Two specific Bachelor of Science degrees, Biology and Microbiology, are available for students interested in the biological sciences. The B.S. in Biology allows students to concentrate in such areas as Ecology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Physiology, and Marine Biology. The degree is preparatory for careers in such areas as teaching, agriculture, medicine, dentistry, conservation, and biotechnology, or for post-baccalaureate study in the various life sciences. The B.S. in Microbiology provides students with the broad range of courses necessary to qualify for certification by the National Registry of Microbiologists, American Society of Microbiology, and employment in microbiology and related fields.
In addition to a set of courses in biology, students must have a thorough preparation in other areas of natural sciences to be competitive for jobs or for further study beyond the baccalaureate. A modern biology curriculum is built on a foundation of mathematics, chemistry and physics. Students should study the requirements listed below and then make maximum use of the vigorous advising program maintained by the Department in structuring their programs.
These requirements will NOT BE WAIVED for students who pass major courses beyond college-level basic biology, but do not have the necessary cumulative GPA (2.75) in the five courses listed above.
Student applies to Marine Biology Program after meeting all entrance requirements of BIO major. In addition, a student must have a major GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of application and maintain a major GPA of at least 3.0 throughout the Program.
Prerequisites (State Mandated Common Prerequisites) for Students Transferring from a Community College: Students should complete the following prerequisite courses listed below at the lower level prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at the community college, they must be completed before the degree is granted. Unless stated otherwise, a grade of “C” is the minimum acceptable grade.
- BSC 1010/1010L Introduction to Biology I-Cellular Processes (with lab)
Acceptable substitutes: PCB X010, PCB X011, PCB X021, PCB X131, BSC X040, BSC 2012
- BSC 1011/1011L Introduction to Biology II-Diversity (with lab)
Acceptable substitutes: ZOO X010, BOT X010, BSC X041, BOT X013
- CHM 1045/1045L General Chemistry I (with lab)
- CHM 1046/1046L General Chemistry II (with lab)
- CHM 2210/2210L Organic Chemistry I (with lab)
Acceptable substitutes: PHY 3043/3043L, PHY 3048/3048L, PHY 3049/3049L, or equivalent
- CHM 2211/2211L Organic Chemistry II (with lab)
Acceptable substitutes: PHY 3053/3053L, PHY 3048/3048L, PHY 3049/3049L, or equivalent
- MAC X311 Calculus I
Acceptable substitutes: MAC 2233, MAC 2253, MAC X281
- MAC X312 Calculus II
Acceptable substitutes: STA 2122, 2014, 2023, 2034, 2321 or equivalent; MAC 2234, 2254, 3282
Please be aware of the immunization, foreign language, and continuous enrollment policies of the university. This is a non-limited access program with the above courses recommended.
Required Courses for the Biology Major
- Department of Biology Courses-minimum 40 credit hours
- BSC 2010 Biology I Cellular Processes (3)
BSC 2010L Biology I Cellular Processes Laboratory (1)
BSC 2011 Biology II Diversity (3)
BSC 2011L Biology II Diversity Laboratory (1)
- PCB 3023 Cell Biology (3)
PCB 3043 Principles of Ecology (3)
PCB 3063 General Genetics (3)
- ONE of the following:
PCB 3023L Cell Biology Laboratory (1)
PCB 3043L Principles of Ecology Laboratory (1)
PCS 3063L General Genetics Laboratory (1)
- ONE of the following (with laboratory):
MCB 4404 Microbial Physiology and Genetics (4)
PCB 4723 Animal Physiology (3)
BOT 4503 Plant Physiology (3)
- The remaining credit hours to meet the minimum requirements must come from among structured departmental courses that are applicable to the major and BCH 3023. At least eight (8) of these credit hours must be at the 4000 level or higher.
- A maximum of four (4) credit hours of Undergraduate Research (BSC 4910 or MCB 4910) or Biology Honors Thesis (BSC 4970) may be applied.
- A minimum of 20 hours of Biology courses must be taken in residency and be applicable to the major.
- Supporting Courses in the Natural Sciences-minimum 32 credit hours
- CHM 2045 General Chemistry I (3)
CHM 2045L General Chemistry I Laboratory (1)
CHM 2046 General Chemistry II (3)
CHM 2046L General Chemistry II Laboratory (1)
- CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHM 2210L Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (2)
CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (2)
- MAC 2241 Life Sciences Calculus I (4)
and
MAC 2242 Life Sciences Calculus II (4)
OR
MAC 2281 Engineering Calculus I (4)
and
MAC 2282 Engineering Calculus II (4)
OR
MAC 2311 Calculus I (4)
and
MAC 2312 Calculus II (4)
OR
STA 2023 Introductory Statistics I (4)
(may be substituted for Calculus II)
- PHY 2048 General Physics I (3)
PHY 2048L General Physics I Laboratory (1)
PHY 2049 General Physics II (3)
PHY 2049L General Physics II Laboratory (1)
OR
PHY 2053 General Physics (3)
PHY 2053L General Physics Laboratory (1)
PHY 2054 General Physics (3)
PHY 2054L General Physics Laboratory (1)
- Meet all College and University requirements.
Prerequisites (State Mandated Common Prerequisites) for Students Transferring from a Community College: Students should complete the following prerequisite courses listed below at the lower level prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at the community college, they must be completed before the degree is granted. Unless stated otherwise, a grade of “C” is the minimum acceptable grade.
- BSC 1010/1010L Introduction to Biology I-Cellular Processes (with lab)
Acceptable substitutes: PCB X010, PCB X011, PCB X021, PCB X131, BSC X040, BSC 2012
- BSC 1011/1011L Introduction to Biology II-Diversity (with lab)
Acceptable substitutes: ZOO X010, BOT X010, BSC X041, BOT X013
- CHM 1045/1045L General Chemistry I (with lab)
- CHM 1046/1046L General Chemistry II (with lab)
- CHM 2210/2210L Organic Chemistry I (with lab)
Acceptable substitutes: PHY 3043/3043L, PHY 3048/3048L, PHY 3049/3049L, or equivalent
- CHM 2211/2211L Organic Chemistry II (with lab)
Acceptable substitutes: PHY 3053/3053L, PHY 3048/3048L, PHY 3049/3049L, or equivalent
- MAC X311 Calculus I
Acceptable substitutes: MAC 2233, MAC 2253, MAC X281
- MAC X312 Calculus II
Acceptable substitutes: STA 2122, 2014, 2023, 2034, 2321 or equivalent; MAC 2234, 2254, 3282
Please be aware of the immunization, foreign language, and continuous enrollment policies of the university. This is a non-limited access program with the above courses recommended.
Required Courses for the Biology Major with a Marine Biology Concentration
- Department of Biology Courses-minimum 42 credit hours
- BSC 2010 Biology I Cellular Processes (3)
BSC 2010L Biology I Cellular Processes Laboratory (1)
BSC 2011 Biology II Diversity (3)
BSC 2011L Biology II Diversity Laboratory (1)
- PCB 3023 Cell Biology (3)
PCB 3043 Principles of Ecology (3)
PCB 3063 General Genetics (3)
- ONE of the following:
PCB 3023L Cell Biology Laboratory (1)
PCB 3043L Principles of Ecology Laboratory (1)
PCS 3063L General Genetics Laboratory (1)
- BSC 3263C Marine Biology (3)
- ONE of the following (with laboratory):
BOT 4503 Plant Physiology (3)
MCB 4404 Microbial Physiology and Genetics (4)
PCB 4723 Animal Physiology (3)
- At least one of the following: Vascular Plants (BOT 3373C), Microbiology (MCB 3020C), Vertebrate Zoology (ZOO 2303C), Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (ZOO 3713C), Advanced Invertebrate Zoology and Lab. (ZOO 3205C)
- Seminar in Marine Biology
- The remaining credit hours to meet the minimum requirements must come from courses listed in (f) above and/or from the following list. A maximum of six (6) credits may be taken in courses from other departments/colleges. At least eight (8) of these credit hours must be at the 4000 level or higher:
OCB 6050 Biological Oceanography
OCC 6050 Chemical Oceanography
OCG 6051 Geological Oceanography
OCP 6050 Physical Oceanography
GLY 4734 Beaches and Coastal Environments
GEO 5177 Geographic Information Systems
ZOO 5456 + ZOO 5456L Ichthyology
MCB 5600 Applied and Environmental Microbiology
ZOO 5555C Marine Animal Ecology
ZOO 4513 Animal Behavior
PCB 4674 Organic Evolution
BOT 5185CMarine Botany
BSC 4933 Advanced Marine Biology and lab
- A maximum of four (4) credit hours of Undergraduate Research (BSC 4910 or MCB 4910) or Biology Honors Thesis (BSC 4970) may be applied.
- A minimum of 20 hours of Biology courses must be taken in residency and be applicable to the major.
- Supporting Courses in the Natural Sciences-minimum 32 credit hours
- CHM 2045 General Chemistry I (3)
CHM 2045L General Chemistry I Laboratory (1)
CHM 2046 General Chemistry II (3)
CHM 2046L General Chemistry II Laboratory (1)
- CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHM 2210L Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (2)
CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (2)
- MAC 2241 Life Sciences Calculus I (4)
and
MAC 2242 Life Sciences Calculus II (4)
OR
MAC 2281 Engineering Calculus I (4)
and
MAC 2282 Engineering Calculus II (4)
OR
MAC 2311 Calculus I (4)
and
MAC 2312 Calculus II (4)
OR
STA 2023 Introductory Statistics I (4)
(may be substituted for Calculus II)
- PHY 2048 General Physics I (3)
PHY 2048L General Physics I Laboratory (1)
PHY 2049 General Physics II (3)
PHY 2049L General Physics II Laboratory (1)
OR
PHY 2053 General Physics (3)
PHY 2053L General Physics Laboratory (1)
PHY 2054 General Physics (3)
PHY 2054L General Physics Laboratory (1)
- Meet all College and University requirements.
Prerequisites (State Mandated Common Prerequisites)
Students should complete the following prerequisite courses listed below at the lower level prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at the community college, they must be completed before the degree is granted. Unless stated otherwise, a grade of “C” is the minimum acceptable grade.
- BSC X010/X010L Introduction to Biology I-Cellular Processes (with lab)
Acceptable substitutes: PCB X010, PCB X011, PCB X021, PCB X131, BSC X040, BSC 2012
- BSC X011/X011L Introduction to Biology II-Diversity (with lab)
Acceptable substitutes: ZOO X010, BOT X010, BSC X041, BOT X013
- CHM X045/X045L General Chemistry I (with lab)
- CHM X046/X046L General Chemistry II (with lab)
- CHM X210/X210L Organic Chemistry I (with lab)
Acceptable substitutes: PHY 3043/3043L, PHY 3048/3048L, PHY 3049/3049L, or equivalent
- CHM X211/X211L Organic Chemistry II (with lab)
Acceptable substitutes: PHY 3053/3053L, PHY 3048/3048L, PHY 3049/3049L, or equivalent
- MAC X311 Calculus I
Acceptable substitutes: MAC 2233, MAC 2253, MAC X281
Please be aware of the immunization, foreign language, and continuous enrollment policies of the university. This is a non-limited access program with the above courses recommended.
Required Courses for the Microbiology Major
- Department of Biology Courses-minimum 42 credit hours
- BSC 2010 Biology I Cellular Processes (3)
BSC 2010L Biology I Cellular Processes Laboratory (1)
BSC 2011 Biology II Diversity (3)
BSC 2011L Biology II Diversity Laboratory (1)
- PCB 3023 Cell Biology (3)
PCB 3023L Cell Biology Laboratory (1)
PCB 3043 Principles of Ecology (3)
PCB 3063 General Genetics (3)
- MCB 3020C General Microbiology (4)
MCB 4115 Determinative Bacteriology (5)
MCB 4404 Microbial Physiology and Genetics (4)
MCB 4404L Microbial Physiology and Genetics Laboratory (1)
- Ten (10) hours from the following list:
BOT 4434C Mycology (3)
MCB 4502 Virology (3)
MCB 4910 Microbiology Undergraduate Research (1-4)
MCB 4934 Seminar in Microbiology (1)
MCB 5206 Public Health and Pathogenic Microbiology (3)
MCB 5655 Applied and Environmental Biology (3)
MCB 5815C Medical Mycology (3)
PCB 5235 Principles of Immunology (3)
ZOO 5235 Parasitology (3)
BCH 3023L Basic Biochemistry Laboratory (2)
- A maximum of four (4) credit hours of Undergraduate Research (MCB 4910) or Biology Honors Thesis (BSC 4970) may be applied.
- A minimum of 20 hours of Biology courses must be taken in residency and be applicable to the major.
- Supporting Courses in the Natural Sciences-minimum 35 credit hours
- CHM 2045 General Chemistry I (3)
CHM 2045L General Chemistry I Laboratory (1)
CHM 2046 General Chemistry II (3)
CHM 2046L General Chemistry II Laboratory (1)
- CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHM 2210L Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (2)
CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (2)
- MAC 2241 Life Sciences Calculus I (4)
and
MAC 2242 Life Sciences Calculus II (4)
OR
MAC 2281 Engineering Calculus I (4)
and
MAC 2282 Engineering Calculus II (4)
OR
MAC 2311 Calculus I (4)
and
MAC 2312 Calculus II (4)
OR
STA 2023 Introductory Statistics I (4)
(may be substituted for Calculus II)
- PHY 2048 General Physics I (3)
PHY 2048L General Physics I Laboratory (1)
PHY 2049 General Physics II (3)
PHY 2049L General Physics II Laboratory (1)
OR
PHY 2053 General Physics (3)
PHY 2053L General Physics Laboratory (1)
PHY 2054 General Physics (3)
PHY 2054L General Physics Laboratory (1)
- BCH 3023 Introductory Biochemistry (3)
- Meet all College and University requirements.
Minimum Grade for Majors
A student must receive a “C” grade or better in all Department of Biology courses and Supporting Courses in the Natural Sciences, except if they are used as Free Elective courses. This specification applies to both USF and transfer courses. D and F grades earned in attempting to satisfy major requirements will be used in calculating the GPA, except if they are removed by grade forgiveness.
Biology Honors Program
The Biology Honors Program is a program that provides a challenging and enriching program for highly motivated students. Students must major in Biology, and they begin taking courses together upon entry to USF. They are admitted to the program at the end of their second semester. Criteria include a minimum 3.5 GPA. The program provides a research experience in a Biology Faculty laboratory. (http://www.cas.usf.edu/biology/index.html), and requires a written thesis. A Research Seminar is presented by the student.
Year 1
- BSC 2010 Biology I with lab- Honors section (4)
(CHM 2045 Pre- or Co-requisite)
- BSC 2011 Biology II with lab- Honors section (4)
- BSC 4931 Selected Topics - Honors Seminar I - Introduction to Biology Research (1)
Year 2
- BSC 4932 Selected Topics - Honors Seminar II - Philosophy/Ethics (3)
- BSC 4933 Selected Topics - Honors Seminar III - Scientific Approaches (3)
Year 3
- BSC 4910 Undergraduate Research - Biology Faculty Member’s Laboratory (2)
Year 4
- BSC 4910 Undergraduate Research (2)
- BSC 4933 Selected Topics - Honors Seminar IV - Biology Department Seminar (1)
Credits: 8 beyond normal Biology degree (4 research credits can count towards total of 40 Biology credits)
2 beyond University Honors (HS II and HS III & Research counts toward University Honors)
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