Biology BS
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The B.S. in Biology provides a strong foundation in the biological sciences and includes a solid background in chemistry, math, and physics. Graduates are prepared for both immediate entry into the job market or continuing education in professional and graduate programs. The B.S. degree includes three concentrations: Microbiology, Organismal Biology & Ecology, and Pre-Professional Biology. The concentrations share a common core of required biology courses, with each concentration having additional specific requirements. Each concentration requires an individualized research and presentation experience that emphasizes development of communication and critical thinking skills. 4 year plan to graduation Marine Biology4 year plan to graduation Microbiology 4 year plan to graduation organismal 4 year plan to graduation Pre-professional |
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
Concentrations
- Marine Biology Concentration
- Microbiology Concentration
- Organismal Biology and Ecology Concentration
- Pre-Professional Biology Concentration
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Accreditation
Toggle More InfoInstitutional Accreditation
Information on FGCU institutional accreditation is available at www.fgcu.edu/accreditation
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Admissions Information
Toggle More InfoAdmissions 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.
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Program Requirements
Toggle More InfoProgram 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
- 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. - 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 Laboratory (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) or *STA 2023 Statistical Methods (3) Minimum grade of C
Acceptable Substitute: MACX312 or MACX282 or MACX234 or STAX023 or STAX024 or STAX321
[For STA 2023 Prerequisites of MAT 1033 minimum grade of C; or relevant accelerated credit; or placement exam] - Required Courses in the Major (25 credits)
A minimum grade of C is required in each course
BSC 4910C Senior Project I: Research (2)
BSC 4911 Sr Project II: Presentation (1)
IDS 3300 Foundations of Civic Engagement (3)
PCB 3023C Cell Biology (4)
PCB 3043C General Ecology (3)
PCB 3063C Genetics (4)
PHY 2048 General Physics I (3) and PHY 2048L General Physics I Laboratory (1)*+
PHY 2049 General Physics II (3) and PHY 2049L General Physics II Laboratory (1)*++
+ or PHY 2053 College Physics I (3) and PHY 2053L College Physics I Laboratory (1)*
++ or PHY 2054 College Physics II (3) and PHY 2054L College Physics II Laboratory (1)*
*If General Physics or College Physics sequences were completed as common prerequisites, Organic Chemistry sequences must be taken to fulfill the required courses in the major; conversely, if Organic Chemistry sequences were taken to fulfill common prerequisites, General Physics or College Physics must be completed. - Restricted Electives in the Major (10 credits)
A minimum grade of C is required in each course
Complete 10 credits from the following:
ANS 3440 Animal Nutrition (3)
ANT 3586C Human Evolution (3)
BCH 3023C Biochemistry (3)
BCH 3025C Analytical Biochemistry (3)
BOT 3015C The Lives of Plants and Algae (3)
BOT 3153C Flora of Southwestern Florida (3)
BOT 3712C Plant Systematics & Evolution (3)
BOT 4503C Plant Physiology (3)
BSC 1930L Seminar in Medicine I (1)
BSC 2930L Seminar in Medicine II (1)
BSC 3303 Biogeography (3)
BSC 3367C Tropical Island Biology (3)
BSC 4052 Conservation Biology (3)
BSC 4312 Marine Biology (3)
BSC 4422C Methods in Biotechnology (3)
BSC 4900 Dir Ind Study/Research in Bio (1-3)**
BSC 4930 Special Topics in Biology (2-4)
BSC 4933 Current Topics in Biology (1)***
BSC 4940 Internship in Biology (0-3)** (must be approved by dept. chair)
ENY 4701C Forensic Entomology (3)
EVR 4920 Current Topics Environ Studies (1)***
ISC 3120C Scientific Process (3)
MAC 2312 Calculus II (4)****
MCB 3020C General Microbiology (4)
MCB 3652C Environmental Microbiology (3)
MCB 4203C Pathogenic Microbiology (3)
MCB 4223C Food Microbiology (3)
MCB 4502C Virology (3)
PCB 3414C Behavioral Ecology (3)
PCB 3422C Population Ecology (3)
PCB 3673C Evolutionary Biology (3)
PCB 3703C Human Physiology (4)
PCB 3723C Comparative Animal Physiology (3)
PCB 3731 Medical Cannabis (3)
PCB 4233C Immunology (3)
PCB 4253C Developmental Biology (3)
PCB 4303C Limnology (3)
PCB 4454C Biological Statistics (3)
PCB 4522C Molecular Genetics (3)
PCB 4656C Molec Tech in Behavioral Biol (3)
PCB 4671C Evolution in the Omics Age (3)
PCB 4674C Reptile & Amphibian Evolution (3)
PCB 4714 Comparative Immunology (3)
PCB 4783C Cell Membrane Physiology (3)
ZOO 3205C Invertebrate Zoology (3)
ZOO 3234C General Parasitology (3)
ZOO 3713C Vertebrate Form and Function (3)
ZOO 3733C Human Anatomy (4)
ZOO 4272C Ornithology (3)
ZOO 4405 Sea Turtle Biology (3)
ZOO 4422C Herpetology (3)
ZOO 4454C Ichthyology (3)
ZOO 4480C Mammalogy (3)
ZOO 4513C Animal Behavior (3)
ZOO 4743C Neuroscience (3)
ZOO 4753C Histology (3)
ZOO 4823C General Entomology (3)
Courses used to fulfill requirements in the Restricted Electives (4) cannot also be used to fulfill requirements in the Concentrations (5).
** A maximum number of 4 credits combined from these courses can be used to fulfill the elective requirement.
*** A maximum of 2 credits from these courses can count towards the electives requirement.
**** Courses taken to satisfy common prerequisites cannot be counted as an elective. - Concentration (18-19 credits)
A minimum grade of C is required in each course
Complete one of the following concentrations:
Marine Biology (18 credits)
Complete the following:
BSC 4312 Marine Biology (3)
ZOO 3205C Invertebrate (3)
PCB 3723C Comparative Animal Physiology (3)
Complete 9 additional credits from the list of Restricted Electives in the Major above.
Microbiology Concentration (19 credits)
Complete the following:
MCB 3020C General Microbiology (4)
Complete 15 credits from the following:
BCH 3023C Biochemistry (3)
MCB 3652C Environmental Microbiology (3)
MCB 4203C Pathogenic Microbiology (3)
MCB 4223C Food Microbiology (3)
MCB 4502C Virology (3)
PCB 4233C Immunology (3)
Organismal Biology and Ecology Concentration (18 credits)
Complete the following:
PCB 3673C Evolutionary Biology (3)
Complete one course from each of the following two groups:
Group 1:
BOT 3015C The Lives of Plants and Algae (3)
ZOO 3713C Vertebrate Form and Function (3)
Group 2:
BOT 4503C Plant Physiology (3)
PCB 3723C Comparative Animal Physiology (3)
Complete 9 additional credits from the list of Restricted Electives in the Major above.
Pre-Professional Biology Concentration (18 credits)
Complete each of the following:
BCH 3023C Biochemistry (3)
MCB 3020C General Microbiology (4)
Complete 11 additional credits from the list of Restricted Electives in the Major above. - University Requirements (3 credits)
Select one of the following:
IDS 3920 University Colloquium (3)
Or at least 3 credits in sustainability coursework (SCGR Attribute) - Additional Electives - as needed to reach total credits required for the degree
Total Credits Required: 120
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Degree Map
Toggle More InfoDegree 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.
2024-25 Biology BS-Marine Biology Concentration Degree Map
2024-25 Biology BS-Microbiology Concentration Degree Map2024-25 Biology BS-Organismal Concentration Degree Map
2024-25 Biology BS-Accelerated Degree Map
2024-25 Biology BS-Preprofessional Concentration Degree MapAdditional 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.
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Course Description
Toggle More InfoOfficial 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:
- Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
- Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
- Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
- Press Search
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Course Schedule
Toggle More InfoGetting 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:
- Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
- 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.
- 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.)
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Learning Outcomes
Toggle More InfoAcademic 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 SkillsGraduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of biological systems from the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecosystem perspectives.
- Apply ethical practices and behavior in all aspects of biological scientific endeavors.
- 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 SkillsGraduates will be able to:
- Effectively communicate using appropriate scientific terminology as individuals and as team members by listening, speaking, and writing.
- Approach and solve biological problems by using appropriate scientific literature including organizing, evaluating and synthesizing information.
- Employ the conventions of standard written English appropriate for a scientific audience.
- Select and develop a scientific topic that is appropriate for a scientific audience.
- 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 SkillsGraduates will be able to:
- Engage in the scientific process to form hypothesis, synthesize scientific information, gather and analyze data, apply statistical techniques.
- Identify scientific, qualitative, and quantitative assumptions and underlying relationships.
- 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.
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Tuition, Fees, and Financial Assistance
Toggle More InfoTuition 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.
