Universities that offer undergraduate biology degree programs typically require applicants to have completed certain high school classes. Prerequisites for admission to biology programs frequently include science and mathematics courses. In addition, in order to graduate, students enrolled in biology degree programs must complete a number of prerequisites.
Anyone interested in enrolling in a biology degree program in college should have taken a biological science course in high school. Physical science, marine biology, and chemistry are examples of science-related biology prerequisites. Aside from science, most colleges require students to have good math scores, and some higher educational institutions require students to have minimum scores in all subjects, even if some of those subjects are not directly related to science.
Introduction to biology, basic chemistry, and general science classes are commonly taken college students as they begin their biology degree programs. Each of these classes usually lasts for one semester. These foundational courses serve as prerequisites for more advanced biology courses that undergraduates must take later in their degree program. Students who have completed the first-year biology prerequisites can pursue studies in marine ecology, biological conservation, human biology, and other related fields.
Undergraduates in most countries are required to complete a certain number of credit hours before they can graduate. Students are frequently required to take classes that are directly related to their degree program as well as classes that provide them with a basic understanding of other subjects, such as language courses or IT topics. Some of these non-science classes may be listed as biology prerequisites that students must complete before receiving their diplomas.
Some universities offer postgraduate degree programs in biology and related science topics, and biology prerequisites are typically the same as for undergraduate degree programs: passing high school level science classes with above average grades. Postgraduate students must also have completed an undergraduate degree in biology or a closely related field. In most cases, postgraduate degrees concentrate on a specific subject area, and prospective students may be required to have taken specific science classes during their undergraduate studies. Applicants for postgraduate programs in marine ecology may be required to have studied marine plant and animal life as an undergraduate. The completion of a dissertation is usually listed as one of the graduation requirements for postgraduate degree programs.