How to Apply to Biology at Kennesaw State University: A Bachelor of Science in Biology Shared Between the Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology and Molecular and Cellular Biology Departments with General Biology and Human Health Concentrations, SAT or ACT Required, with Admission Rules and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Undergraduate biology at Kennesaw State University (KSU) in Georgia is an interdepartmental degree in the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM), shared between the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (EEOB) and the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB); the degree page lists the Kennesaw campus as the primary campus. This guide, based on KSU’s website, covers domestic students, international students (including a separate section for applicants from China) and transfer students. Chemistry, physics and mathematics are not covered here; the Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry belongs to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and gets only this one mention, and environmental science is not covered. Medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and veterinary degrees are outside this guide, so see the website for them.

1. Degree and concentrations

• Bachelor of Science in Biology: the degree page says face-to-face, a four-year program, 120 total credit hours, fall, spring and summer entry, with Kennesaw as the primary campus. The pages read list no B.A. There is also a Minor in Biology.
• Two concentrations (the degree page says the program offers two degree concentrations): General Biology and Human Health. The required courses for each are not described in the pages read; check the catalog.
• What the program emphasizes: the degree page says you meet living systems at levels from atoms to the biosphere, with evolution as a framework for questions, hypotheses and predictions, and that research and experimentation run through the curriculum, with highly experiential lab courses and research experiences. It says the degree is shared between the EEOB and MCB departments.
• Faculty research areas: the degree page says MCB and EEOB faculty research includes microbiology, molecular, cell development, computational and behavioral biology, ecosystems modeling and more. The pages read do not list separate undergraduate options such as neuroscience, marine biology, zoology or plant science; plant biology, microbiology, biotechnology and bioinformatics appear only in the degree page’s careers list (section 9).
• Biochemistry: the Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry is offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and is listed on the biology degree page as a related degree; it is not covered here, so see its degree page.
• Double Owl pathways: the biology degree page lists two: Biology BS to Teaching Secondary Science MAT, and Biology BS to Integrative Biology MS (the link is worded “Biology, BS to Integrative Biology, MS”). Conditions are in section 2.
• Course list and labs: courses, credits and lab schedules are in the university catalog, which the degree page’s Curriculum link points to (which this guide did not read). The degree page also links a Degree Pathway (a semester-by-semester map), which was not read either. Check the website for current requirements; first-year common courses and any capstone or research requirement are not described in the pages read. The degree page suggests that students wanting program admission requirements and course offerings make an appointment with an advisor in the CSM Advising Center.

2. How admission works and declaring the major

• University or college: the pages read give first-year requirements for the university as a whole, and the degree page’s “Apply Now” goes to the university application. Whether biology has its own admission line or limited seats is not published in the pages read; ask admissions or CSM advising.
• When to declare, conditions, internal transfer: the pages read do not state when biology majors declare or any course or GPA conditions. This is not published. The CSM advising page says the college’s advisors cover six BS majors (biology, environmental science, biochemistry, chemistry, mathematics and physics) and help with choosing courses, exploring majors and building a plan; biology students are assigned to one of several advisors by last name.
• Double Owl conditions (Biology BS to Integrative Biology MS): a 3.00 GPA in KSU undergraduate coursework; 60 hours toward the bachelor’s degree; 12 hours in residence at KSU; two recommendation letters from KSU faculty; and a letter of commitment from a faculty member affiliated with the MS program, saying they are willing to serve as the student’s mentor. The suggested timeline is to apply to Double Owl early in junior year and to the graduate program in senior year by the posted deadline. The page names the undergraduate degree as the Bachelor of Science in Biology (General Biology Track).

3. First-year requirements and prerequisites

• GPA: a minimum of 3.0 from fall 2027; spring and summer 2027 applicants can be admitted under the 2.5 minimum. KSU recalculates your GPA from the 17 units of the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC).
• High school courses: 4 English, 4 math, 4 science, 3 social science, and 2 units of the same foreign language (or 2 of American Sign Language or 2 of USG-approved computer science). The pages read set no separate high school biology or calculus minimum for biology majors.
• Tests are required: KSU is not test-optional, and biology has no separate test requirement. Minimums are SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 500 and Math 490, or ACT English or Reading 18 and Math 18; from fall 2027 the CLT is also accepted (Verbal 39, Math 16). SAT code 5359, ACT code 0833. KSU takes your highest section scores within each test but does not combine SAT and ACT. Architecture has higher requirements, but it is not a biology requirement.
• Math placement (CSM advising page): every CSM major requires math at least up to MATH 1190 (Calculus I). Your starting point depends on high school information: anyone can start in MATH 1111 (College Algebra); MATH 1113 (Precalculus) needs an SAT Math score of 570 or above (ACT Math 23 or above) and a high school GPA of 2.8 or above; MATH 1190 (Calculus I) needs an SAT Math score of 620 or above (ACT Math 26 or above) and a high school GPA of 3.2 or above. If you are unhappy with that placement you can take ALEKS; email your advisor for the code. The starting course can change which science courses you can take in your first semester.
• AP / IB credit: the transfer page says AP and CLEP scores must be sent electronically from College Board. The pages read do not say which required courses AP or IB science or math scores replace; this is not published, so check the catalog or ask a CSM advisor.
• Honors: KSU has an honors college; how it relates to biology majors is not published in the pages read, so see the honors admission page on the website.

4. How and when to apply (2027 entry)

• Application: the first-year application fee is $40, submitted online; fee waivers are handled inside the Common App. Seniors, and graduates of less than five years who have not enrolled elsewhere, apply as first-year students; those with some college credit but fewer than 30 semester (or 50 quarter) transferable hours apply as transfer freshmen.
• First-year deadlines: spring 2027, application November 16, 2026 and documents December 1; summer 2027, May 3, 2027 for both; fall 2027 priority, application November 2, 2026 and documents November 16; fall 2027 regular, July 1, 2027 for both (the application opens August 1, 2026). Applying by the priority deadline gives early access to on-campus housing and orientation sign-ups.
• Essays and recommendations: the pages read do not mention an essay or recommendation requirement for first-year applicants (the high school transcript must come directly from your school). This is not published; follow the application system.
• Science competitions: the pages read do not say how biology competitions are viewed in admission.

5. Domestic students

• Tests and GPA: SAT or ACT scores are required, and from fall 2027 the minimum high school GPA is 3.0. KSU lists entering-class (university-wide) averages of 3.5 GPA, SAT 1111.3 (reading and writing 570, math 546) and ACT 22.4.
• Georgia residents: for 2026-2027, 15 credit hours cost $2,880 in tuition plus $594 in student fees, $3,474 per semester. The pages read do not mention priority or guaranteed admission for Georgia residents. This is not published.
• Out-of-state students: Flight to Excellence: an out-of-state tuition waiver for out-of-state and international students, who then pay in-state tuition plus all fees; the number of waivers is limited and the process is competitive. Admitted students are notified through their KSU email and no separate application is required. First-year students need a KSU-calculated high school GPA of 3.5 and an SAT of 1050, a composite ACT of 20 or a CLT of 68; meeting the minimums does not guarantee a waiver. Priority dates are November 2, 2026 for fall 2027 freshmen and November 16, 2026 for spring 2027. It lasts up to eight semesters and renews with a 2.5 GPA and 12 hours each fall and spring.
• biology scholarships: the department pages read do not list a scholarship specific to biology majors. This is not published; ask the department or the financial aid office.

6. International students

• Documents: foreign transcripts must be evaluated in English by a NACES or AICE member; your high school transcript needs a document-by-document evaluation that includes your GPA, and the GPA must appear on the evaluation. You also send SAT or ACT scores and proof of English.
• International deadlines: spring 2027, application November 16, 2026 and documents December 1; summer 2027, May 3, 2027; fall 2027 priority, application November 2, 2026 and documents November 16; fall 2027 regular, July 1, 2027.
• English minimums: TOEFL iBT 79 (tests before January 21, 2026) or 4 on the 1–6 scale (on or after that date); IELTS 6.0; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 500 or ACT English or Reading 18; Duolingo 115 (Writing section); PTE Academic 58; Cambridge CAE 177 or CPE 180; EIKEN Pre-1; MET 77. A B or better in UK GCSE English, a UK GCE A-Level, Cambridge IGCSE/O-Level English, or Edexcel international A-Level or IGCSE English also counts, as does completing the highest level of KSU’s Intensive English Program (IEP), an approved USG campus-based ESL program, or a C or better in English Composition I at a US college. The chart has no country-based exemptions.
• Conditional admission: if you have not met the English requirement, you can enroll in the IEP on a Language Training I-20 and apply for conditional admission; full admission is reviewed after you complete the highest IEP level and receive the certificate.
• Proof of funds: the pages read do not state financial documentation requirements. This is not published; ask admissions.
• 2026-2027 tuition for international undergraduates: $743 per credit hour. At 15 hours per semester, tuition is $11,145 plus $594 in student fees, for $11,739 per semester (the rate table goes up to 15 hours). The fee table lists no biology differential; rely on your KSU bill.
• Scholarships: international new students can be considered for Flight to Excellence (see above). The pages read list no other international scholarships.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: KSU does not say whether Gaokao results are used or what score is needed. This is not published; check with international admissions.
• Transcripts and evaluation: your high school transcript needs a document-by-document evaluation from a NACES or AICE member, with GPA on the report (the site names International Education Evaluation and The Evaluation Company as examples). Whether huikao (academic proficiency test) records are needed is not published.
• Tests and English: first-year applicants must submit the SAT or ACT; English requirements are in the previous section. No A-Level or IB admission scores are published.
• Country page and interview: the pages read have no China-specific document list or country page, and no interview requirement.
• Contacts: the international page lists an international recruiter (Catherine Shamanski, cshamans@kennesaw.edu, 470-578-7084), and the undergraduate admissions office is at 470-578-4636.

8. Transfer students

• Which application: with 30 semester (or 50 quarter) hours of transferable credit you apply as a transfer student; with fewer, you apply as a transfer freshman and send high school records and SAT/ACT scores.
• Requirements: a 2.0 college GPA as recalculated by KSU and good academic standing at your previous school, with the ability to re-enroll there. Applicants are encouraged to complete courses equivalent to ENGL 1101 and MATH 1101 with a C or better. The transfer page does not list required chemistry, biology or calculus sequences or grades for biology majors. This is not published; ask a CSM advisor.
• Deadlines (transfer page): spring 2027, application December 1 and documents December 11 (the spring application opened April 1, 2026); summer, May 3; fall 2027, July 16. International transfer applicants follow the international deadlines above.
• Credit transfer: KSU offers a transfer credit search engine. Credit from colleges outside the US needs a course-by-course evaluation with GPA showing at least 30 semester hours of US university-level work.
• Partner pathways: the transfer page says KSU has LINK transfer programs with partners such as Chattahoochee Tech, Georgia Highlands College, Oglethorpe University, Shorter University and Georgia Gwinnett College; whether biology is covered is not stated in the pages read.
• Flight to Excellence for transfers: out-of-state or international transfer students need at least 30 semester (or 50 quarter) transferable hours and a transfer GPA of 3.3 across all work attempted at all institutions (a repeated course counts both grades); meeting the minimum does not guarantee a waiver. The fall 2027 priority date for transfers is April 1, 2027.

9. Costs, undergraduate research and outcomes

• 2026-2027 per semester at 15 credit hours (tuition table): in-state tuition $2,880, out-of-state $10,830 and international $11,145; the student fee is $594 in every case (activity $43, athletic $194, health $46, parking $25, recreation center $81, sports and recreation parks $76, technology $65, transportation $61, wellness $3). Per credit hour: $192 in-state, $722 out-of-state, $743 international.
• Cost of attendance (2026-2027, fall and spring, on campus): $29,077 in-state and $44,977 out-of-state, including tuition for 15 hours ($5,760 in-state and $21,660 out-of-state for the two semesters), housing $9,332, food $5,016, books and supplies $1,500, personal expenses $3,995, transportation $2,222, fees $1,188 and loan fees ($64 in-state, $65 out-of-state). The estimate does not list international students separately.
• Undergraduate research: the degree page says students can take part in research projects and in scholarship-awarding events such as the Birla Carbon Scholars Program, and stresses research and experimentation throughout the curriculum. The CSM research page lists these undergraduate programs: Birla Carbon Scholars (one-on-one research with a faculty mentor), Birla Carbon International Scholars (research in spring, then a six-week summer study abroad experience in India), the Inspire Summer Scholars Research Program and the Mentor Protégé Research Program, plus university programs such as the First-Year Scholars Program, the Summer Undergraduate Research Program and Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP). For Birla Carbon Scholars (a CSM program whose 2026 round has closed), the requirements include being a full-time CSM undergraduate with a minimum institutional GPA of 3.0, a faculty recommendation letter and an abstract of no more than 400 words; the last cycle closed on February 27, 2026, and the page says twelve selected recipients receive a total summer stipend of $4,500. The page does not say whether citizenship or residency is required or whether international students can apply.
• Outcomes: the degree page’s “What can you do with a Biology degree?” lists General Biology, Pre-professional, Pre-M.D./Dentistry/Optometry/Pharmacy, Pre-D.V.M., Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, Ecology and Environmental Biology, Science Writer, Plant Biology, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics and Research Scientist; salary data was not displayed in the pages read. Details of entering medical and other professional schools are outside this guide; see the website and the CSM pre-health advising page.
• Internships and co-ops: the degree page has an Internships and Co-ops link that points to the university career site (not accessed for this guide), and says you can make industry connections through internships, career fairs and registered student organizations.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• Take 4 math and 4 science courses, keep at least a 3.0 GPA (from fall 2027), and submit the SAT (500/490) or ACT (18/18)
• For fall 2027, apply by the November 2, 2026 priority deadline; out-of-state students should also aim for Flight to Excellence
• Before enrolling, confirm your math starting course and your choice of concentration with a CSM advisor (Calculus I is the minimum for every CSM major)

International students (including applicants from China):

• Get a NACES/AICE document-by-document evaluation with GPA; submit the SAT or ACT; prepare IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 79
• Apply by November 2, 2026 for fall 2027, and ask admissions about Gaokao use and proof of funds

Transfer students:

• Have 30 hours and a 2.0 GPA; get a course-by-course evaluation for foreign credit; ask a CSM advisor which biology courses transfer

Sources: Kennesaw State University, Bachelor of Science in Biology; Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology; CSM advising; CSM research programs; Birla Carbon Scholars; Biology Double Owl pathway; Freshman requirements; International students; Transfer students; Flight to Excellence Scholarship; 2026-2027 undergraduate tuition; Cost of attendance. Dates are for spring, summer and fall 2027 entry, and costs are 2026-2027 rates. Check Kennesaw State for the latest details.