except for: BIOL 444, 478, 479, 672, and 673

Biochemistry:

• BIOCHM 383 - Biochemistry I 3 Credit(s)
• BIOCHM 384 - Biochemistry II 3 Credit(s)
• BIOCHM 385 - Biochemistry Lab I 3 Credit(s)
• BIOCHM 386 - Biochemistry Lab II 3 Credit(s)

Organic Chemistry:

Note: Only one credit of each 2 credit organic chemistry lab (1 credit from CHEM 255 and 1 credit from CHEM 256) can be applied to the advanced level major lab credits.

• CHEM 251 - Organic Chemistry I Lecture 3 Credit(s)
• CHEM 252 - Organic Chemistry II Lecture 3 Credit(s)
• CHEM 255 - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
• CHEM 256 - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 2 Credit(s)

Lab Courses:

Four laboratory courses are required and a minimum of two must be taken from within the BIOL department at UMass Boston.

• BIOL 306 - Marine & Coastal Ecological Research 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 309 - Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab 1 Credit(s)
• BIOL 310 - Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab 1 Credit(s)
• BIOL 313 - Developmental Biology and Embryology 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 316 - Neurobiology 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 321 - Plant Physiology 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 328 - Plant Life 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 330 - Biology of Fishes 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 334 - Microbiology 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 337 - Comparative Animal Physiology 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 338 - Insect Life 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 343 - Ecology Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
• BIOL 345 - Ornithology Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
• BIOL 347 - Animal Behavior Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
• BIOL 353 - Evolution Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
• BIOL 356 - Introduction to Data Science for Biology Lab 1 Credit(s)
• BIOL 358 - Microbiome and Disease Ecology Research Lab 2 Credit(s)
• BIOL 361 - Bioinformatics Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
• BIOL 362 - Simulating Life 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 365 - Microbial Genomics Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
• BIOL 370 - Molecular Biology 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 378 - Introduction to Immunology 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 391 - Survey of Human Physiology Lab 1 Credit(s)
• BIOL 478 - Independent Study 1-3 Credit(s)
  or
• BIOL 479 - Independent Study II 1-3 Credit(s)
• BIOCHM 385 - Biochemistry Lab I 3 Credit(s)
• CHEM 255 - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
• CHEM 256 - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 2 Credit(s)

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

Biology students will have gained understanding of the following concepts:

• Evolution: The diversity of life evolved by mechanisms driving genetic changes that are reflected in the tree of life.
• Information flow: The growth and behavior of organisms are activated through the expression of genetic information in context.
• Structure and function: Basic units of structure define the function of all living things.
• Pathways and transformation of matter and energy: Biological systems grow and change by processes based upon chemical reactions and are governed by the laws of thermodynamics.
• Systems: Living systems are interconnected and interacting; biological properties at one level provide directions and impose constraints on properties at other levels.

Biology students will have achieved the following competencies:

• Model: Construct, use, re-express, and revise models and representations of natural and designed objects, systems, phenomena, and scientific ideas in the appropriate context and in formulating their explanation.
• Apply quantitative reasoning: Reason about relationships between equations and variables through the lens of rates, percentages, probability, or proportional relationships when solving problems or when interpreting results or situations.
• Engage in argument from evidence: Evaluate the claims, evidence, or reasoning behind currently accepted explanations or solutions to determine the merits of arguments.
• Engage in scientific inquiry and experimental design: Design and conduct experiments with appropriate strategies, controls, and alternative approaches.
• Analyze and evaluate data: Extract information from data and analyze it to discover patterns, critically evaluate conclusions, and generate predictions for subsequent experiments.
• Appreciate and apply the interdisciplinary nature of science: Apply concepts from within biology subdisciplines and outside of biology to interpret biological phenomena.
• Written and oral scientific communication: Explore and express biological information using a range of tools and methods.
• Use an understanding of the process of science and knowledge of biology to engage with the world at large: Apply the results of scientific research to career, everyday life, society, health, and the environment.

Biotechnology Track

Track Requirements:
Complete 31 credits from ten required courses.

Pass/fail: No more than one course taken pass fail may be applied toward the track.

Course Requirements:
Track Courses (31 Credits)

• BIOCHM 383 - Biochemistry I 3 Credit(s)
• BIOCHM 385 - Biochemistry Lab I 3 Credit(s)

• BIOL 334 - Microbiology 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 370 - Molecular Biology 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 378 - Introduction to Immunology 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 395 - Biotechnology 3 Credit(s)

• CHEM 251 - Organic Chemistry I Lecture 3 Credit(s)
• CHEM 252 - Organic Chemistry II Lecture 3 Credit(s)
• CHEM 255 - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
• CHEM 256 - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 2 Credit(s)

Biology Minor

Support your STEM career goals by supplementing your degree with a minor in biology.

Minor Requirements:

Complete a minimum of 20 credits from six courses including two general biology courses and four biology electives.

GPA: 2.0 required

Pass/fail: One course taken pass/fail may be applied toward the minor, provided all six minor courses are completed at UMass Boston.
Residency: At least three courses for the minor, including one at the 300-level or higher, must be completed at UMass Boston.

Course Requirements:

General Biology Courses (8 Credits)

• BIOL 111 - General Biology I 4 Credit(s)
• BIOL 112 - General Biology II 4 Credit(s)

200 Level or above Biology Courses (6 Credits)

Take two BIOL core courses (minimum 6 credits total) at the 200 level or above.

• BIOL 210 - Cell Biology 4 Credit(s)
  or
• BIOL 212 - Cell Biology (Lecture) 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 252 - Genetics 4 Credit(s)
  or
• BIOL 254 - Genetics (Lecture) 3 Credit(s)
• BIOL 290 - Population Biology 3 Credit(s)

300-Level or above Biology Courses (6 Credits)

Take two BIOL courses (minimum 6 credits total) at the 300 level or above. BIOCHEM 383 can be used here.