How to Apply to Biology at DePaul University: Biological Sciences B.A. and B.S. Differ in Math and Science Requirements, Four B.S. Concentrations and Accelerated 3+ Pre-Health Tracks, for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At DePaul University (Chicago, Illinois), biology is taught in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Science and Health. The pages we read do not mention a separate admission cut-off for biology; the freshman application (Common App) is at university level. Below is what DePaul publishes for fall 2027 entry, in sections for U.S. applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, then transfer students. Anything the site does not say is marked "not published". Nursing, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and other health degrees, and professional degrees such as medicine and pharmacy, are outside this guide; see the Pre-Health Program page. Biochemistry sits in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and is not covered here. DePaul counts courses in quarter hours; most courses in the tables below are 4 quarter hours.

1. Degrees and tracks

• B.A. in Biological Sciences: described as a strong foundation in biology without requiring you to master related math and science fields, with courses and electives in the humanities and social sciences for interdisciplinary careers and health professional programs. The B.A. also has Accelerated 3+ concentrations for Pathways Honors students; the program page lists four: Pre-Pathologists' Assistant, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Physicians Assistant Practice and Pre-Podiatric Medicine.
• B.S. in Biological Sciences: a structured curriculum with more emphasis on science and math courses; students specialise in one (and only one) of four concentrations: Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, and Microbiology; Ecology and Evolution; Integrative Biology; or Medicine, Health and Physiology.
• Minor in Biological Sciences.
• Combined degrees: a combined bachelor's and master's in Biological Sciences, and a combined bachelor's and master's in Biological Sciences and Secondary Education with the College of Education; both are said to take a little over five years.
• Honors in Research: open to B.S. and B.A. students who, with a biology faculty advisor, develop a high-quality, novel research project with publishable data, write a senior thesis and give an oral presentation; approval by the advisor, a faculty reader and the Honors in Research Program Director.
• The department page also says it teaches the life-science components for non-majors (nursing, physical education, chemistry, environmental science, psychology) and the prerequisites for later entry into programs such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy and dentistry.

2. Admission route, prerequisites and course plan

• Choosing a major: the application pages we read do not say whether applicants choose a major or whether biology has its own quota; not published. The college requirements page says every student in the College must declare a major before the start of junior year, using the declaration tool in Campus Connect.
• B.S. core: BIO 191, 192, 193 (General Biology for Science Majors, three quarters), BIO 206 Biostatistics, BIO 260 Genetics and BIO 395 Biology Capstone Seminar; chemistry CHE 130/131, 132/133, 134/135 (three quarters of General Chemistry with labs) and CHE 230/231, 232/233 (two quarters of Organic Chemistry with labs); physics PHY 150-152 (comparable science-major physics may be substituted); one calculus sequence (MAT 150 and 151, or MAT 147-149, or summer MAT 155-156); plus the requirements of one concentration. Students may be advised, based on the Mathematics Diagnostic test, to take courses before calculus.
• B.A. core: BIO 191-193, BIO 206, BIO 215 Ecology or BIO 235 Evolution, BIO 250 Cell Biology, BIO 260 Genetics, BIO 307 Animal Physiology (or 308 Human Physiology or 309 Plant Physiology); three quarters of General Chemistry (CHE 130-135); and three more majors-level biology courses, two of them at the 300 level. The B.A. page lists no physics or calculus requirement; it adds that open electives are needed to reach the 192-hour minimum for graduation.
• Suggested order: start with General Biology and General Chemistry, which are prerequisites for Ecology, Cell Biology, Genetics and Organic Chemistry, preferably taken in the second year; first-year chemistry is typically taken together with BIO 191-193; start calculus as early as possible, preferably before junior year, so students are ready for General Physics, best taken in the junior year. Because the sequence is highly structured, students are strongly encouraged to plan with the departmental advisor, and the page says this is particularly important for transfer students. The page adds that because chemistry and biology sequences dominate the first two years, most Liberal Studies courses other than the core can be postponed to the junior and senior years.
• High-school prerequisites: the application pages do not list required high-school biology, chemistry or mathematics; not published. In the test-optional FAQ DePaul says the most competitive students generally take four years in each of English, math, natural science and social science/history.
• AP / IB credit (credit-by-exam pages): AP Biology 3 earns 4 hours for BIO 191; 4 earns 8 hours for BIO 191 and 192; 5 earns 12 hours for BIO 191, 192 and 193; the page tells biology majors to consult the Biology Department. AP Chemistry 3 earns CHE 102, 4 earns CHE 130/131, 5 earns CHE 130/131 and 132/133 (chemistry majors consult the Chemistry Department). AP Calculus BC 3, 4 or 5 earns MAT 150, 151 and 152. AP Physics 1 and 2 both at 4 or 5 earn PHY 150, 151 and 152. IB Biology HL 5: the department may waive one or more quarters of General Biology on consent; HL 6 earns BIO 191, 192 and 193 (12 hours). IB Physics HL 6 or 7 earns PHY 150, 151 and 152. Scores must be sent by the testing agency.
• Placement: placement in writing and mathematics is completed online after admission; chemistry and modern-language placement tests are optional.

Research and outcomes

• Research: the program page says most faculty direct their own research programs, giving students the chance to work on multiple projects, and encourages seminars and internships. The department page lists field experiences, laboratory research, journal clubs, student organisations and research seminars.
• Outcomes: career options listed on the program page include biochemical engineering, botany, conservation biology, education, environmental science, forensics, marine biology, medical school, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmaceutical research and public health. The page also states that 96% of Biological Sciences graduates were employed, continuing their education or not seeking employment after graduation. Employers and salaries: not published.
• STEM designation: the program page states it is STEM-designated, which can qualify international students to extend their stay after graduation; confirm the conditions with International Admission.

3. Rounds and application materials

• How to apply: the apply page says all incoming freshmen for fall/winter 2027, including international students, apply with the Common App. A freshman applicant is under age 24 and has completed at least six semesters of high school.
• Rounds: Early Action closes 15 November with notification by 15 December; Regular Notification closes 1 February with notification by 15 March; applications after 1 February are considered on a space-available basis (School of Music and The Theatre School excepted). For the strongest scholarship consideration apply by 15 November (Early Action) or 1 February. After admission, declare your intent to enroll by 1 May and pay a $200 non-refundable tuition deposit. The pages print no year, so confirm the dates apply to fall 2027 entry.
• Testing: freshmen may choose whether to submit ACT or SAT scores (test-optional); applicants educated outside the U.S. are not required to submit them. Applicants indicate test-optional in the DePaul questions of the Common App; test-optional files are reviewed separately and may take longer, and the optional personal essay is encouraged for them.
• Review: holistic. The high-school record, especially grades in challenging core subjects, is described as the most important component, with honors/IB/AP work, grade trends, recommendation letters, activities, community involvement and writing also considered. The most competitive students generally have four years in each of English, math, natural science and social science/history.
• The application fee, and whether biology applicants face extra requirements (science grades, recommendations, interview): not stated on the pages we read; check the admission pages.

4. U.S. applicants

• Tuition: the tuition page lists rates by admit year. For 2026-27, a student admitted in 2026 to the College of Science and Health pays $16,060 per term, $48,180 per year, at 12-18 credit hours; part-time (1-11 hours or over 18) is $878 per hour. The rate for the 2027 admit year is not listed on the page we read. The page says tuition varies by program, credit hours and admit year. The cost-of-attendance page estimates 2026-27 living expenses (housing and food) at $20,766 for dependent students living on or off campus and $5,721 living with parents, plus $1,104 for books and supplies, $1,290 transportation and $4,794 miscellaneous.
• Scholarships: freshmen entering in the autumn are automatically considered for four academic scholarships (Presidential, Deans', DePaul Scholars' Award, St. Vincent DePaul) of $14,000 to $33,000 per year, with priority for applications by 15 November. RaiseMe micro-scholarships can add up to $10,000 per year; there is a $3,000 Provost's Achievement Award for National Merit Semifinalists, designated awards for graduates of Illinois Catholic and Chicago public high schools, and donor-funded scholarships that need a separate application. Academic scholarships renew for up to four years (12 quarters) with good standing, full-time enrollment and at least 36 quarter hours across fall, winter and spring.
• Need-based aid: U.S. citizens and permanent residents file the FAFSA (school code 001671); the checklist suggests filing as soon as possible after 1 October. No in-state preference is mentioned on the pages we read.
• Housing: on-campus housing is not required or guaranteed and is assigned in order of receipt of the agreement and prepayment.

5. International applicants

• Who counts: anyone educated outside the U.S. at any time during secondary school is an international freshman applicant.
• Documents: transcripts and/or secondary-school exam results (by country); admitted students must send final transcripts or proof of completion before enrolling. They may be emailed to International Admission, sent via Naviance/Parchment or SCRIP-SAFE, or mailed. Documents not in English need word-for-word English translations; for the countries the page lists where transcripts are normally issued in English, the English version is accepted, but English proficiency is still required.
• English (any one): TOEFL iBT 80 (or 4 on the new 1-6 scale) with no subsection below 17 (or 3.5); IELTS Academic 6.5; Duolingo English Test 115; SAT evidence-based reading and writing 540; ACT reading 18 and English 20; PTE Academic 53; paper-delivered TOEFL 59. TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not accepted. TOEFL, IELTS and PTE scores are valid for two years, SAT/ACT for five. Waivers: IB English A: Language & Literature grade 5, AP English Language score 4 and/or a B in the class, (I)GCSE English First Language C/4, A/AS Level English C; students whose entire secondary education was in one of the listed English-speaking countries are exempt.
• Scholarship: every international applicant is automatically considered for the Global DePaul Scholarship, $12,000 to $32,000 per year based on high-school GPA, awarded with the admission decision and renewable for up to four years (12 quarters).
• Need-based aid: the page we read says only that U.S. citizens and permanent residents are considered for need-based aid through the FAFSA; whether international students can apply is not stated. Proof-of-funds and F-1 visa requirements are on a separate student-visa page; check the site.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the international freshman page has a "Requirements by Country" heading, but the page we read shows no China-specific content and does not say how the Gaokao is used. Not published on the pages we read; contact International Admission (international@depaul.edu).
• Transcripts and translation: China is not among the countries the page lists as normally issuing English transcripts, so under the stated rule non-English documents are submitted in the original with word-for-word English translations.
• English and other: English scores, waivers and the scholarship are as in section 5. DePaul has no separate page for applicants from China.

7. Transfer

• Timing: rolling admission; apply and submit transcripts any time up to the intended start date, with reviews starting up to a year in advance; most transfer students can start in any quarter.
• Materials: online application and official college transcripts. High-school transcripts are not required for applicants aged 23 or younger with 24+ semester credits, or aged 24 and older with 12+ semester credits; otherwise they are required. Transcripts must come directly from the registrar, as originals, sealed.
• GPA: the site mentions cumulative GPA requirements but the figure is on a transfer admission process page; it is not published on the pages we read.
• Credit: evaluations are preliminary and subject to final approval; up to 88 semester hours (132 quarter hours) can be applied, of which up to 66 semester hours (99 quarter hours) may come from two-year colleges and credit by examination such as CLEP or AP; the final 60 credit hours of the degree must be earned at DePaul. Credit appears in the Degree Progress Report after admission.
• International transfer: use the DePaul application; applicants with international university credit need a course-by-course evaluation from one of three listed agencies, except students from international partner institutions with an articulation agreement, who only send a transcript.
• Specific prerequisite courses or grades for transferring into biology: not stated on the transfer pages we read. The program pages say planning the course sequence early with the department advisor is particularly important for transfer students.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Common App; Early Action 15 November, Regular 1 February; testing optional; scholarship priority date 15 November
• B.S. students start chemistry and calculus early; the B.A. lists fewer math and physics requirements; if you have AP Biology, ask the department how credit applies

International applicants (including China):

• English proof (TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 115 and others; any one); non-English transcripts with word-for-word English translation
• Ask International Admission how the Gaokao is used and whether need-based aid is open to international students

Transfer students:

• Rolling admission; up to 88 semester hours can be applied; the final 60 credit hours must be earned at DePaul; the department decides what counts toward the major

Sources: DePaul University, Biological Sciences department; Department undergraduate page; Biological Sciences program; Biological Sciences B.S. major requirements; Biological Sciences B.A. major requirements; Pre-Health Program; Apply; Undergraduate admission; Test-optional FAQs; International freshman; International transfer; Transfer admission; Transfer credit evaluation; Next steps checklist; Credit given by exam; AP credit; IB credit; Undergraduate tuition and fees; Cost of attendance; Scholarships. Dates, tuition and credit tables are as listed on those pages; confirm that undated dates apply to fall 2027 entry. Check DePaul for the latest.