BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE
College: Arts and Sciences
Degree: B. S. or B. A.
Limited Access: NO
Contacts: Robert Reeves, Jeff Badger, Delmar Little
Address: 1067 Life Science, FSU
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1100
Phone: (850) 644-3099
E-Mail: advisor@bio.fsu.edu

Description of Major
The Department of Biological Science offers an undergraduate major in Biological Science. Specific academic tracks (elective courses) are available in several subspecialty areas including cell and molecular biology; ecology, evolution and environmental science; marine biology; physiology and neuroscience; plant sciences; pre-professional health science; and zoology. The pre-professional health sciences academic track meets most requirements for admission to medicine, veterinary medicine, optometry, dentistry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and physician’s assistance programs. A Certificate in Living Marine Resource Ecology is available to juniors and seniors selected for the program.

Prerequisite Coursework:
The following are required in preparation for the upper division major. Contact the department for information on acceptable substitutes.  All may also apply toward Liberal Studies, major and/or collateral requirements.
BSC X010, X010L (3, 1) Biological Science I and Lab
BSC X011, X011L (3, 2) Biological Science II and Lab
CHM X045, X045L (3,1) General Chemistry I and Lab
CHM X046, X046L (4,1) General Chemistry II and Lab
CHM X210, X210L (3, 1) Organic Chemistry I and Lab or acceptable substitute
CHM X211, X211L (3, 1-3) Organic Chemistry II and Lab or acceptable substitute
MAC X311 (4) Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
MAC X312 (4) Calculus with Analytic Geometry II
Other courses might serve as acceptable alternatives to these common program prerequisites.  Please see http://www.facts.org/cgi-bin/eaglec for a current list of approved substitutes.

Requirements for graduation in the College of Arts and Sciences include: a minimum of six hours each in written communication, humanities, and natural science, and three hours each in history and mathematics. These should be completed as part of the general education/Liberal Studies program. In addition, students must be proficient in a foreign language through the intermediate (2220 or equivalent) level or sign language through the advanced (2614 or equivalent) level.

Admission Requirements to Major Program of Studies
Admission to the program requires the following:
1) completion of at least 52 hours of acceptable college courses with an overall GPA of at least 2.0, to include at least half of the Liberal Studies requirements (Freshman English Composition, the math and science requirements),
2) satisfactory completion (C- or higher) or core courses including BSC 2010, 2010L, BSC 2011, 2011L, CHM 1045 and 1046 with labs, or their equivalents (NOTE: Registration in upper division biological science courses will not be permitted until these core courses are satisfactorily completed.),
3) a minimum combined 2.0 GPA (no forgiveness) in all biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and statistics courses,
4) no more than five grades below a “C-“ in courses (and their prerequisites) that are required for the major; and 5) a preliminary meeting with an Undergraduate Biological Sciences Advisor to discuss program requirements.

Mapping
Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system.  Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion.  Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors.   You may view the map for this major at
www.academic-guide.fsu.edu.

Major Program of Studies at FSU:  38 hours
The biological science major requires the following:  1) Completion of a minimum of 38 hours of biological science courses, with grades of C- or higher. At least 20 of the 38 hours must be taken at FSU.  2) Completion of a minimum of 5 biological science lab or field courses (L or C after the course number) with grades of “C-“ or higher.  3) Completion of collateral courses in chemistry, math, and physics with a grade of C- or higher.  4) A minimum combined 2.0 GPA (no forgiveness) in all courses required for the major, including collaterals, taken at FSU or elsewhere, is required for graduation with a degree in biological science. NOTE: a student who has earned more than five unsatisfactory grades (U, F, D-, D, or D+) in courses required for the major (includes all biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and statistics courses), at FSU or elsewhere, whether repeated or not, will not be permitted to graduate with a degree in biological science.
Required Lower Division Biological Sciences Courses (9 hours)
BSC 2010 (3) Biological Science I
BSC 2010L (1) Biological Science I Lab
BSC 2011 (3) Biological Science II
BSC 2011L (2) Biological Science II Lab
Required Upper Division Biological Sciences Courses (10 hours)
PCB 3063 (3) Genetics
BOT 3015 (2) Plant Science
BSC 3402L (2) Experimental Biology Lab
PCB 4674 (3) Evolution
Area Requirements (6-9 hours).  Two courses representing two different areas:
Area I: Cell and Molecular Biology
MCB 4403, 4403L (3, 2) Prokaryotic Biology
PCB 3134 (3) Cell Structure & Function
PCB 4253 (3) Animal Development
PCB 4024 (3) Molecular Biology
Area II: Physiology
BOT 4503 (3) Plant Physiology
PCB 3743 (3) Vertebrate Physiology
PCB 4723 (3) General & Comparative Animal Physiology
Area III: Ecology and Environmental Sciences
BSC 3052 (3) Conservation Biology
PCB 3043 (3) Ecology
ZOO 4513 (4) Animal Behavior
Additional elective courses in biological science at the 3000-4000 level to complete the 38 hour requirement. Consult advisor. NOTE: A maximum of 6 hours of honors work, 6 hours of DIS or research methods, 2 hours of senior tutorial, and 1 hour of supervised teaching can be used to meet the 38 hour biological science coursework requirement.

Collateral Courses:  31-36 hours
These courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies and minor requirements or taken in addition to them. Chemistry and Calculus or Statistics coursework should be completed by the end of the student’s sophomore year.
Chemistry (14 hours):
CHM 1045, 1045L (3,1) General Chemistry I with Lab
CHM 1046, 1046L (3,1) General Chemistry II with Lab
CHM 2210 (3) Organic Chemistry I
CHM 2211 (3) Organic Chemistry II
Note: CHM 2211L (3) Organic Chemistry II Lab may be required for students in the preprofessional health science track.
Physics, one of the following series (8-10 hours):
PHY 2053C, 2054C (4, 4) College Physics A and B, or
PHY 2048C, 2049C (5, 5) General Physics A and B
Mathematics, one of the following series (9 hours):
MAC 2311, 2312 (4, 4) Calculus with Analytic Geometry I and II and MAP 2480 (1) Biocalculus Computer Lab, or
MAC 2311 (4), MAP2480 (1), and STA 2171 (4) Statistics for Biology (contact the department for possible statistics substitute)

Minor Requirements: The required collateral courses in chemistry constitute a minor; however the student may select other minors in consultation with an advisor.

Computer Skills Competency:  BSC 2010L (1).

Oral Communication Competency:  0-3 hours
Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly.  This requirement may be met through appropriate high school speech training or with an approved college-level course.

Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Total Hrs. Required 120
Liberal Studies 36*
Prerequisites – All prerequisite coursework is counted in major/collateral totals
Major Coursework 38
Collateral Coursework 31-36
Minor Coursework 0* (none beyond collateral)
Foreign Language 0-12 (depending on placement)
Computer Skills 0 beyond major
Oral Communication Competency 0-3
Electives to bring total hours to 120
*Some coursework required for the major may also be applied towards Liberal Studies and/or minor requirements.

Remarks:
1. 60 hours must be earned at a senior institution.
2. The final 30 hours must be in residence at FSU.
3. A minimum of 40 hours must be earned at the 3000/4000 (junior/senior) level.
4. The B. A. Degree requires an additional 9 hours in the fields of history and humanities beyond Liberal Studies.
5. At least 20 of the 38 hours required in Biological Science Courses must be taken at FSU.

Employment Information
Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: All Health Professions, Biological Scientist, Biotechnologist, Biostatistician, Microbiologist, Epidemiologist, Molecular Biologist, Marine Biologist, Forensic Biologist, Botanist/Zoologist, Research Biologist, Fisheries Biologist, Geneticist, Wildlife Ecologist, Bio-Informatics Specialist, Environmental Scientist, Scientific Illustrator, Environmental Attorney, Science Writer, Environmental Resource Manager, Teacher: University, Community College, High School.

Representative Employers: Educational Institutions, Consulting Firms, Research Institutions, Law Offices, Biotechnology Companies, Publishers, Biomedical Products Manufacturers, Hospitals and Clinics, Medical Laboratories, Museums, Zoos, Aquaria, Botanical Gardens, Federal and State Agencies involved in agriculture, commerce, defense, diplomacy, education, environmental protection, intelligence, law enforcement, public health.