How to Apply to Biology at Furman University: No Major Needed at Application, Declaring by the Second Semester of Sophomore Year or Start of Junior Year, with a Biology B.A. and Four B.S. Tracks, a New Curriculum from August 2026, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Furman University is a private liberal arts and sciences university in Greenville, South Carolina. Undergraduate biology is offered by the Department of Biology, and students apply to the University through the Office of Admissions. Here is what you need to know, based on Furman’s website, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. The Chemistry department separately offers a B.S. in Chemistry with a biochemistry track, which is a chemistry degree and is not covered here; professional degrees such as medicine and nursing are outside this guide.

1. Degrees and tracks

• Degrees: the programme overview says students can pursue a B.A. in Biology or a B.S. in one of four tracks: Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB), Biomedical Sciences (BMS), Environmental and Conservation Biology (ECB) and Integrative Biology (IB). The website also lists a Community Engaged Medicine M.S., a graduate programme outside this guide.
• New curriculum: the website says the department recently approved a new biology major curriculum that takes effect on 10 August 2026. Students who declare the biology major after that date complete the new curriculum; current majors can stay in the prior curriculum or re-declare into the new one. Biology courses already taken count toward the major either way.
• Highlights of the new curriculum (summarised from the website): three foundational 100-level courses (BIO 110, 120 and 130) that can be taken in any order; a redesigned quantitative biology course, BIO 220, on experimental design, data management, visualization and analysis; and a new science communication course, BIO 499, which fulfils the writing (WR) requirement.
• Structure: 100-level courses build the foundation; 300-level courses cover specialised areas; 400-level courses are advanced laboratory and data-analysis courses, taken after the 200-level Data Literacy course (BIO 220); 500-level courses are capstone experiences in research, internships and thesis writing.
• Full requirements: the track roadmaps are PDFs, summarised in section 3 below; the University course catalog was not read, so check it on the website.
• Research and study away: the department home page prints “100% of majors conducting research or internships”, an average class size of 15.5 for upper-level courses and “6+ study away programs”; the student experiences page says dozens of students study away each year, from the savannahs of Africa to the rainforests of Costa Rica.

2. How admission to the major works: apply to the University, declare after entry

• At application: the application FAQ says you do not have to declare a major when applying; undecided students are encouraged to explore a variety of disciplines. The pages read do not describe a separate admission line or cap for biology.
• Declaring the major: the website says students declare a major by the second semester of the sophomore year or the beginning of the junior year, working with an academic advisor meanwhile. Any grade requirement or extra department condition for declaring is not stated in the pages read. The programme overview says those who declare after 10 August 2026 complete the new curriculum.
• Moving into biology from another major: no specific conditions are stated in the pages read; please ask the department or the Registrar.

3. Prerequisites and courses

• University course expectations: the FAQ says a strong college preparatory programme should include at minimum four years of English, Algebra I and II, geometry, three years of social studies, at least three years of natural sciences, and at least two years of the same foreign language. High school biology, chemistry and calculus are not singled out in that minimum.
• Foundational 100-level courses: BIO 110 “Molecules, Genes, & Cells” (biological macromolecules, DNA and heredity, the central dogma, cell division, viruses, prokaryotes and eukaryotes, cell and membrane structure, metabolism); BIO 120 “Form & Function of Living Systems” (natural selection, speciation, evolutionary trees, reproduction, water and ion balance, circulation, digestion, sensation and movement, thermoregulation); BIO 130 “Populations, Ecosystems, & Global Change” (ecosystem foundations, population ecology, species interactions, energy flow, nutrient cycling, climate systems, biodiversity and evolution, conservation, global change policy). They can be taken concurrently or in any order, and specific 100-level courses are prerequisites for 300-level courses.
• AP / IB / A-Level: the curricular overview says passing AP, IB or A-Level scores receive credit for BIO 115 “Introductory Bio - Exam Equivalency”. Score cut-offs and which foundational courses this replaces are not described in the pages read; please ask the department and the Registrar.
• Data literacy: BIO 220 is a prerequisite for 400-level and research courses. The B.A. roadmap allows MTH 120 (statistics) in place of BIO 220.
• Chemistry and related courses (from the roadmaps): the CMB and BMS tracks list “Chemistry through CHM 120” among the foundational courses; the ECB and IB tracks list one chemistry course (CHM 110, 111 or 118); the B.A. roadmap lists no chemistry course. Physics and mathematics requirements are not stated in the pages read.
• The four B.S. tracks and the B.A. (from the roadmaps): every route includes BIO 110, BIO 130 and data literacy (BIO 220, or MTH 120 for the B.A.), one “organismal” course (BIO 120, BIO 321 Plant Physiology, BIO 322 Human Physiology or BIO 447 Animal Physiology), a capstone experience and the seminar BIO 075.
  • CMB: two track courses from BIO 300 Cell Biology, BIO 301 Microbiology, BIO 303 Biochemistry of the Cell, and BIO 310 Genetics or BIO 312 Human Genetics; 3–5 biology electives; capstone is research (BIO 508) or thesis (BIO 510).
  • BMS: two track courses from BIO 303, BIO 310 or 312, BIO 326 Human Anatomical Systems or BIO 327 Comparative Anatomy, and BIO 322 or 447; 3–5 biology electives; capstone is an internship (BIO 503), research or thesis.
  • ECB: one environmental biology course (BIO 340 Ecology, BIO 343 Environmental Systems or BIO 345 Field Ecology) and one conservation biology course (BIO 313 Conservation Genetics, BIO 348 Conservation Biology or BIO 431 Landscape Ecology and Conservation); 5–6 biology electives; capstone is an internship, research or thesis; the roadmap highly recommends plant or animal physiology for this track.
  • IB: no track-specific courses, with a plan made with your advisor; 7–8 biology electives; capstone is an internship, research or thesis.
  • B.A.: foundational BIO 110, BIO 130, and BIO 220 or MTH 120; no track-specific courses; 5–6 biology electives numbered 200 or above; capstone may be independent study (BIO 501), an internship, research or a thesis.
• Other course examples: the curricular overview lists 300/400-level examples such as cell biology, microbiology, genetics, human physiology, immunology, plant physiology, comparative anatomy, conservation genetics, agroecology, landscape ecology and conservation, forest ecology, animal physiology and neurobiology (BIO 460); check the course catalog for prerequisites.
• Pre-health students: the website also offers a guide to biology courses for pre-health students as a PDF, which was not read; see the programme overview page.
• Biology competitions: how they are viewed in admission is not stated in the pages read.

4. Deadlines and application materials (first-year)

• Plans and deadlines: Early Decision I (binding) is due 1 November, with notification by 15 November and enrolment by 5 January; Early Action is due 1 November, notification by 20 December, reply by 1 May; Early Decision II (binding) is due 15 January, notification by 1 February, reply by 1 March; Regular Decision is due 15 January, notification by 15 February, reply by 1 May. The step table is labelled “2026–2027”; check that the dates apply to fall 2027 entry.
• How to apply and fee: the Common Application or the Coalition/SCOIR application; there is no application fee.
• Required materials: an official high school transcript and the School Report. Recommendation and essay requirements are not listed in the pages read; check the Common Application and Furman’s application page. Home-schooled students and early graduates must complete a Zoom interview.
• Testing: SAT or ACT scores are optional; with multiple results the committee uses the scores most advantageous to you. Scores can be self-reported and enrolling students must send official scores. School codes: SAT and TOEFL 5222, ACT 3858.
• Review: the website describes a holistic review of grades, rigor of curriculum, test scores (optional), activities and potential contribution to the community.

5. US domestic applicants

• Cost (2026-27): the cost page lists tuition $62,878, student fees $410, housing (weighted average) $10,440 and an unlimited meal plan $7,548, a total of $81,276 in direct costs; allowances of $1,250 for books, $1,100 for transportation and $1,300 for personal expenses bring the total estimated annual cost to $84,926. One tuition figure is listed with no in-state or out-of-state difference. The rates for fall 2027 entry are not stated in the pages read.
• Aid: the website says Furman meets 100% of demonstrated need for eligible students; merit awards (Presidential Scholarships, Academic Excellence Awards, Leadership Recognition Awards) are made automatically on academic achievement, leadership and potential with no separate application, and federal and South Carolina programmes are listed. First-year FAFSA priority dates: ED I 1 November, EA 15 November, ED II 15 January, RD 1 February. The page says 99% of students receive institutional aid and $70 million is invested annually.
• In-state priority or guaranteed admission: not stated in the pages read.

6. International applicants

• Dates and application: the same plans and deadlines as in section 4, through the Common Application or Coalition. The school transcript must be an official copy in English covering at least three full years of secondary study, and Furman may ask for a course-by-course NACES evaluation at the applicant’s expense.
• English proficiency (minimum scores): TOEFL iBT 100 (0–120 scale) or 5 (1–6 scale), IELTS 7.0, Cambridge English Advanced 180, Duolingo 120 (no Duolingo fee waivers). Other routes: the IB Diploma with a 5 or better in Higher Level English; two college-level English composition courses at a US college with C or better; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 550; four full years of US secondary school with at least three years of English; or a letter from the school confirming English is the primary language of instruction. Citizens of the countries on the website’s list are exempt; China is not on the list.
• Financial documents: all international applicants complete the Furman Financial Information Form on the status page and submit the CSS Profile (no CSS Profile waivers).
• Interview: optional; Furman partners with Vericant and Initial View, whose recorded video interviews the admissions team reviews, and “highly recommends” them for non-native English speakers.
• International scholarship: the #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship recognises two international students with a vision for intercultural understanding, covering at least 50% of tuition and renewable; F-1 applicants apply through the status page by 1 February, are notified by 15 March and reply by 1 May.
• Need-based aid for international students: whether it is available is not stated in the pages read; please ask International Admissions.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: whether it is considered and how is not published on the pages read; please contact International Admissions.
• Transcripts and school-leaving materials: no China-specific requirements are published in the pages read; the general international requirements are in section 6 (official English transcript, three full years of secondary study, English test). China is not on the English-waiver country list, which should be checked for updates.
• International curricula: the IB Diploma with a 5 or better in Higher Level English counts as English proficiency; AP/IB credit for the major is covered in section 3, and anything else is not described in the pages read.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 5.
• Department scholarships and research funding: the pages read do not mention biology-specific scholarships. The cost page says every student can apply for funding for internships, research and study away.
• Outcomes: the department home page says students will be prepared for the job market and for graduate and professional schools; the biology pages print no specific employment or graduate-school percentages. For the University as a whole the cost page says 98% of graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months.

9. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall entry 15 July and spring entry 15 December, with rolling notification; the FAFSA priority date matches the application deadline; enrolment is due 31 July (fall) or 5 January (spring). The page shows no year, so check.
• Materials: the Common Application for transfer students, no application fee; the College Officials Report and all official college transcripts; a high school transcript (waived with 32 or more transferable semester hours or at age 21); SAT/ACT optional; FAFSA and CSS Profile are encouraged before the priority date.
• International transfer applicants: English results (the transfer page lists IELTS 7.0, CAE 180, Duolingo 120 and the other routes, with no TOEFL line, while the international first-year page lists TOEFL 100/5; the two differ, so ask International Admissions), the Financial Information Form and the CSS Profile.
• Biology transfer requirements and credit transfer: GPA or prerequisite-course requirements for entering Biology and the credit transfer rules are not stated in the pages read; please contact the transfer coordinator or the biology department.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• ED I and EA 1 November; ED II and RD 15 January; no application fee; official transcript and School Report; SAT/ACT optional
• FAFSA (priority 1 November for ED I)

International applicants (including China):

• TOEFL 100 or 5 on the new scale, IELTS 7.0, Duolingo 120 or another accepted route; English transcript; Financial Information Form and CSS Profile
• Optional Vericant/Initial View interview; #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship by 1 February

After entry:

• Work with your academic advisor and declare biology and a track (B.A. or one of four B.S. tracks) by the second semester of sophomore year or the start of junior year; take BIO 110/120/130, chemistry as the track requires, and BIO 220

Transfer students:

• Fall 15 July, spring 15 December; college transcripts and College Officials Report; confirm biology entry conditions with the department

Sources: Furman University, Biology department; Program overview; Curricular structure (PDF); Foundational courses (PDF); Student experiences; How to apply; International students; Transfer students; Tuition and fees. The first-year steps on the application page are labelled “2026–2027”; check that the dates apply to fall 2027 entry and see Furman’s website for the latest.