Biology Accelerated BS

The Biology BS - Accelerated program offers an exciting opportunity to students who desire a career in pharmacy.

Research

Faculty & Students collaborate in real world scientific research and scholarship.

Careers

The need for medical professionals and researchers are in high demand.

Student Engagement

Students engage with the Department, University, & our community for outreach and service learning.

The Department of Biological Sciences offers an exciting opportunity to Florida Gulf Coast University students who seek a career in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy or dental medicine. By agreement between the Florida Gulf Coast University, College of Arts and Sciences and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, FGCU offers an opportunity for students to pursue a career in medicine or pharmacy in an accelerated or traditional program of study and dentistry in a traditional program of study. Qualified students with successful application into our Medical Education Program, pursue the Bachelor of Science in Biology degree at FGCU. Students who complete all program requirements can earn their baccalaureate degree and their DO or Pharm. D. degree after a minimum of seven years of study provided they continue to meet all program requirements and their baccalaureate degree and their DMD after eight years of study. The Bachelor of Science degree is conferred by FGCU after the first year of professional school.

The program provides students with a sound and rigorous baccalaureate foundation that includes an interdisciplinary curriculum in the chemical, mathematical, and physical sciences as well as a broad basis in the biological sciences preparing students for a professional curriculum. Students are provided opportunities to work closely with FGCU and LECOM faculty and are mentored in the application process, research, MCAT, PCAT, and DAT preparation, volunteering, and curriculum advising.

Students in the DO and PharmD programs fulfill requirements as set forth by FGCU for their first three years (90 credit hours) of coursework. If progression requirements are maintained, students are eligible for admission to Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Upon successful completion of the first year of the LECOM osteopathic medicine or pharmacy curriculums, 30 credits are awarded by FGCU for completion and conferral of the B.S. in Biology. Students then continue with their medical education at LECOM. In addition, we have an early acceptance program agreement with LECOM for Dental School to earn your DMD, Doctor of Dental Medicine. Students earn a BS Biology degree at FGCU and have early acceptance into the LECOM School of Dentistry.

Contact:

Lee, Kerry

Coordinator/Associate Professor, Cellular Biology & Histology

WH 0201

239-590-7566

kerlee@fgcu.edu

Human pathology, nanoparticle technology, and nanomedicines

Accreditation
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Admissions Information
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Admissions Information for the 2024-2025 Catalog Year
If you are not yet an FGCU student, visit the Admissions Office Website
If you are a newly-admitted FGCU student please be sure to sign up for an Eagle View Orientation session. As part of this session you will be meeting with an academic advisor who will assist you in registering for classes for your major.
Program Admission Requirements
- Submit an FGCU Undergraduate Admission Application and satisfy all applicable university admission requirements
- Submit a LECOM Early Acceptance Program (EAP) Application and satisfy all applicable LECOM EAP admission requirements
- Attend an orientation session
- Receive a Provisional Letter of Acceptance document from LECOM stating the requirements for progression in the EAP
Admission Deadlines
Visit the Admissions Office Web site for information on admission deadlines of the university.
Program Requirements
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Program Requirements for the 2024-2025 Catalog Year
The General Education Program Website is located at https://www.fgcu.edu/academics/undergraduatestudies/generaleducation/
Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements
Progression in the Biology-Accelerated major requires a provisional letter of acceptance (i.e., a reserved seat) to one of LECOM’s professional schools no later than the start of the third (junior) year at FGCU. Upon matriculation at LECOM, a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Students must provide FGCU with an official LECOM transcript demonstrating successful completion of the first year (30 credits) of the LECOM osteopathic medicine or pharmacy curriculums. Contact Dr. Kerry J. Lee for additional information about LECOM progression and graduation requirements.

For timely degree completion, students must complete all program milestones. The following actions occur when milestones are missed: first occurrence—advising hold and counseling regarding progression requirements; second occurrence—counseling and change to a major outside of the Department of Biology or Department of Chemistry and Physics that is more appropriate to student goals and academic performance. Appeals are handled through the relevant department. The decision of the appeal committee is final. Program milestones include the following:
- BSC 1010C or BSC 1011/1011L minimum grade of C completed one calendar year from admission as first time in college (FTIC) or 30 credits earned, whichever is earlier.
- BSC 1010C and BSC 1011/1011L minimum grade of C completed by end of fourth semester (including summers) from admission as FTIC or 45 credits earned, whichever is earlier.
- PCB 3023C, PCB 3043C or PCB 3063C minimum grade of C completed by end of sixth semester (including summers) from admission as FTIC or 60 credits earned, whichever is earlier.
Transfer students may declare the major after they have completed BSC 1010C, BSC 1011, and BSC 1011L with grades of C or better in each course. Transfer students must complete PCB 3023C, PCB 3043C or PCB 3063C with a grade of C or better within three semesters (including summer) of declaring the major.

In addition to the program requirements, students must:
- Complete a minimum of 120 credits.
- Complete a minimum of 48 of the 120 credits at the upper division (3000 - 4999 level).
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all coursework attempted at FGCU.
- Satisfy the College-Level Skills and foreign language entrance requirements.
- Satisfy the Service-Learning requirement.
- Satisfy the Civic Literacy Requirement.
- Satisfy the residency requirement: 30 of the last 60 credits must be completed at FGCU.
- Complete the summer course enrollment requirement.
- Submit an Application for Graduation by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
Program Requirements
1. FGCU General Education Program (https://www.fgcu.edu/academics/undergraduatestudies/generaleducation/)
  
  To prevent or minimize excess hours, select general education courses that satisfy common prerequisite requirements for your intended major.
2. Common Prerequisites
  For this major, common prerequisite courses with an asterisk (*) require prior knowledge and skills demonstrated through degree acceleration programs (e.g., the College Board's Advanced Placement Program [AP], International Baccalaureate Program [IB], College-Level Examination Program [CLEP], Advanced International Certificate of Education Program [AICE]); dual enrollment; placement exam; or college coursework.
  
  FGCU Course: BSC 1010C Gen’l Biology w/Lab I (4) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: (BSCX010 and BSCX010L) or BSCX010C or BSCX040C
  
  FGCU Course: BSC 1011 General Biology II (3) and BSC 1011L General Biology II Laboratory (1) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: (BSCX011 and BSCX011L) or BSCX011C or BSCX041C
  
  FGCU Course: *CHM 1045 General Chemistry I (3) and CHM 1045L General Chemistry I Lab (1) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: (CHMX045 and CHMX045L) or CHM045C or (CHMX040 and CHMX041)
  [Prerequisites of MAT 1033 minimum grade of C then MAC 1105 minimum grade of C; or relevant accelerated credit; or placement exam]
  
  FGCU Course: CHM 1046 General Chemistry II (3) and CHM 1046L General Chemistry II Lab (1) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: (CHMX046 and CHMX046L) or CHMX046C
  
  FGCU Course: CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry I (3) and CHM 2210L Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (1) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: (CHMX210 and CHMX210L) or CHMX210C or (PHYX053 and PHYX053L) or (PHYX048 and PHYX048L)
  
  FGCU Course: CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry II (3) and CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (1) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: (CHMX211 and CHMX211L) or CHMX211C or (PHYX054 and PHYX054L) or (PHYX049 and PHYX049L)
  
  FGCU Course: *MAC 2311 Calculus I (4) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: MACX311 or MACX233 or MACX253 or MACX281 or MACX241
  [Prerequisites of MAT 1033 minimum grade of C then MAC 1105 minimum grade of C then MAC 1147 minimum grade of C; or relevant accelerated credit; or placement exam]
  
  FGCU Course: MAC 2312 Calculus II (4) Minimum grade of C
  Acceptable Substitute: MACX312 or MACX282 or MACX234 or STAX023 or STAX024 or STAX321
3. Required Courses in the Major (57 credits)
  A minimum grade of C is required in each course
  
  BCH 3023C Biochemistry (3)
  BSC 1930L Seminar in Medicine I (1)*
  BSC 4910C Senior Project I: Research (2)
  BSC 4911 Sr Project II: Presentation (1)
  MCB 3020C General Microbiology (4)
  PCB 3063C Genetics (4)
  PCB 3703C Human Physiology (4)
  PHY 2048C General Physics w/Lab I or PHY 2053C College Physics w/Lab I (4)**
  PHY 2049C Gen'l Physics w/Lab II or PHY 2054C College Physics w/Lab II (4)**
  
  Plus satisfactory completion of the first year of medical or pharmacy school at LECOM.
  
  *BSC 2930L and BSC 3930L are strongly recommended as electives.
  
  **If PHY 2048C and PHY 2049C or PHY 2053C and PHY 2054C were completed as common prerequisites, CHM 2210C and CHM 2211C must be taken to fulfill the core requirements; conversely, if CHM 2210C and CHM 2211C were taken to fulfill common prerequisites, PHY 2048C and PHY 2049C or PHY 2053C and PHY 2054C must be completed.
4. University Requirements (3 credits)
  Select one of the following:
  IDS 3920 University Colloquium (3)
  Or at least 3 credits in sustainability coursework (SCGR Attribute)
5. Additional Electives - as needed to reach total credits required for the degree
Total Credits Required: 120
Degree Map
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Degree Maps are to be used as a general guideline for students. Some students scheduling needs may vary based upon completed courses and transfer credits. Please see your advisor for assistance and verification.

2024-2025 Biology BS Accelerated Program Degree Map

Additional Graduation Requirements include:
- A minimum of 120 credit hours.
- A minimum of 48 of the 120 hours must be at the upper division (3000 - 4999) level.
- A cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all coursework attempted at FGCU.
- A minimum grade of C for each course used to satisfy the following categories: common prerequisites, required courses in the major, and courses in the concentration.
- Satisfaction of the College-Level Skills and foreign language entrance requirements.
- Satisfaction of the Service Learning requirement (See www.fgcu.edu/connect).
- Satisfaction of the residency requirement: thirty of the last sixty credits must be completed at FGCU.
- Completion of the summer course enrollment requirement.
- Submit an online Application for Graduation via Gulfline by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
Transfer Notes and Acceptable Substitutes

For All Majors: Students are strongly recommended to select required lower division electives that will enhance their General Education coursework and that will support their intended baccalaureate degree program. Students should consult with an academic advisor in their major degree area.
Course Description
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Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search
Course Schedule
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Getting Started With the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.
*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)
Learning Outcomes
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Academic Learning Compact

Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to academic excellence and continuous quality improvement, as supported by a sound teaching-learning process. Within this process, students and instructors share responsibility for learning that is a movement from the simple to the complex, the concrete to the abstract, and the dependent to the independent. The Academic Learning Compact (ALC) initiative supports the teaching-learning process by clearly identifying expected core student learning outcomes in the areas of content/discipline knowledge and skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills; aligning curricula with expectations; and using assessment to guide continuous improvement.

Content/Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of biological systems from the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecosystem perspectives.
2. Apply ethical practices and behavior in all aspects of biological scientific endeavors.
3. Approach and solve biological problems critically with scientific literacy in both individual and group settings.
Content/discipline knowledge and skills are assessed at the college and departmental levels through:
- Exams, laboratory assignments, projects and presentations completed in one or more of the following courses: BSC 1010 General Biology with Lab I, BSC 1011 General Biology with Lab II, PCB 3063 Genetics, and PCB 3023 Cell Biology as well as PCB 3043 General Ecology, PCB 3673 Evolutionary Biology, or ZOO 3713 Vertebrate Form and Function.
- Laboratory or field studies and techniques completed in the following required course: BSC 4910 Senior Project - Research in Biology.
Communication Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Effectively communicate using appropriate scientific terminology as individuals and as team members by listening, speaking, and writing.
2. Approach and solve biological problems by using appropriate scientific literature including organizing, evaluating and synthesizing information.
3. Employ the conventions of standard written English appropriate for a scientific audience.
4. Select and develop a scientific topic that is appropriate for a scientific audience.
5. Select, organize, and relate scientific ideas and information with coherence, clarity, and unity.
Communication Skills are assessed at the college and departmental levels through:
- Written proposal and application of technical aspects of research or field studies completed in the following course: ISC 3120 Scientific Process.
- Written or oral research presentations completed in the following course: BSC 4911 Senior Project - Presentation in Biology.
Critical Thinking Skills
Graduates will be able to:
1. Engage in the scientific process to form hypothesis, synthesize scientific information, gather and analyze data, apply statistical techniques.
2. Identify scientific, qualitative, and quantitative assumptions and underlying relationships.
3. Synthesize scientific information, and draw scientifically valid inferences.
Critical Thinking Skills are assessed at the college and departmental levels through:
- Laboratory or field studies and techniques completed in the following required course: BSC 4910 Senior Project Research in Biology.
- Written proposal and application of technical aspects of research or field studies completed in the following course: ISC 3120 Scientific Process.
- Written or oral research presentations completed in the following course: BSC 4911 Senior Project - Presentation in Biology.
Tuition, Fees, and Financial Assistance
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Tuition and Fees

Information on Tuition, Fees and estimated total Cost of Attendance is available on the Office of the Bursar web site.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Visit FGCU's Financial Aid Web site for information about grants, additional scholarships, loans, and student employment.