UNC Wilmington

Transfer Guide

UNC Wilmington
Marine Biology, BS

Transfer Guide for Associate in Science

2024-2025

Delivery Method: On-Campus

Program Admission Notes:

Transfer Admission Requirements

Students who have graduated from high school or obtained a GED or adult high school diploma and enrolled in another postsecondary institution are considered transfer students. UNCW uses a holistic approach to review transfer student applications and will consider several aspects of an application in making an admission decision.

To be competitive for transfer admission, applicants must:

  • Meet UNC system high school minimum course requirements (or be exempt by being 21 years of age or older or having completed 24 hours of transferable undergraduate credits)
  • Have completed or be enrolled in 24 hours of transferable undergraduate credit hours

Transfer applicants are also recommended to have:

  • A minimum 2.4 college GPA or higher
  • Have completed or enrolled in college-level English and/or math.

Note: Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to a specific academic program. Some academic programs may require an additional application and have requirements that exceed those listed above.

Contact:

The Office of Admissions
admissions@uncw.edu

Revised: May, 2024

College Level Foreign Language Requirements:

University Studies requires a student to obtain proficiency through the 201-level (equivalent to foreign language 211 at NCCCs) in a language previously studied or the 102-level (equivalent to foreign language 112 at NCCCs) in a second foreign language not previously studied. Students will demonstrate proficiency by completing a course at the 201 level or higher in a language previously studied or at the 102-level in a second foreign language.If you graduated high school 7 or more years before you enrolled at UNCW, an exception applies to you. Then you only need to complete a language course at the 102 level (or higher).

Major-Specific Course Recommendations:

Students are encouraged to build the North Carolina Community College (NCCC) course recommendations below into the associate degree to best prepare for the intended university and major.

Recommended NCCC Course Credit
Hours		 University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled		 University Requirement Fulfilled
ENG 111: Writing and Inquiry 3 ENG 101: College Writing and Reading I English Composition Required Course, General Education
ENG 112: Writing/Research in the Disc 3 ENG 201: College Writing and Reading II English Composition Required Course, General Education
MAT 171: Precalculus Algebra 4 MAT 150: Basic Precalculus & MAT 001: Mathematics Elective UGETC Math Required Course, General Education
MAT 263: Brief Calculus 4 MAT 151: Basic Calculus I & MAT 001: Mathematics Elective UGETC Math Required Course
BIO 111: General Biology I 4 BIO 201: Principles of Biology: Cells UGETC Natural Sciences Required Course
BIO 112: General Biology II 4 BIO 202: Prin of Biology: Biodiversity UGETC Natural Sciences Required Course
Foreign Lang. 111: Elementary Level I 3 University Equivalencies Additional General Education Courses Required Course, General Education
Foreign Lang. 112: Elementary Level II 3 University Equivalencies Additional General Education Courses Required Course, General Education
CHM 151: General Chemistry I 4 CHM 101: General Chemistry I & CHML 101: General Chemistry Lab I Additional General Education Courses Required Course
PED 110: Fit and Well for Life 2 WPA 101: Wellness and Physical Activity Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course, General Education
CHM 152: General Chemistry II 4 CHM 102: General Chemistry II & CHML 102: General Chemistry Lab II Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
MAT 152: Statistical Methods I 4 STT 215: Introduction to Statistics & STT 001: Statistics Elective Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
PHY 151: College Physics I 4 PHY 101: Elementary College Physics I Elective/Pre-Major Courses Suggested Course

Remaining Associate Degree Requirements:

In addition to major-specific course recommendations above, students should work with a community college advisor to select additional community college courses to fulfill the remaining associate degree requirements identified below.

Recommended NCCC Course Credit
Hours		 University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled		 University Requirement Fulfilled
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 6 University Equivalencies UGETC Humanities/Fine Arts General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 6 University Equivalencies UGETC Social/Behavioral Sciences General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 1 University Equivalencies Additional General Education Courses Elective
ACA 122: College Transfer Success 1 UNI 001: University College Elective Academic Transition General Transfer Credit

Additional Information From UNC Wilmington:

Course requirements for all UNCW degrees include: (1) University Studies, (2) specific major requirements, and (3) sufficient elective hours for a combined total of a minimum of 120 hours.

This program is designed to meet the needs of marine biology majors who wish to pursue a career immediately after graduation yet flexible enough to enable preparation for graduate studies or for teaching and research careers.

  • A major in Marine Biology can be declared after completing 24 credit hours and BIO 201 and BIO 202, or equivalent courses, with a grade of ‘C’ (2.00) or better in both courses. 
  • BIO 201 and 202 are the prerequisite course for all biology courses numbered 300 and above.
  • Students planning on attending graduate school should seek out information about the schools of their choice to ensure that they are meeting both the course and extracurricular requirements.

Remaining Bachelor’s Degree Requirements at University:

University Course Credit
Hours		 University Course Notes
BIO Electives 17-25

chosen from courses numbered above BIO 299 and not used to satisfy other requirements. CHM 211, CHML 211, PHY 101*, PHY102 and/or MAT 151* will also count towards biology electives. 

>500 level courses may be chosen with permission of the instructor. No more than 10 hours may be counted from BIO 480, 491 (6 hr. max), 493 (3 hr. max), 498 (3 hr. max), and 499 (6 hr. max).

*if not transferred from CC
BIO 205: Biology of the Sea 3
Marine Biology Exploration 3
  • BIO 206 - Marine Megafauna (3)
  • BIO 207 - Coastal Habitats and the Organisms They Support (3)
  • BIO 208 - Oceans and the Challenges They Face (3)
BIO 335: Genetics 3
BIO 335L 1
Physiology 4

• BIO 325/BIOL 325 Molecular Biology of the Cell - with lab (3) (1) • BIO 340 Plant Physiology - with lab (4) • BIO 345/BIOL 345 Animal Physiology - with lab (3) (1)
Ecology 4
  • BIO 362/BIOL 362 Marine Ecology - with lab (3) (1)
  • BIO 366/BIOL 366 Ecology - with lab (3) (1)
BIO 495: Senior Seminar 1

Prereq: Senior standing
Organismal Biology 6

Organismal Biology, must chose two of the following bullets 6 credits total (NOTE: only 3 credit lecture counts toward this requirement; lab credit will count toward elective total):

  • BIO 313 Marine Phycology – with lab (3) (1)
  • BIO 318 Invertebrate Zoology - with lab (3) (1)
  • BIO 330 Microbiology (3) (1)
  • BIO 358 Marine Mammals (3)
  • BIO 412 Marine Botany - with lab (3) (1)
  • BIO 456 Ornithology (3) – with lab (1)
  • BIO 457 Ichthyology (3) (1)
Marine Bio Applied Learning Experience 3

Choose one of the following:

  • BIO 490 Practicum in Marine Biology (3)
  • BIO 492 Directed Individual Study in Marine Biology (3)
  • BIO 498 Internship (1-3)
  • BIO 499 Honors Research (1-3)