The online biology major prepares undergraduates for careers in the biological sciences, advanced study in graduate schools, productive citizenship and leadership and lifelong learning. The program is comprehensive and flexible, emphasizing the diverse forms, processes, and systems of life. Students in the program complete required and elective courses that promote critical thinking through the investigation and understanding of principles and unifying themes that govern living systems. The biology major offers a broader approach to biology than is available through a major in botany, zoology or other specialized biological sciences majors.
Critical TrackingRecommended Semester Plan
Overview
The biology major develops fundamental knowledge of animals, plants and microorganisms. The Bachelor of Arts in biology is a flexible degree that is best suited for students interested in a career in education, the allied health professions and interdisciplinary fields such as environmental or biotechnology law, science journalism, and bioscience management. This degree is not recommended for students seeking admission into professional schools such as medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine. Please contact an academic advisor for more information.
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Coursework for the Major
All coursework for the major must be completed with minimum grades of C.
Required Foundation Coursework
- General Biology: BSC 2010/2010L and BSC 2011/2011L, 8 credits
- Chemistry: CHM 1030 and 1031, 6 credits -or-
CHM 2045/2045L and CHM 2046/2046L, 8 credits
- Mathematics: MAC 1147, 4 credits -or- MAC 1114 and MAC 1140, 5 credits -or- higher math course
- Physics: PHY 2004/2004L and PHY 2005/2005L, 8 credits -or-
PHY2048/2048L and PHY2049/2049L, 8 credits -or-
PHY 2053/2053L and PHY 2054/2054L, 10 credits
- Statistics: STA 2023, 3 credits
Required Core Coursework
This major requires a minimum of 30 credits in core courses. Any additional credits remaining after completion of the required core coursework must be met by taking courses from the approved B.A. electives in the biological sciences.
- Biology Distribution Courses - Complete at least one course from three of these four groups:
- Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Genetics: AGR 3303, BCH 3023 *, PCB 3023, PCB 3063, PCB 3134, PCB 4522 or PCB 4553, 3-4 credits
- Organismal Biology: BOT 3503 and 3503L *, BSC 3096, MCB 2000 and MCB 2000L, MCB 3020 and 3020L *, PCB 3134 *, PCB 3713C *, PCB 4712 *, PCB 4723C *, ZOO 3603C or ZOO 3713C, 3-5 credits
- Ecology: BSC 3307C, PCB 3601C or PCB 4043C, 3-4 credits
- Evolution and Diversity: BOT 2011C, BOT 2710C, BOT 3151C, PCB 4674 *, ZOO 3513C, ZOO 4205C or ZOO 4307C, 3-4 credits
- B.A. Electives: 15 credits minimum of additional biology distribution courses or approved additional biological science courses
- Capstone: BSC 4936 Critical Analysis of Biological Research, 2 credits
* Course has specific prerequisites; students should consult the course description when planning their programs to ensure they may select this course.
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Critical Tracking
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements. For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- Complete one of the following: BSC 2010/2010L; or CHM 1025 or CHM 1030 or CHM 2045/2045L; or MAC 1147 or equivalent or higher math course
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete CHM 1030 or CHM 2045/2045L and one of the following: BSC 2010/2010L or MAC 1147 or equivalent or higher MAC course
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete BSC 2010/2010L and MAC 1147 or equivalent or higher MAC course
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete CHM 1031 or CHM 2046/2046L; BSC 2011/2011L; and MAC 1147 or equivalent or higher MAC course with a 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete at least one biology distribution course
- 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
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Recommended Semester Plan
Students are expected to complete the writing requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
CHM 1030 Basic Chemistry Concepts and Applications 1 (3) or
CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
3-4 |
| IUF 1000 What is the Good Life (GE-H) |
3 |
| MAC 1147 Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry (State Core GE-M) |
4 |
| Composition (State Core GE-C) |
3 |
| Total |
13-14 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
CHM 1031 Basic Chemistry Concepts and Applications 2 (3) or
CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (1) |
3-4 |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (3) (GE-M) |
3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) |
3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (State Core GE-S) |
3 |
| Elective |
4 |
| Total |
16-17 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
| BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1) (State Core GE-B) |
4 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) |
3 |
| Foreign Language |
5 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
| BSC 2011 and 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) |
4 |
| Humanities (State Core GE-H) |
3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) |
3 |
| Foreign Language |
5 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
PHY 2004 Applied Physics 1 (3) and PHY 2004L Applied Physics 1 Laboratory (1) or
PHY 2053 Physics 1 (4) and PHY 2053L Physics Laboratory (1) |
4-5 |
| Biology distribution courses, two |
6 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Total |
16-17 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
PHY 2005 Applied Physics 2 (3) PHY 2005L Applied Physics 2 Laboratory (1) or
PHY 2054 Physics 1 (4) and PHY 2054L Physics Laboratory (1) |
4-5 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Biology distribution course |
3 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Total |
16-17 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| Biology electives (see list below) |
9 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) |
6 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| BSC 4936 Critical Analysis of Biological Research |
2 |
| Biology electives (see list below) |
6 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) |
6 |
| Total |
14 |
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B.A. Electives in the Biological Sciences
| Course |
Credits |
Prerequisites and Requirements |
|---|
| ANT 3513 Human Evolutionary Anatomy |
3 |
Prereq: TBD |
| ANT 3930 The Primates |
3 |
Prereq: TBD |
| ANT 3520 Skeletal Keys |
3 |
Prereq: TBD |
| ENY 3005 and 3005L Principles of Entomology and Laboratory |
2 + 1 |
Lecture and lab must be completed together |
| ENY 3007C Life Science |
3 |
None |
| ENY 4660 and 4660L Medical and Veterinary Entomology and Laboratory |
2 + 1 |
Prereq: ENY 3005 and 3005L; Lecture and lab must be completed together |
| NEM 3002 Principles of Nematology |
3 |
Prereq: None |
| PCB 3023 Essential Cell Biology |
3 |
Prereq: BSC 2011 and 2011L with minimum grades of C |
| PCB 3063 Genetics |
4 |
Prereq: BSC 2011 and BSC 2011L, or equivalent, with minimum grades of C and general chemistry |
| PCB 4043C General Ecology |
4 |
Prereq: BSC 2011 and 2011L with minimum grades of C |
| PCB 4674 Evolution |
4 |
Prereq: BSC 2011 and 2011L with minimum grades of C |
| PCB 4723C Physiology and Molecular Biology of Animals |
5 |
Prereq: BSC 2011 and (CHM 2046 or CHM 2047) and (PHY 2048 or PHY 2053 or PHY 2060), all with minimum grades of C; PCB 3063 and PCB 4674 are also recommended |
| ZOO 3713C Functional Vertebrate Anatomy |
4 |
Prereq: BSC 2011 and 2011L with minimum grades of C |
| ZOO 4232 Human Parasitology |
3 |
Prereq: BSC 2010 and 2010L |
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