How to Apply to Biology at UNC Charlotte: Admitted to the University First, Pre-Biology Status Until the Introductory Biology and Chemistry Courses Are Done, a B.A. or B.S., and the Path for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte, often called Charlotte) is a public research university in the University of North Carolina system. Biology is taught by the Department of Biological Sciences in the Klein College of Science (created in 2023 and home to the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics and Statistics, and Physics and Optical Science). The notes below follow the university’s website and are split into domestic students, international students (with a section for applicants from China) and transfer students. Chemistry, physics, mathematics and other majors are not covered here.

1. Biology degrees and options

• Bachelor’s degrees: the department’s general-questions page says there are a B.A. and a B.S. in Biology. The B.A. requires 32 hours of biology courses including 3 labs at the 3000/4000 level; the B.S. requires 44 hours including 4 labs at the 3000/4000 level, plus an additional math course and additional physics and chemistry courses.
• Emphasis: the department says biology studies life in all its aspects, from molecular to population approaches, in animals, plants and microorganisms, drawing on chemistry, mathematics and physics. It names five areas as central to the field and to its degree requirements: evolution, energy transfer, information flow, form and function, and complex systems.
• Concentrations: the department says the degree concentrations are being phased out, and only those completed with a graduation date by summer 2022 are recognized on the transcript; without a declared concentration the advisor can suggest how to focus a degree on an area related to professional goals. The department’s degree map also speaks of focusing in one of three areas of biology; see the website.
• Early Entry: the majors page has an “Early Entry” heading whose content did not display on the page read; not published there, so check the website.
• Minors and honors: the department has minors (including the Biotechnology minor offered with Chemistry) and an honors program (section 2).
• Marine biology, ecology and conservation, neuroscience, biochemistry and similar: the pages read do not list these as separate undergraduate majors or tracks; not published there. They may appear as electives; see the undergraduate catalog.
• Outcomes: the department site has a “Biology Career Preparation and Resources” section whose content was not read; not published on the pages read.
• Medicine, nursing, pharmacy and other health professions are outside the scope of this article; see the website.

2. Biology requirements (what the department pages say)

• Course structure: biology courses at the 1000 level are non-majors courses and do not count toward the major; BIOL 2259 and 2273 (with labs) do not count either. Electives are most courses at the 3000 level or above that are not core courses (BIOL 3111, 3144, 3166, 3273). All majors must complete the BIOL 2120 lab, the BIOL 2130 lab and the BIOL 3111 lab; B.A. majors need 2 additional labs at the 3000/4000 level and B.S. majors 4 additional (this differs somewhat from the earlier statement that the B.S. has 4 labs at that level, so check). Chemistry and physics labs do not count toward the biology lab requirement.
• Courses that count as lab credit: BIOL 3900 (undergraduate research) may count for up to two labs depending on hours; the honors sequence BIOL 4700 and 4701 may substitute for two labs; at most two lab credits in total come from any combination of 3900, 4700 and 4701; pre-session field courses and some 4-credit-hour courses (for example BIOL 4293) may satisfy a lab.
• Chemistry requirement: B.A. students need a C or better in CHEM 1251 (and lab) and CHEM 1252 (and lab); B.S. students need a C or better in CHEM 1251, 1252 and CHEM 2131 (and labs), and may earn a D in CHEM 2132 (and lab). CHEM 2130 may replace 2131 for B.A. students only, and the page says it has not been offered for many years.
• Graduation and grade conditions: 120 hours in total are needed even if the major and General Education requirements are done; a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a Biology GPA (all major-level biology courses) of at least 2.0 are required. A student with two successive semesters of cumulative Biology GPA below 2.0 is ineligible to continue in the bachelor’s programs in biology and must choose another major. A C or better is required in any biology course that is a prerequisite for another (such as BIOL 2120, 2130 and 3111); a D in a non-prerequisite course is passing. After twice receiving a grade below C in BIOL 2120, 2120L, 2130 or 2130L a student cannot enroll in the course again; other biology courses can be taken at most three times.
• Upper-level courses: Senior Seminar (BIOL 4600) is no longer required but can be taken as an elective, restricted to majors with 90+ earned hours who have finished the core. BIOL 3800 (tutorial) and 3900 (undergraduate research) are restricted: you need a willing faculty mentor, an agreement for individualized instruction and a Biology GPA above 3.0.
• Catalog: the detailed program requirements and progression rules are in the university’s undergraduate catalog, which was not among the pages read; not published there, so check the website.
• Honors: typical qualifications are a junior Biological Sciences major or minor with a grade of A or B in BIOL 3111 (Cell Biology), an overall GPA of 3.2 and a GPA of 3.4 in Biological Sciences coursework, with prior research such as BIOL 3900 viewed favorably, an interest in original laboratory research with a faculty member and willingness to commit several semesters; transfer students need the same GPAs including coursework taken at UNC Charlotte. The sequence includes BIOL 4601 (Honors Seminar), 4700 and 4701.
• Undergraduate research opportunities: the department site lists “Research Experiences for Undergraduates” and “Course Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURES)”; their content was not read, so it is not published on the pages read.

3. How admission works: the university first, then the major paperwork

• How to apply: through the Future 49er Portal, the Common App or (for eligible NC public high-school students) NC College Connect. Every applicant answers a question about their specific interest in Charlotte, where you can name the area of study you are interested in.
• Competitive majors: the admissions office says Business, Nursing, Computer Science and Engineering are competitive and need an above-average academic profile; chemistry and biology are not on that list. Applicants who are competitive for the university but not for a competitive major may be admitted as undeclared. The biology department says entering students can start as “Pre-Biology” majors and declare biology once the introductory courses are done (next item).
• What is considered: the admissions office says review looks at academic courses in grades 9–11, overall GPA and performance in core academic courses, senior-year course selection, and the response to the application question and essay. It also says first-year spaces are limited, standards can change from year to year and even during the cycle, and early application is encouraged. The middle 50% range of admitted first-year students for fall 2026 was weighted GPA 3.8–4.4 (unweighted 3.4–3.9), SAT 1120–1340 and ACT 21–28.
• Declaring biology (general-questions page): Pre-Biology majors are students completing the introductory biology and chemistry sequences and preparing for upper-level biology; Biology majors have requested a change of major and been approved by the department. Entering freshmen may declare biology after completing BIOL 2120 (with lab) and CHEM 1251 (with lab); entering transfer students need transfer credit for BIOL 2120 and its lab or BIOL 2130 and its lab, and for CHEM 1251 and its lab; continuing students with credit earned at UNC Charlotte need an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and a Biology GPA of at least 2.0 after completing BIOL 2120 (with lab) and CHEM 1251 (with lab). Once approved you are assigned a biology faculty advisor, and the change is requested with an online change-of-major form.

4. Preparation and credit

• High-school courses: minimums are in section 5. The department pages do not say which high-school biology, chemistry or math courses must be taken before arrival; not published there, so ask the Department of Biological Sciences.
• AP Biology (admissions AP credit table): a 5 earns 8 hours for BIOL 2120 and 2130 (with labs); a 4 earns 7 hours for BIOL 1110 (with lab) and BIOL 1115; a 3 earns 4 hours for BIOL 1110 (with lab). Note that the department’s general-questions page says 1000-level biology courses are non-majors courses and do not count toward the major, so a 3 or 4 gives general credit rather than the major’s introductory courses.
• IB Biology (admissions IB credit table): Higher Level 4 or 5 earns 4 hours for BIOL 2120 (with lab); a 6 earns 8 hours for BIOL 2120 and 2130 (with labs); a 7 earns 8 hours (the course list is printed with BIOL 2120 repeated). Standard Level 4 earns no credit, a 5 earns 4 hours for BIOL 2120 (with lab), and a 6 or 7 earns 8 hours for BIOL 2120 and 2130 (with labs). The table’s note says HL and SL exams earn up to 30 semester hours in total and, unless noted otherwise, a score of 5 or greater is required.
• Chemistry: AP Chemistry 3 earns CHEM 1251 plus lab (4 hours) and 4 or 5 earns CHEM 1251 and 1252 plus labs (8 hours); IB Higher Level Chemistry 4 or higher and Standard Level 5 or higher earn CHEM 1251 and 1252 plus labs (8 hours). Declaring biology needs credit for BIOL 2120 and CHEM 1251 (see section 3).
• Courses at another institution: the department says to complete a permit for transient study before taking a course elsewhere if you want it accepted as equivalent; biology majors submit the form to the Department of Biological Sciences before taking the course.
• Honors track and competitions: honors qualifications are in section 2; the pages read do not say how biology olympiads or similar competitions are viewed; not published there.

5. Dates and materials

• Rounds and dates (no year is printed; check that they apply to fall 2027 entry): Early Action applications by November 1 with decisions by January 30; Regular Decision applications by February 1 with decisions by April 1; after February 1 applications are considered as space is available, with decisions after April 1 depending on space. All materials must reach Admissions within two weeks of the deadline (November 15 / February 15) to receive a decision by the notification date (the international page says 15 days). Decisions are non-binding. First-year students applying for spring terms should apply by November 1 and submit everything by November 15. The application opens August 1.
• Materials: the online application; the USD 75 application fee (or an approved waiver; the international first-year page says USD 80, so the two differ); an official high-school transcript (sent through an electronic delivery system, since transcripts uploaded by the student are unofficial); one required essay (a Common App prompt or a Future 49er prompt); recommendation letters and personal statements are optional. The admissions office notes that review can see only the first three years of grades on the transcript.
• Testing (fall 2027 applicants): the requirements page says SAT or ACT scores are only required for students with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or lower, while the application-review page says the policy is test optional for students with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or higher at the end of junior year. The two pages put the 2.8 line differently, so ask Admissions; applicants not required to submit may self-report scores. Classic Learning Test scores may also be submitted but cannot replace a required SAT or ACT. SAT code 5105, ACT code 3163.
• Minimum high-school courses: English, four units (college preparatory); math, four units including Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry and a fourth year beyond Algebra 2; social studies, two units including U.S. History; science, three units (a physical science, a biological science and a laboratory course); and two more academic courses from English, math, science, social studies, world languages or computer science; two sequential world-language courses are encouraged. The office says most admitted applicants exceed the minimums and have taken some advanced courses if available.

6. Domestic students

• Costs (2026-27, undergraduate, on campus, admissions cost page): NC residents — tuition USD 3,926, fees USD 3,285, loan fees USD 103, books and supplies USD 600, housing USD 10,200, meals USD 5,662, transportation USD 1,340, personal USD 2,360, total USD 27,476 as printed; non-residents of NC — tuition USD 22,018, the rest the same except transportation USD 2,000 and miscellaneous USD 2,360, total USD 46,228 as printed. All costs are subject to change pending legislative approval.
• NC residency: the page says North Carolina substantially subsidizes tuition for students whose domicile is in North Carolina; you may qualify if you and/or your parent or guardian established and maintained legal residence in NC for at least 12 consecutive months before claiming residency, you intend to make NC your home indefinitely, and you came to NC for reasons other than attending college. Residency is determined by the state’s Residency Determination Service, not by Admissions.
• Aid and scholarships: the preparing-for-admissions page says to file the FAFSA as early as possible (school code 002975) and, once admitted, to apply for scholarships in the NinerScholars Portal, where most deadlines are in March. The admissions pages on financial aid and scholarships were not read, so specific programs and amounts are not published on the pages read; check the website.
• Biology scholarships: the pages read describe none; not published there, so check the department website and the university scholarship pages.

7. International students

• How and when: international students may apply for spring or fall; no interview and no recommendation letters are needed. The international first-year page lists the same schedule (November 1 with a decision by January 30; February 1 with April 1; after February 1 depending on space), with all documents due within 15 days after the deadline (no year is printed). First-year spring applicants apply by November 1 with documents by November 15. The office encourages early application, and applicants outside the US benefit from it for visa processing.
• Application fee: the international first-year page says USD 80 (the general first-year page says USD 75, so the two differ).
• Transcripts and evaluation: submit official high-school transcripts (the last three years); the university does not evaluate foreign high-school transcripts itself, so an official course-by-course credential evaluation from a NACES-listed agency must be sent directly to Admissions (the office recommends International Education Evaluations, Educational Credential Evaluators or The Evaluation Company). Students are expected to have completed their country’s pre-university curriculum before enrolling, for example A Levels for British-based systems or the Baccalaureate for French-based systems. The international page says no specific courses are required but recommends four courses of English, four of mathematics, three of science, two of history/social science and two of the same foreign language (which may be English); Engineering, Computer Science, Business and Nursing are more competitive. One essay is also required (topics are on the Common Application website).
• Proof of English (two versions, both listed): the international first-year page says to complete one item: TOEFL iBT 4 or higher (minimum 4 in each sub score, as printed), IELTS 6.0 or higher (minimum 5.5 in each), Duolingo 105 or higher, PTE Academic 52 or higher (minimum 42 in each), SAT 500 on Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, ACT 20 on Reading, completion of Level 5 at the English Language Training Institute (ELTI), or a U.S. high-school diploma (two years of transcripts). The proof-of-English page instead lists the scores “required for full undergraduate admission”: TOEFL iBT 70 or higher (minimum 14 in each), IELTS 6.0 or higher (minimum 5.0 in each), Duolingo 105 or higher, PTE Academic 48 or higher (minimum 35 in each), SAT 500 on Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, ACT 19 on Critical Reading, ELTI Level 5, two years of a US high-school diploma, 24 credit hours at a US university or community college, or a US degree; it adds that minimum scores do not guarantee admission and are valid for two years. The two pages differ, so ask Admissions (intnladm@charlotte.edu).
• Exemptions and conditional admission: citizens studying in a country on the university’s English Proficiency Exempt Country List are exempt; the university offers conditional admission through ELTI with guaranteed entry to the bachelor’s program after completing the English courses.
• Proof of funds and international scholarships: not stated on the pages read; not published there, so ask Admissions.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages read do not say whether or how Gaokao results are used; not published there, so ask Admissions.
• Transcripts and evaluation: under the general international rules the high-school transcript needs a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES-listed agency; no China-specific rule on school-leaving examinations appears; not published there.
• Preparation and English: English requirements are in section 7 and AP/IB credit in section 4. The biology pages do not say how Chinese high-school biology and chemistry courses are converted; not published there. AP/IB credit is in section 4.
• China-specific pages: the pages read have none; not published there.

9. Transfer students

• Scale: the admissions office says over one-third of its undergraduates are transfer students.
• General requirements: 24 transferable hours from a regionally accredited institution (applicants with fewer may be reviewed on first-year criteria); a minimum 2.0 cumulative college GPA for all courses as calculated by Admissions; being eligible to return to the last institution attended; and demonstrated math proficiency at college or high-school level. A 2.0 does not guarantee admission, and a higher GPA is more competitive; some majors are more competitive and have additional requirements (the separate page was not read). Transferable courses must be college-level, from a regionally accredited institution, with a grade of C or higher; the office points to a Transfer Credit Advisor tool, noting that course equivalency lists are exhaustive only for North Carolina community colleges.
• Dates and materials (no year is printed; check): for fall, application and the USD 75 fee by July 1 and transcripts and documents by July 15; spring, November 15 / December 1; Summer I, May 1; Summer II, June 1. Official transcripts from all colleges attended are required; review takes about 6–8 weeks once everything is received.
• Conditions for declaring biology as a transfer student are in section 3: you need transfer credit for BIOL 2120 (or 2130) and CHEM 1251. Honors requirements for transfers, whose GPAs must include UNC Charlotte coursework, are in section 2. Courses elsewhere need a permit for transient study first.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• Four years of English and math (including a fourth year beyond Algebra 2), three of science (with a laboratory) and two of social studies in high school; apply by November 1 (Early Action) or February 1, with the USD 75 fee, an official transcript and one essay
• Check the testing policy (the two pages put the 2.8 weighted-GPA line differently) and file the FAFSA early (code 002975)
• After enrolling, finish BIOL 2120 (with lab) and CHEM 1251 (with lab), then submit the change-of-major form to declare biology

International students (including those from China):

• Same schedule; have the high-school transcript evaluated course by course by a NACES agency; the two pages give different English scores, so confirm with Admissions
• Ask Admissions how Gaokao results are used and about proof of funds and international scholarships

Transfer students:

• Have 24 transferable hours and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and aim for credit in BIOL 2120 and CHEM 1251; for fall apply by July 1

Sources: UNC Charlotte, Admissions: first-year; Admissions: requirements and deadlines; Admissions: application review; Admissions: preparing; Admissions: international students; International: first-year; International: deadlines and review; International: English proficiency; Admissions: transfer; Transfer requirements; Transfer deadlines; Cost of attendance; AP credit; IB credit; Biological Sciences: undergraduate programs; Biological Sciences: general questions; Biological Sciences: majors; Biological Sciences: degree concentrations; Biological Sciences: honors qualifications; Klein College of Science. The admissions pages print deadlines without a year (the testing policy on the requirements page is stated for fall 2027 applicants) and costs are for 2026-27, so check; see the university website for the latest.