Program Overview

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Biology Program

The Department of Biology at the University of West Florida offers a comprehensive program in biology, providing students with a solid foundation in the principles of biology and preparing them for careers in various fields, including research, healthcare, and education.

Program Requirements

In addition to the university's general requirements, students seeking a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Biology must meet the following requirements:

• A grade of "C-" or better is required in each of the seven biology core courses.
• A minimum grade of "C-" or better is required in all courses in the program, including all Major-Related, Electives, and Common Prerequisites.
• Some biology program courses require prerequisite biology course grades of "C" or better.
• A Biology Program minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation.

General Biology Specialization

The General Biology Specialization includes a grounding in the basic areas of biology from molecular to ecological processes. Electives allow students to concentrate in areas of interest, such as microbiology, ecology, etc., at a more advanced level. Directed study hours may be included as electives to increase "hands-on" learning in an area of interest.

General Education

Biology majors should satisfy the mathematics (6 semester hours) and natural science (6 semester hours) components of General Education with coursework taken from the common prerequisites shown below.

Communication

• ENC 1101: English Composition I (Core) - 3 hours
• ENC 1102: English Composition II (Breadth) - 3 hours
• Communication Elective Options:
  • CRW 2001: Introduction to Creative Writing
  • MMC 2000: Principles of Mass Communication
  • SPC 2608: Public Speaking

Humanities

Choose one course from the Humanities Core and one additional course from either the Humanities Core or the Humanities Breadth.

• Humanities Core Options:
  • ARH 1000: Art Appreciation
  • HUM 2020: Introduction to Humanities
  • HUM 2020H: Honors Introduction to Humanities
  • LIT 2000: Introduction to Literature
  • MUL 2010: Music Appreciation
  • PHI 2010: Introduction to Philosophy
  • THE 2000: Theatre Appreciation
• Humanities Breadth Options:
  • AML 2010: American Literature I
  • AML 2020: American Literature II
  • AMS 2010: Civil Discourse and the American Political Order
  • ARH 2050: Western Survey I: Prehistory to the Medieval Period
  • ARH 2051: Western Survey II: Renaissance to Contemporary
  • ART 1015C: Exploring Artistic Vision
  • ENL 2010: History of English Literature I
  • ENL 2020: History of English Literature II
  • LIT 2030: Introduction to Poetry
  • MUH 2004: The Music Experience - Concerts
  • PHI 2103: Critical Thinking
  • PHI 2603: Ethics in Contemporary Society
  • REL 1300: World Religions
  • THE 2300: Survey of Dramatic Literature

Mathematics

Choose one course from the Mathematics Core and one additional course from either the Mathematics Core or the Mathematics Breadth.

• Mathematics Core Options:
  • MAC 1105: College Algebra
  • MAC 1105C: College Algebra with Lab
  • MAC 2311: Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
  • MGF 1130: Mathematical Thinking
  • STA 2023: Elements of Statistics
• Mathematics Breadth Options:
  • MAC 1114: Trigonometry
  • MAC 1140: Precalculus Algebra
  • MAC 1147: Precalculus with Trigonometry
  • MAC 2233: Calculus with Business Applications
  • MAC 2312: Analytic Geometry and Calculus II
  • MGF 1131: Mathematics in Context
  • STA 2360: Introduction to Data Science

Natural Sciences

Choose one course from the Natural Sciences Core and one additional course from either the Natural Sciences Core or the Natural Sciences Breadth.

• Natural Sciences Core Options:
  • AST 1002: Descriptive Astronomy
  • BSC 1005: General Biology for Non-Majors
  • BSC 1085: Anatomy and Physiology I
  • BSC 2010: Biology I
  • CHM 1020: Concepts in Chemistry
  • CHM 2045: General Chemistry I
  • ESC 2000: Introduction to Earth Science
  • EVR 2001: Introduction to Environmental Science
  • EVR 2001H: Honors Introduction to Environmental Science
  • GLY 2010: Physical Geology
  • PHY 1020: Conceptual Physics
  • PHY 2048: Calculus-Based Physics I
  • PHY 2048C: Calculus-Based Physics I Studio
  • PHY 2053: Algebra-Based Physics I
• Natural Sciences Breadth Options:
  • ANT 2511: Biological Anthropology
  • AST 2037: Life in the Universe
  • BOT 2010: General Botany
  • BSC 1050: Fundamentals of Ecology
  • BSC 1086: Anatomy and Physiology II
  • BSC 2011: Biology II
  • BSC 2311: Introduction to Oceanography and Marine Biology
  • CGS 2020: Introduction to Machine Learning
  • CHM 2046: General Chemistry II
  • MCB 1000: Fundamentals of Microbiology
  • PHC 2082: Informatics and Your Health
  • PHY 2049: Calculus-Based Physics II
  • PHY 2054: Algebra-Based Physics II

Social Sciences

Choose one course from the Social Sciences Core and one additional course from either the Social Sciences Core or the Social Sciences Breadth.

• Social Sciences Core Options:
  • AMH 2010: United States to 1877
  • AMH 2020: United States Since 1877
  • ANT 2000: Introduction to Anthropology
  • ECO 2013: Principles of Economics Macro
  • POS 2041: American Politics
  • PSY 2012: General Psychology
• Social Sciences Breadth Options:
  • ANT 2100: Introduction to Archaeology
  • CCJ 2002: Survey of Crime and Justice
  • CIS 2530: Introduction to Cybersecurity
  • COM 2023: Death and Communication
  • CPO 2002: Comparative Politics
  • DEP 2004: Human Development Across the Lifespan
  • EUH 1000: Western Perspectives I
  • EUH 1001: Western Perspectives II
  • FIN 2104: Personal Finance
  • GEA 2000: Nations and Regions of the World
  • GEB 1011: Introduction to Business
  • HIS 2050: Explore History
  • HSC 2100: Personal, Family and Community Health
  • INR 2002: International Politics
  • PLA 2013: Survey of American Law
  • PLA 2013H: Honors Survey of American Law
  • SPM 2010: Sport in Global Society
  • SYG 2000: Introduction to Sociology

Civic Literacy Requirement

The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy by passing an assessment or taking AMH 2020 United States Since 1877 or POS 2041 American Politics.

Mathematics Pathway

Students are advised to complete the following courses to fulfill the mathematics pathway that aligns with the mathematics skills needed for success in their program and their career goals.

• MAC 1105: College Algebra - 3 hours
• or MAC 1105C: College Algebra with Lab
• or MAC 2311: Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
• STA 2023: Elements of Statistics - 3 hours
• or MAC 1105: College Algebra
• or MAC 1105C: College Algebra with Lab
• or MAC 1114: Trigonometry
• or MAC 2311: Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
• or MAC 2233: Calculus with Business Applications
• or MAC 2312: Analytic Geometry and Calculus II
• or MGF 1130: Mathematical Thinking
• or MGF 1131: Mathematics in Context
• or STA 2360: Introduction to Data Science

Common Prerequisites

State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program.

• BSC 2010 & 2010L: Biology I and Biology I Laboratory - 4 hours
• BSC 2011 & 2011L: Biology II and Biology II Laboratory - 4 hours
• CHM 2045 & 2045L: General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory - 4 hours
• CHM 2046 & 2046L: General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory - 4 hours
• MAC 2311: Analytic Geometry and Calculus I - 4 hours
• STA 2023: Elements of Statistics - 3 hours
• CHM 2210 & 2210L: Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory - 4 hours
• PHY 2053 & 2053L: Algebra-Based Physics I and Algebra-Based Physics I Lab - 4 hours
• Choose one option from the following:
  • CHM 2211 & 2211L: Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab
  • PHY 2054 & 2054L: Algebra-Based Physics II and Algebra-Based Physics II Lab

Lower Division Electives

Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 semester hours in the lower division.

Major Required Courses

• BSC 2844: Biology Skills - 1 hour
• BCH 3033: Biochemistry I - 3 hours
• MCB 3020 & 3020L: Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory - 4 hours
• PCB 3043 & 3043L: Ecology and Ecology Lab - 4 hours
• PCB 3063: Genetics - 3 hours
• PCB 3103: Cell Biology - 3 hours
• Choose one of the following:
  • PCB 4098: Concepts in Human Physiology
  • PCB 4723: Comparative Animal Physiology
  • BOT 4503: Plant Physiology
  • PCB 4524: Molecular Biology
  • or BOT 4734: Plant Biotechnology
• PCB 4673: Principles of Evolution - 3 hours
• STA 4173: Biostatistics - 3 hours

Major GPA Calculation

The upper-division courses (3000/4000 level) with the following prefixes will be used in calculating the major grade point average: BCH, BOT, BSC, HSA, HSC, MLS, PCB, and ZOO.

Upper Division Electives (26 hours)

Elective hours must include 2 laboratory courses.

Accelerated Bachelor's (BS)/Master's (MS) in Biology Option

The Accelerated Bachelor's (BS)/Master's (MS) in Biology Option allows students to earn both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Biology in a shorter timeframe.

Minimum Requirements for Admission

• Overall undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or better
• Undergraduate Major GPA of 3.5 or better
• A grade of "B" (3.0) or better in each Bachelor of Sciences in Biology core courses
• Two letters of recommendation

Process

A prospective student who meets the minimum requirements for admission to the Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's (BS/MS) program must schedule a meeting with their undergraduate advisor and the Biology graduate coordinator to discuss and develop a degree plan for the student's Accelerated BS/MS program.

Program Requirements

Students must have completed 75 undergraduate credit hours, including credits earned from advanced placement, prior to applying to the Accelerated BS/MS program in Biology.

Biology Teaching

The Biology Teaching program is designed for students who wish to teach biology at the secondary level.

General Education

Biology majors should satisfy the mathematics (6 semester hours) and natural science (6 semester hours) components of General Education with coursework taken from the common prerequisites shown below.

ADDENDUM - 06/12/2025

In addition to the General Education requirements, students must satisfy all additional State of Florida requirements, including the College-Level Communication and Computation, Civic Literacy, and Foreign Language requirements.

Biology Minor

A 20 semester hour (sh) Minor in Biology is available for students in a wide variety of majors. It provides the opportunity to add value to the major degree and to expand their opportunities for employment.

• BSC 2010 & 2010L: Biology I and Biology I Laboratory - 4 hours
• BSC 2011 & 2011L: Biology II and Biology II Laboratory - 4 hours
• Students should assess the prerequisites for upper division courses they wish to take to complete the minor.
• 3000/4000 level Biology (BCH, BOT, BSC, MCB, MLS, OCE, PCB, and ZOO) courses, including at least one 4 sh lecture-lab course - 12 hours
• Total Hours: 20

Biology, Marine Biology, and Biomedical Science majors may not earn this minor.