How to Apply to Biology at Loyola Marymount University: Seaver College’s Department of Biology Awards a B.S. (for Graduate Study and Health Careers) and a B.A. (for High School Teaching), with Early Action and ED I on 1 November and Optional Testing, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Loyola Marymount University (LMU), in Los Angeles, California, offers undergraduate biology through the Department of Biology in the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering, housed in the Life Sciences Building. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on the websites of LMU’s Office of Undergraduate Admission, International Admission, Transfer Admission, the Financial Aid Office and the Seaver College biology department, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Chemistry and biochemistry are covered in the chemistry article; other Seaver departments such as environmental science and health and human sciences, and professional degrees such as medicine, nursing and pharmacy, are not covered here.

1. Degrees and how to apply

• Degrees (biology department “Academics” page): the department offers a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Biology. The page says the B.S. provides excellent preparation for graduate study or health professional programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, veterinary science and so on, and for careers in pharmaceutical sales, medical technology, environmental biology and physical therapy; the B.A. is designed for students who plan to enter careers in teaching, with a strong liberal arts core and room for education coursework during the undergraduate years. There is also a biology minor (lower-division requirements plus seven upper-division biology hours chosen under the chair’s direction) and a “Teaching High School Science” page, which is not covered here.
• The department’s aims: the page says the primary goal is to give students a strong background in the core fields of biology; majors develop critical and logical thought, acquire knowledge of the fundamental areas of biology, gain laboratory and field experience, and develop ethical decision-making. Its listed learning outcomes include knowledge of evolution, structure and function, information flow, energy and matter pathways, and the interconnections of biological systems; applying the scientific method; communicating biological concepts in writing and orally; field and laboratory skills; and computational and quantitative methods. The introductory biology sequence (BIOL 1010, 1110, 1020, 1120) introduces the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
• The majors’ detailed requirements: the course lists for the biology B.S. and B.A. are in the University’s bulletin, which is hosted on a third-party (CourseLeaf) platform and is not covered here; they are not published in the pages read, so see the bulletin.
• How to apply: through the Common Application with the LMU supplement. The first-year admissions page does not say whether you choose a major when applying, whether admission is by major or whether there is a major-specific cut-off; this is not published there. The transfer page says LMU advises transfer applicants by major (section 8). The admissions office expects students entering Seaver College to be ready for calculus in their first year (section 3).
• When and how to declare the major after enrolment: not stated in the pages read; contact the department office or an academic advisor.

2. Prerequisites, laboratories and research

• Recommended high school courses (admissions “First-Year Applicants” page): for engineering, science, computer science and mathematics applicants the page says to complete four years of mathematics and one year each of biology, chemistry and physics, and says students enrolling in Seaver College are expected to be prepared to take calculus in their first year. These are recommendations; the page does not make them requirements, and the admissions office also says there is no minimum GPA or test score. The general recommended courses are in section 3.
• AP/IB and credit: the international examinations page gives 8 semester units for each A Level science exam with a laboratory component and nothing for AS Levels; which LMU biology courses AP or IB credit replaces, and the prerequisites for the major, are in the bulletin and not published in the pages read; please ask Admissions or the department.
• Laboratory and field experience: the department page says the undergraduate program features intensive laboratory and field experience with close contact between students and faculty, that all faculty hold the Ph.D., and that small classes and close personal attention are strong features. The department home page says students take labs in the field and in the laboratory facilities, carry out independent research with faculty, and can be teaching assistants.
• Undergraduate research: the department page says research is a valuable part of undergraduate education; biology majors can gain research experience through faculty projects, summer programs and other research institutions, and more than one-third of graduates have conducted collaborative research with LMU faculty or faculty elsewhere; students have opportunities to present at local, regional and national conferences and have been co-authors on peer-reviewed publications. Faculty interests listed include carnivore feeding function and evolution (Binder), marine ecology and conservation (Bittick), migratory birds (Covino), mitochondrial protein import (Dabir), yeast gene regulatory networks and bioinformatics (Dahlquist), plant stress biology (Drennan), blood cell development in Drosophila (Evans), heart development (Ezin), plant-growth-promoting microbes (Fujishige), plant–microbe symbiosis (Lum), Drosophila gene regulation and science education (McElwain), urban ecosystems (Strauss), molecular genetics of gene expression (Urbinati) and applied ecology and invasions (Willette). The credit arrangements for research, summer programs and any honors thesis are not stated in the pages read.
• Student resources: the department’s student-resources page lists work study, TA applications, ways to get involved, societies and clubs, and research opportunities, with no detail on the page itself.
• Biology competitions: the pages read do not say how biology olympiads or similar competitions are viewed in admission.

3. Application rounds, deadlines and materials (fall 2027 entry)

• Rounds (admissions “First-Year Applicants” page): Early Decision I (binding) is due 1 November, with a decision in mid-December; Early Action (non-binding) is due 1 November, with a decision in mid- or late December (the page words it both ways) and a reply date of 1 May; Early Decision II (binding) is due 8 January, with a decision in mid-February; Regular Decision is due 15 January, with decisions in early March and, the page also says, normally by 1 April. Spring (January) entry is due 15 October. The pages show no year, so check that the dates apply to fall 2027 entry. The page’s two tables give different deposit dates for ED I (11 and 12 January) and ED II (15 and 16 March); the page contradicts itself, so rely on your admission letter.
• How to apply and the fee: the Common Application with the LMU supplement (as the international page states); the application fee is $75, with fee waivers requested through the application platform you use.
• Materials: the application; grades (entered in the application portal or an unofficial transcript uploaded; enrolling students must submit the official final high school transcript before school begins); and one letter of recommendation from an official at your school (a teacher letter and a counselor or principal letter are recommended, but only one is required). The website does not say the letter must come from a science teacher.
• Testing: the SAT/ACT is optional. The office says there is no minimum GPA or test score, but admission is selective, and no scholarship applicant is disadvantaged for not submitting scores.
• How applications are read: the academic record is the primary factor; the office also looks at writing ability, artistic and athletic accomplishments, work or service, co-curricular activities, recommendations, test scores (optional) and relationship to the University, and says it is looking for students who will contribute to the community.
• Recommended high school courses (first-year page): English 4 years, foreign language 3, mathematics 3, laboratory science 2, social sciences 3, academic electives 1. For applicants to engineering, science, computer science and mathematics the page adds: four years of mathematics and one year each of biology, chemistry and physics, and says students enrolling in the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering are expected to be prepared to take calculus in their first year.
• After admission: all first-year applicants are automatically considered for academic scholarships with no additional application. Some majors need auditions or portfolios; the page lists theatre arts and studio arts and names no additional requirement for biology.

4. US domestic applicants

• Costs (2026–2027, Financial Aid Office “Undergraduate Cost of Attendance” page): tuition and fees $68,939; average housing and food $23,602 (on campus); books and supplies $1,305; personal and miscellaneous $3,969; parking and transportation $1,386; federal loan fees $88; the page lists an on-campus estimated total of $99,289 (off campus $102,255; with parents or relatives $88,638). The page says these are estimates, not actual costs for each student, and does not distinguish California residents from other students in tuition.
• Scholarships: all first-year applicants are automatically considered for academic scholarships with no separate application, based on factors that may include GPA, rigor of the college-preparatory curriculum, class standing or test scores, and “no student will be disenfranchised for not submitting standardized test scores”; awards require full-time enrolment (12–18 units a semester), last at most eight semesters and mostly require a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (3.2 for the Leavey Family Foundation and University Hill Foundation scholarships). Athletic grants-in-aid are also offered, subject to NCAA and West Coast Conference eligibility.
• Aid applications and deadlines: the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application. FAFSA deadlines: ED I applicants 1 November; EA and ED II applicants 10 January; Regular Decision 1 February.
• Priority or guaranteed admission for California residents: not stated in the pages read.
• Testing policy: see section 3.

5. International applicants

• Materials (international “First-Year” page): the Common Application with the LMU supplement; international students are not required to submit the SAT or ACT, and strong candidates without them provide alternative assessments such as IB, AP, A Level or rigorous national examinations; SAT Subject Tests are not required; English-language transcripts from all secondary schools showing every school year in full, with certified English translations of any documents not in English; and one letter of recommendation from an official at the last or current school (preferably a counselor, teacher, principal or other administrator).
• English proficiency: only one of the following is needed: TOEFL (institution code 4403) with a minimum iBT score of 90 for exams taken before 21 January 2026 and 4.5 for exams after that date; IELTS 6.5; Duolingo English Test 120; or PTE Academic 56. Students in the IB Diploma Programme or taking A Level examinations do not need to submit English proficiency results.
• Interview: the University recommends an InitialView or Vericant interview for international applicants but does not require it; submitted interviews are reviewed as part of the holistic review.
• Proof of funds: after admission the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) issues the I-20; the page says non-US citizens or permanent residents must submit proof of finances totalling at least $71,000 to pay tuition and housing for one academic year, with all financial documents submitted through MyStatus.
• Scholarships: international students are eligible for merit-based scholarships based on academic achievement and test scores, with no separate application, ranging from $2,000 to $30,000 a year; the page says no need-based financial aid is available for international students.
• Credit: the international examinations page gives 6 semester units for each non-science A Level exam and 8 for each science exam with a laboratory component, and no credit for AS Levels; it also lists the German Abitur, French Baccalauréat, Italian Maturità and Swiss Maturity Certificate, and does not list the Chinese gaokao or school-leaving examinations. IB and AP credit are not stated in the pages read.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: neither the international first-year page nor the international examinations page mentions whether the gaokao is considered or how it is used; this is not published there. The international transfer page gives international@lmu.edu and +1.310.338.2750 as contacts.
• Transcripts and school documents: the website requires English-language transcripts from all secondary schools showing each school year in full, with certified English translations of documents not in English; whether there is a specific format for Chinese high school transcripts or school-leaving examinations is not stated.
• English and funds: follow the English requirements and proof of funds in section 5; there is no need-based aid for international students.

7. Outcomes and contact

• Outcomes (biology department pages): the academics page says the B.S. provides excellent preparation for graduate study or health professional programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry and veterinary science and for careers in pharmaceutical sales, medical technology, environmental biology and physical therapy; the home page says students are prepared for graduate or professional school studies or to enter the workforce. The pages print no employment numbers, further-study rates or salary data.
• Department-specific scholarships: not stated in the biology pages read; University scholarships are in sections 4, 5 and 8.
• Contact: the department’s contact page is not covered here; admissions is admission@lmu.edu and financial aid is finaid@lmu.edu.

8. Transfer students

• Deadlines (transfer page): priority deadline for fall 1 February, for spring 1 October. The pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry.
• GPA and units: minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 for all majors (the page gives the average incoming transfer GPA as 3.5); no minimum number of units; at least 12 transferable units a semester recommended. LMU advises transfer students by major, so course recommendations depend on the program you apply to and the LMU Core Curriculum.
• Recommended preparation for biology (transfer “recommended courses by major” page, Seaver College): to transfer as a “sophomore”: two semesters of introductory/general biology with laboratory (courses designated for biology majors, not general-education courses, covering cell structure and function, control systems, plant and animal tissues, organs and organ systems, evolution, ecology and biodiversity), two semesters of general chemistry with laboratory, and Calculus I and II. To transfer as a “junior”, in addition: one semester of introduction to cell and molecular biology, one semester of genetics (Mendelian and molecular), two semesters of organic chemistry with laboratory, and two semesters of general physics with laboratory (optional; can be taken after enrolling at LMU).
• Credit transfer: the transfer page says institutions with transfer agreements have course-comparison lists; a transfer course with no direct LMU equivalent is paired with an LMU course ending in -XX or -XXX, which may still fulfil degree and major requirements (check with your advisor and Dean’s Office), and courses that meet no specific requirement may count as electives. Official transfer course evaluations are completed only after admission. Students from quarter-system schools need three quarters of coursework to match two LMU semesters.
• English proficiency: English Composition at a US college or university (in class, grade C or better), or TOEFL iBT (minimum 90 for tests before 21 January 2026, 4.5 after), IELTS 6.5. For PTE and Duolingo the transfer page gives PTE 53 and Duolingo 110, while the international transfer page gives PTE 56 and Duolingo 120; the two pages disagree.
• International transfer students: the international transfer page requires official academic records from institutions recognised by the home country’s ministry or department of education, with certified English translations (notarised photocopies if originals are unavailable); LMU will not consider applicants who have attended more than two US colleges concurrently in one term.
• Scholarships: all enrolling transfer students are automatically considered for transfer academic scholarships, based on factors including GPA, for up to six semesters.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• EA / ED I 1 November, ED II 8 January, Regular 15 January; Common App; $75; one letter from a school official; SAT/ACT optional
• Recommended: four years of math and one each of biology, chemistry and physics, and readiness for calculus in the first year; FAFSA (or California Dream Act Application) by 1 November, 10 January or 1 February depending on the round

International applicants (including China):

• English scores (TOEFL 90 / 4.5 in the new format, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 120, PTE 56, or exempt with the IB Diploma / A Levels); English transcripts with certified translations; at least $71,000 proof of funds after admission; no need-based aid
• Gaokao use is not published; ask international@lmu.edu

After entry:

• Choose between the B.S. (graduate study and health professions) and the B.A. (teaching); see the bulletin for course lists; contact department faculty early if you want research

Transfer students:

• Priority deadlines 1 February (fall) and 1 October (spring); cumulative GPA of at least 3.00; prepare with two semesters of biology and two of general chemistry (with labs) and Calculus I and II; the official credit evaluation comes after admission

Sources: Seaver College: Biology; Biology: academics; Biology: research; Biology: student resources; Seaver College: apply; Admission: first-year applicants; International admission: first-year; International admission: transfer; International admission: advanced standing credit; Transfer admission: how to transfer; Transfer admission: recommended courses (Seaver College); Financial aid: undergraduate cost of attendance; Financial aid: scholarships. Most dates on the admission pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry; the cost page is labelled 2026–2027. Detailed course requirements are in the University’s bulletin, which was not read for this article.