Biology BA

The BA program is designed to arm students with a broad knowledge of the field of biology with emphasis on understanding interactions between organisms and their environments, incorporating biomedical and evolutionary perspectives. Learning is approached as a student-centered, hands-on collaboration between students and faculty.

Research

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

Internships

Students can further develop their scientific knowledge and skills and get experience in a chosen career through internships with our community partners.

Student Engagement

We have many ways for students to engage in the department, university, and community with more than 15 clubs and organizations.

Department Contacts

Croshaw, Dean

Program Coordinator/Professor, Evolutionary Biology

WH 0250

239-590-7428

dcroshaw@fgcu.edu

Genetics, Evolution, Behavioral Ecology, Molecular Methods

Bravo, Gissela

Administrative Specialist II, Biological Sciences

WH 0245

239-590-7153

gbravo@fgcu.edu

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.
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
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
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 BA 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.
Content/discipline knowledge and skills are assessed at the college and departmental levels through exams and problems sets completed in the following required 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; and 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, organizing and evaluating 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 and purpose.
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 proposals and application of technical aspects of research or field studies completed in the following course: ISC 3120 Scientific Process; and 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 hypotheses, synthesize scientific information, gather and analyze data, and conduct appropriate statistical analyses.
2. Approach and solve biological problems by engaging effective critical thinking skills in both individual and group settings.
3. Identify scientific, qualitative, and quantitative assumptions and underlying relationships.
4. Synthesize 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; and 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.