Program Contact: Linda Iadarola 203-582-3337
The Department of Biological Sciences offers a Dual-Degree BS in Biology and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). This Dual-Degree BS/MBA program allows current undergraduate Biology majors to complete an undergraduate and graduate degree in five years. Students will gain a broad interdisciplinary perspective that integrates scientific knowledge with strategic business management to navigate complex real-world challenges. This dual-degree program successfully prepares students to join the next generation of leaders in growing industries such as biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, healthcare, and regulatory agencies.
Students develop a basic foundation in biology, chemistry, and physics during the undergraduate portion of the program, begin MBA graduate-level coursework in the fourth year, and complete the MBA degree in the fifth year. Students in this program must complete all the requirements of the BS in Biology and the Master of Business Administration.
Students who choose to pursue the Dual-Degree BS in Biology/MBA (4+1) must complete all the requirements of the BS in Biology and the Master of Business Administration and are required to complete the following courses by the end of their fourth year:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EC 111 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| AC 211 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| EC 272 | Advanced Applied Statistics | 3 |
For additional guidance on how these courses are integrated within the BS/MBA 4+1 Dual-Degree program, please refer to the Sample Course Plan tab, which represents a five-year academic plan.
Shown below is one of several possible paths through the curriculum. Students choose courses and follow a curriculum determined in consultation with their adviser; individual planning will vary based on a number of factors, including, for instance, Advanced Placement and/or transfer credits.
The minimum number of credits required for the undergraduate degree is 120. Students should take an average of 15-16 credits per undergraduate semester as outlined below.
Students in the dual-degree (4+1) program may complete up to 9 credits of graduate courses during their senior year, which also fulfill undergraduate open electives. Students must work with their undergraduate adviser and the MBA director to ensure that the courses fit into both degree programs.
The minimum number of credits required for the graduate degree is 45. A full year of study (two terms and a minimum of 18 graduate credits) must be taken after the conferral of the undergraduate degree to earn a graduate degree. Students must present satisfactory performance in their graduate coursework completed during their senior year to be officially admitted into the graduate program upon completion of their BS degree. The BS/MBA curriculum consists of the MBA core courses plus a requirement to complete MBA 688 MBA Internship.
Courses taken to fulfill the undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Biology are identical to those listed in the BS in Biology curriculum.
Courses to taken to fulfill the graduate Master of Business Administration are identical to those listed in the Dual Degree BS/MBA (4+1) Program of Study.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 30 credits, an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher, and a science GPA of 2.25 or higher. Meet with your academic advisor at least once each semester. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BIO 150 & 150L | General Biology for Majors and General Biology for Majors Laboratory | 4 |
| CHE 110 & 110L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| EN 101 | Introduction to College-Level Reading And Writing 1 | 3 |
| FYS 101 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| Open Electives | 1-2 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 151 & 151L | Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics and Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics Lab | 4 |
| CHE 111 & 111L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| EN 102 | Reading, Writing, & Research In College and Beyond | 3 |
| MA 140 | Pre-Calculus 1 | 3 |
| Open Electives | 1-2 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 60 credits, an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher, and a science GPA of 2.25 or higher. Meet with your academic advisor at least once per semester to discuss academic, experiential learning, career, and co-curricular opportunities. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BIO 252 & 252L | Ecology and Biodiversity and Ecology and Biodiversity Laboratory 2 | 3-4 |
| or BIO 298 | Experimental Design and Communications | |
| CHE 210 & 210L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| MA 141 | Calculus of a Single Variable 1 | 3 |
| or MA 275 | Biostatistics | |
| Language at the 101 level | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 2-3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 298 | Experimental Design and Communications 2 | 3-4 |
| or BIO 252 & 252L | Ecology and Biodiversity and Ecology and Biodiversity Laboratory | |
| CHE 211 & 211L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| Language at the 102 level (Satisfies CAS Language Requirement) | 3 | |
| University Curriculum (UC) Course | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 2-3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 90 credits, an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher (a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00 is preferred), and a science GPA of 2.25 or higher. Meet with your academic advisor at least once per semester. Participate in study abroad, an internship, or a research opportunity. Complete one year of organic chemistry and one year of physics. Meet with the 4+1 program advisor to discuss your plan to pursue the MBA degree. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Biology Elective | 3-4 | |
| PHY 110 & 110L | General Physics I and General Physics I Lab | 4 |
| EC 111 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| University Curriculum (UC) Course | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 2-3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Biology Elective (Experiential Learning) | 1-4 | |
| Biology Elective | 3-4 | |
| PHY 111 & 111L | General Physics II and General Physics II Lab | 4 |
| AC 211 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| University Curriculum (UC) Course | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn 120 credits, an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher (a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00 is preferred), and a science GPA of 2.25 or higher. Complete 9 credits of the graduate coursework listed below, and if applicable, the requirements for your minor or double major, and prepare for graduation. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Biology Elective | 3-4 | |
| MBA 615 | Skills for Contemporary Business Issues | 3 |
| EC 272 | Advanced Applied Statistics | 3 |
| University Curriculum (UC) course | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 2-3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CAS 420 | CAS Integrative Capstone | 3 |
| MBA 620 | Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making (AC 620) | 3 |
| MBA 625 | Authentic Leadership within Organizations | 3 |
| Open Electives | 2-5 | |
| Summer | ||
| MBA 688 | Graduate Internship I 3 | 3 |
| MBA Graduate Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| Milestones: Earn at least 45 graduate credits with a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.00 or higher. Prepare for graduation. | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MBA 630 | Business Data Analytics | 3 |
| MBA 635 | Supply Chain Management in a New Era | 3 |
| MBA 640 | Financial Decision Making | 3 |
| MBA 645 | Marketing Decision Making | 3 |
| MBA 690 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MBA 695 | Action-Based Learning Lab | 3 |
| BAN 610 | Statistical Foundations for Applied AI And Business Analytics | 3 |
| MBA Graduate Elective 2 | 3 | |
| MBA Graduate Elective 3 | 3 | |
| MBA Graduate Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Minimum total combined credits | 154 | |
- 1
Initial placement in the English and mathematics courses is determined by placement examination and an evaluation of high school units presented. Completion of MA 140 (Pre-Calculus) with a minimum grade of C- and either MA 141 (Calculus of a Single Variable) or MA 275 (Biostatistics) is required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Students intending to pursue graduate or professional studies (medicine, dentistry, osteopathy or veterinary medicine) are advised to complete at least one semester of calculus.
- 2
Students may take either BIO 252 and BIO 252L or BIO 298 in either order or concurrently.
- 3
Dual-Degree (4+1) students are required to complete MBA 688 as one of their electives.
For the Bachelor of Science in Biology admission requirements and application deadlines, visit the BS in Biology admissions page.
For the Master of Business Administration admission requirements and application deadlines, visit the MBA admissions page.