DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE

Undergraduate Department of Biological Science

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

Chair: Thomas A. Houpt; Associate Chair (Graduate Studies): Nora Underwood; Associate Chair (Undergraduate Studies): Steven Marks; Associate Chair (Academic Programs): Karen M. McGinnis; Professors: Bass, Chase, DuVal, Erickson, D. Fadool, J. Fadool, Feng, Houpt, Hughes, Inouye, Levitan, Mast, Miller, Rokyta, Stagg, Steppan, Stroupe, Tang, Taylor, Travis, Trexler, Underwood, Yu, Zhu; Associate Professors: Burgess, Cui, Dennis, Feng, Jones, Lemmon, Lenhert, Lester, Lyons, McGinnis, Rassweiler, Wulff; Assistant Professors: Brown, Cortez, Francis, Okamoto, Storace, Thoms, Vincis, Yin; Professors Emeriti: Abele, Anderson, Bates, Caspar, DeBusk, deKloet, Elam, Ellington, Epstein, Fajer, Gaffney, Heard, Herrnkind, Homann, James, L. Keller, T . Keller, Livingston, Mariscal, Meredith, Outlaw, Quadagno, Reeves, Roberts, Roeder, Roux, Tschinkel

The Department of Biological Science offers an undergraduate major in biological science that includes programs of study in most contemporary areas of biology. Specific academic concentrations within the major include cell and molecular biology; ecology, evolution, and environmental biology; marine biology; physiology and neuroscience; invertebrate and vertebrate zoology; plant sciences; and pre-professional health sciences. The requirements for the baccalaureate degree in biological science include most prerequisite courses necessary for admission to medical, dental, optometry, veterinary, osteopathic, chiropractic, and other allied health professional schools. In addition, students interested in marine science may complete the program in marine biology and living resources ecology as part of the major in biological science.

The department offers a combined BS/MS degree pathway designed for academically gifted students who wish to pursue an accelerated program culminating in a BS degree in biological science and an MS degree in biological science. This program allows up to twelve semester hours of coursework to be dually counted toward both the BS and MS degrees.

The department also offers a major in computational biology in conjunction with the Computer Science and Scientific Computing departments. This interdisciplinary major provides a top-notch educational program for students interested in the areas of computational biology and bioinformatics. The program seeks to achieve two goals: (1) to develop an understanding of the issues associated with developing biologically meaningful computational models, and (2) to give students the broad-based education that is needed to create a set of models directed toward solving a practical biomedical problem.

The department offers a second interdisciplinary major, cell and molecular neuroscience, in conjunction with the Program in Neuroscience and the Department of Psychology. The major offers focused study of the brain, emphasizing the cellular and molecular processes that underlie the development, anatomy, physiology, and behavioral functions of the brain. The unique multidisciplinary breadth of the cell and molecular neuroscience major prepares students for a variety of STEM-related careers in scientific research and/or education, all health professions, and biomedical engineering.

Course Repeat Policy in Biological Science

According to FSU academic regulations, students will not be allowed additional credit for a course repeated in which the student originally made a “C–” or better unless the course is specifically designated as repeatable to allow additional credit. Students will not be allowed to take non-repeatable coursework in the department of biological science if they have already earned a passing grade of “C–” at FSU or as transfer credit unless they petition for permission from the department.

Digital Literacy Requirement

Students must complete at least one course designated as meeting the Digital Literacy Requirement with a grade of “C–” or higher. Courses fulfilling the Digital Literacy Requirement must accomplish at least three of the following outcomes:

Evaluate and interpret the accuracy, credibility, and relevance of digital information
Evaluate and interpret digital data and their implications
Discuss the ways in which society and/or culture interact with digital technology
Discuss digital technology trends and their professional implications
Demonstrate the ability to use digital technology effectively
Demonstrate the knowledge to use digital technology safely and ethically

Each academic major has determined the courses that fulfill the Digital Literacy requirement for that major. Students should contact their major department(s) to determine which courses will fulfill their Digital Literacy requirement. Undergraduate majors in biological science and in biology/FSU-Teach satisfy this requirement by earning a grade of “C–” or higher in BSC 2010L.

State of Florida Common Program Prerequisites for Biological Science

The Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) houses the statewide, internet-based catalog of distance learning courses, degree programs, and resources offered by Florida's public colleges and universities, and they have developed operational procedures and technical guidelines for the catalog that all institutions must follow. The statute governing this policy can be reviewed by visiting https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2021/1006.73.

FLVC has identified common program prerequisites for the degree program in Biology. To obtain the most up-to-date, state-approved prerequisites for this degree, visit: https://cpm.flvc.org/programs/332/276.

Specific prerequisites are required for admission into the upper-division program and must be completed by the student at either a community college or a state university prior to being admitted to this program. Students may be admitted into the University without completing the prerequisites but may not be admitted into the program.

Requirements for Majors in the Department of Biological Science

Please review all college-wide degree requirements summarized in the “College of Arts and Sciences” chapter of this General Bulletin.

Prerequisites for Upper-Division Biological Science Courses:
Registration in all 3000- and 4000-level biological science courses is allowed only after meeting the following criteria:
1. Satisfactory completion (“C–” or better) of BSC 2010/L (Biological Science I with lab) and BSC 2011/L (Biological Science II with lab)
2. Satisfactory completion (“C–” or better) of CHM 1045/L and CHM 1046/L or CHM 1050/L and CHM 1051/L (General Chemistry I and II with labs)
3. A minimum combined 2.0 GPA in all biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, programming, and statistics courses, and their prerequisites, that are applicable to the major, from any institution attended.
Formal Admission:
1. All State Common Program Prerequisites listed as Term 1–4 Milestones must be completed with a “C” range (C–, C, or C+) grade or better. Students earning less than the necessary grade in any of these courses will be required to retake those courses until the standard is met. Note: retaking a course may delay graduation and incur increased fee liability (i.e., repeat course surcharge and excess credit surcharge).
2. Registration in all 3000- and 4000-level biological science courses is allowed only after meeting the following criteria:
  1. Satisfactory completion (“C–” or better) of BSC 2010/L (Biological Science I with Lab) and BSC 2011/L (Biological Science II with Lab), and
  2. Satisfactory completion (“C–” or better) of CHM 1045/L and CHM 1046/L or CHM 1050/L and CHM 1051/L (General Chemistry I and II with Labs)
Academic Performance Required for Retention and Graduation:
1. All courses applicable to the major, including biological science, chemistry, mathematics, physics, programming, and statistics must be completed with a grade of “C–” or better.
2. Designation, continuation, and graduation with a major from the department of Biological Science requires a minimum combined 2.0 GPA in all courses, excluding the Term 1–4 State Common Program Prerequisites milestone courses, including biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, programming, and statistics.
3. A student who has received more than one unsatisfactory grade (U, F, D–, D, or D+) in courses required for the major, excluding the Term 1–4 State Common Program Prerequisites milestone courses, taken after enrolling at FSU, will be required to change to a major outside of the department of Biological Science.
4. A student with a major in the department of Biological Science who applies for readmission to the college must meet the biological science degree requirements of the catalog in force on the date of their original admission.
Second Majors:
1. A student cannot receive more than one BS or BA degree from the Department of Biological Science. For example, a student cannot double major in biological science and cell and molecular neuroscience or computational biology (biology), due to substantial course overlap between the two majors. Additionally, the following majors are not approved for double majors with Biological Science given the potential for extensive course and/or content overlap: Computational Biology (computer science), and behavioral neuroscience.
Co-op and Transient Study:
Florida State University biological science majors who intend to take courses for the major (biological science, chemistry, mathematics, physics, programming, statistics) at other institutions must receive approval from the Department of Biological Science Academic Advising Office prior to enrollment. This policy applies to courses taken as part of the FAMU–FSU and TCC–FSU co-op programs, as well as courses taken elsewhere.

Graduate Study

The Department of Biological Science offers work leading to the Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. Click the any Graduate link above for more information.

Requirements for a Minor in Biological Science

A minimum of twelve semester hours of biological science courses approved for major credit, including BSC 2010/L and BSC 2011/L plus at least four credit hours of additional upper division biological science course work. No more than one credit hours of S/U graded course work can be counted toward the minor. A minimum of four semester hours of the twelve semester hours must be taken at Florida State University. Grades below “C–” will not be accepted for minor credit.