The Biology B.S. degree allows the student to choose coursework to be awarded the general Biology B.S. degree or to select a track in one of five areas, which are: Ecology, Evolutionary and Conservation Biology - Marine and Aquatic Biology - Plant Sciences - Pre-Health Professional Biology - Zoology and Pre-Veterinarian Science. These tracks are designed to align students with specific courses that will prepare them for the job market or more advanced study.
Admission Requirements
Degree Requirements
- Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the most current catalog.
- Co-op or internship credit cannot be used in this major
- Departmental Residency Requirement consists of at least 22 semester hours of regularly scheduled 3000-4000 level courses taken from the UCF Department of Biology.
- Students seeking a double major must satisfy the requirements for both majors and must take no fewer than 40 semester hours of upper division restricted elective course work appropriate to the combined areas of specialization in the two majors.
- Courses designated in Common Program Prerequisites and Core Requirements are usually completed in the first 60 hours.
- A "C" (2.0) or better is required in all BSC or PCB prefix courses meeting Core Requirements.
- Students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all UCF courses taken in the Common Program Prerequisites, the Biology Core and the Upper Division Restricted Electives.
- All prerequisites of courses taught within the College of Sciences will be enforced.
- No more than 4 hours of Independent Study, Directed Research, or the following similar types of credit, may be applied toward major requirements:
- BSC 4422L - Biology Laboratory Techniques Credit Hours: 1
- BSC 4937 - Instructional Experiences in Undergraduate Biology Credit Hours: 2
- Upon reaching junior standing (60 hours), Biology majors are expected to have completed the following courses and associated chemistry laboratories. These classes are prerequisites for advanced science classes and students entering the major without these classes will be unable to register for most of the advanced courses.
- BSC 2010C - Biology I Credit Hours: 4
- BSC 2011C - Biology II Credit Hours: 4
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4
- CHM 2046 - Chemistry Fundamentals II Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2046L - Chemistry Fundamentals Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- CHM 2210 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2211 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2211L - Organic Laboratory Techniques I Credit Hours: 2
- PHY 2053C - College Physics I (or PHY 2053 and PHY 2053L) Credit Hours: 4
- PHY 2054C - College Physics II (or PHY 2054 and PHY 2054L) Credit Hours: 4
General Education Program (GEP) (38 Credit Hours)
- Certain courses must be selected in the GEP for this major, bringing the total GEP hours to more than 36.
- At least one course completed in each Foundation area must be a designated State General Education Core Course.
Communication Foundations (9 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
- SPC 1603C - Fundamentals of Technical Presentations Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Cultural & Historical Foundations (9 Credit Hours)Mathematical Foundations (6 Credit Hours)Mathematics: (3 Credit Hours)
- Prior to enrolling in Math, take Math Placement Test ~ https://www.sdes.ucf.edu/placement-tests/
Select one:
- MAC 2233 - Concepts of Calculus Credit Hours: 3 (Suggested)
- MAC 2253 - Applied Calculus Credit Hours: 3 (Suggested)
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4 (Preferred)
Statistics (3 Credit Hours)
- STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
Social Foundations (6 Credit Hours)Science Foundations (8 Credit Hours)
A minimum grade of "C" (2.0) is required for this Biology course to be used as a prerequisite.
- BSC 2010C - Biology I Credit Hours: 4 (Required)
Select the sequence identified by the Chemistry Placement exam;
- Prior to enrolling in Chemistry, take Chemistry Placement Test- https://www.sdes.ucf.edu/placement-tests/
For students with a strong chemistry background and a high Chemistry Placement score:
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4 (Required)
Common Program Prerequisites (CPP) (16 Credit Hours)
- Completion of the CPPs should take into account the GEP and Major requirements. Although other courses may satisfy the CPP, those identified in this section specifically satisfy the major requirements.
- See Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses for possible substitutes for the courses listed below.
Biology:
A minimum grade of "C" (2.0) is required in these Biology courses to meet prerequisites for subsequent biology courses. While a lower grade may satisfy the CPP, it will not satisfy the major.
- BSC 2010C - Biology I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP)
- BSC 2011C - Biology II Credit Hours: 4
Chemistry:
Take Placement test before starting chemistry; https://www.sdes.ucf.edu/placement-tests/
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP)
- or
- CHM 2046 - Chemistry Fundamentals II Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2046L - Chemistry Fundamentals Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
Mathematics:
Select one math course and the identified statistics course.
- MAC 2233 - Concepts of Calculus Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)
- or
- MAC 2253 - Applied Calculus Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)
- or
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP)
- and
- STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)
Physics: Complete one entire sequence (8 Credit Hours)
- PHY 2053C - College Physics I (or PHY 2053 and PHY 2053L) Credit Hours: 4 (GEP)
- PHY 2054C - College Physics II (or PHY 2054 and PHY 2054L) Credit Hours: 4
or
- PHY 2048C - General Physics Using Calculus I (or PHY 2048 and PHY2048L) Credit Hours: 4 (GEP)
- PHY 2049C - General Physics Using Calculus II (or PHY 2049 and PHY 2049L) Credit Hours: 4
Core Requirements: Basic Level (8 Credit Hours)
- All courses specifically identified in the preceding Common Program Prerequisites section of this catalog are also required in the Basic Core;
Biology Basic Core:
- A minimum grade of "C" (2.0) is required in these Biology courses to satisfy the requirement, and to allow their use as a course prerequisite.
Take all of the following:
- BSC 2010C - Biology I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP/CPP)
- BSC 2011C - Biology II Credit Hours: 4 (CPP)
Cognate Sciences Basic Core:Chemistry Sequence
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP/CPP)
- or
- CHM 2046 - Chemistry Fundamentals II Credit Hours: 3 (CPP)
- CHM 2046L - Chemistry Fundamentals Laboratory Credit Hours: 1 (CPP)
Organic or Analytic Sequence (8-9 Credit Hours)
- CHM 2210 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- CHM 2211 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- CHM 2211L - Organic Laboratory Techniques I Credit Hours: 2 (Preferred)
- or
- CHM 2205 - Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry Credit Hours: 5
- CHM 3120 - Analytical Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 3120L - Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
Physics Sequence
- PHY 2053C - College Physics I (or PHY 2053 and PHY 2053L) Credit Hours: 4 (GEP/CPP)
- PHY 2054C - College Physics II (or PHY 2054 and PHY 2054L ) Credit Hours: 4 (CPP)
or
- PHY 2048C - General Physics Using Calculus I (or PHY 2048 and PHY 2048L) Credit Hours: 4 (CPP)
- PHY 2049C - General Physics Using Calculus II (or PHY 2049 and PHY 2049L) Credit Hours: 4 (CPP)
Mathematics
- MAC 2233 - Concepts of Calculus Credit Hours: 3 (GEP/CPP)
- or
- MAC 2253 - Applied Calculus Credit Hours: 3 (GEP/CPP)
- or
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP/CPP) (Preferred)
- STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 3 (GEP/CPP)
Core Requirements: Advanced Level (13 Credit Hours)Biology Advanced Core (13 Credit Hours):
Note: A minimum grade of "C" (2.0) is required in these Biology courses to satisfy the requirement, and to allow their use as a course prerequisite.
- PCB 3023 - Molecular Cell Biology Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3044 - Principles of Ecology Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3063 - Genetics Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 4683 - Evolutionary Biology Credit Hours: 4
Biology Laboratories:
- Students are required to take two labs from those listed below
- One of these labs must come from section A. The second lab can come from section B or an additional lab from section A.
- Student may complete the Biology Laboratories requirement as a part of their selected track.
A. Laboratories
- PCB 3044L - Principles of Ecology Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- PCB 3063L - Genetics Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- PCB 4683L - Evolutionary Biology Lab Credit Hours: 1
B. Laboratories
May include other laboratories as approved by an advisor
- BOT 3018C - Culinary Botany Across the Cultures Credit Hours: 4
- BOT 4223C - Plant Anatomy Credit Hours: 4
- BOT 4282C - Plant Microtechniques Credit Hours: 4
- BOT 4303C - Plant Kingdom Credit Hours: 4
- BOT 4503C - Plant Physiology Credit Hours: 4
- BOT 4530C - Plant Genomics and Biochemistry Credit Hours: 4
- BOT 4713C - Plant Taxonomy Credit Hours: 5
- BOT 4932 Biology of Fungi 2 Credit Hours: 4
- BSC 4312C - Advanced Marine Biology Credit Hours: 4
- BSC 4445C - Genomics Laboratory Credit Hours: 4
- ENY 3571 - Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping Credit Hours: 3
- ENY 4004C - General Entomology Credit Hours: 4
- PCB 4301C - Wetland Ecology & Biogeochemistry Credit Hours: 4
- PCB 4315C - Marine Ecology of Florida Credit Hours: 4
- PCB 4353L - Florida Ecology Lab Credit Hours: 1
- ZOO 3713C - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Credit Hours: 5
- ZOO 4205C - Invertebrate Biodiversity Credit Hours: 4
- ZOO 4310C - Vertebrate Evolution & Ecology Credit Hours: 4
- ZOO 4405C - Sea Turtle Ecology and Conservation Internship Credit Hours: 3
- ZOO 4462C - Herpetology Credit Hours: 4
- ZOO 4480L - Mammalogy Lab Credit Hours: 1
- ZOO 4603C - Embryology/Development Credit Hours: 5
- ZOO 4756C - Comparative Vertebrate Histology Credit Hours: 4
- ZOO 4910L - Research Experience in Animal Behavior in a Zoo Environment Credit Hours: 3
Biology Tracks
For each track the following apply:
- Student must complete at least one course dealing exclusively with zoology and one course dealing exclusively with botany.
- A minimum C (2.0) required in each course taken to meet the "Required Electives" within each track (does not apply to courses taken to meet "Restricted Electives").
- A minimum C (2.0) overall required for the track.
- No substitutions are allowed.
- At least 10 hours of the Upper Division Restricted electives must be taken within the UCF Biology Department. Courses offered by the Department of Biology have been identified. Additional courses may be used to meet requirements with approval of the undergraduate program coordinator via petition.
- Transferred courses must be at a 3000 level or higher, and be evaluated by the undergraduate program coordinator, in order to count as an Upper Division Restricted Elective.
- Courses at the 5000 level are only open to seniors and beginning graduate students. Faculty teaching course must approve override.
Biology B.S.: General Track (22 Credit Hours)
- A biology major who meets the GEP, core, lab, and upper division restricted electives requirements, as well as all UCF graduation requirements is eligible to receive a general B.S. in Biology.
Restricted Electives (22 Credit Hours)
Courses must be selected from the list below.
Additional courses may be added to the list of restricted electives in the future and will appear on the myKnight audit.
1 Fulfills Botany requirement and taught within the Biology department.
2 Taught within the Biology department.
3 Fulfills Zoology requirement and taught within the Biology department.
4 Fulfills Zoology requirement.
- ANT 3550C - Primatology Credit Hours: 3 4
- BCH 4024 - Medical Biochemistry Credit Hours: 4
- BCH 4053 - Biochemistry I Credit Hours: 3
- BCH 4054 - Biochemistry II Credit Hours: 3
- BOT 3015 - Principles of Plant Science Credit Hours: 3 1
- BOT 3018C - Culinary Botany Across the Cultures Credit Hours: 4 1
- BOT 3802 - Ethnobotany Credit Hours: 3 1
- BOT 4223C - Plant Anatomy Credit Hours: 4 1
- BOT 4282C - Plant Microtechniques Credit Hours: 4 2
- BOT 4303C - Plant Kingdom Credit Hours: 4 1
- BOT 4430C - Biology of Fungi Credit Hours: 4
- BOT 4503C - Plant Physiology Credit Hours: 4 1
- BOT 4530C - Plant Genomics and Biochemistry Credit Hours: 4 1
- BOT 4713C - Plant Taxonomy Credit Hours: 5 1
- BOT 4850 - Medical Botany Credit Hours: 3 1
- BOT 4922 - Plant Science Capstone Credit Hours: 2 2
- BSC 3052 - Conservation Biology Credit Hours: 3 2
- BSC 3312 - Principles of Marine Biology Credit Hours: 3 2
- BSC 3453C - Biological Research Methods and Experimental Design Credit Hours: 3 2
- BSC 4312C - Advanced Marine Biology Credit Hours: 4 2
- BSC 4330 - Invasion Biology Credit Hours: 3 2
- BSC 4445C - Genomics Laboratory Credit Hours: 4 2
- BSC 4456C - Programming for Biologists Credit Hours: 3 2
- BSC 4473C - Scientific Diving Credit Hours: 4
- BSC 4821 - Biogeography Credit Hours: 4 2
- BSC 4861L - Urban Ecological Field Studies Credit Hours: 3 2
- BSC 4910C - Group Effort Applied Research in Biology Credit Hours: 4
- BSC 4927 - Scientific and Public Engagement for Biology Majors Credit Hours: 3 2
- ENY 3571 - Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping Credit Hours: 3 3
- ENY 4004C - General Entomology Credit Hours: 4 3
- MCB 3020C - General Microbiology Credit Hours: 5
- OCE 3008 - Oceanography Credit Hours: 3 2
- PAZ 4234 - Zoo and Aquarium Management Credit Hours: 3 3
- PCB 3044L - Principles of Ecology Laboratory Credit Hours: 1 2
- PCB 3063L - Genetics Laboratory Credit Hours: 1 2
- PCB 3233 - Immunology Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3343L - Principles of Field Ecology Credit Hours: 5 2
- PCB 3354 - Tropical Ecology and Conservation Credit Hours: 3 2
- PCB 3355L - Tropical Marine Biology Credit Hours: 2 2
- PCB 3442 - Aquatic Ecology Credit Hours: 3 2
- PCB 3522 - Molecular Biology I Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3703C - Human Physiology Credit Hours: 4
- PCB 4301C - Wetland Ecology & Biogeochemistry Credit Hours: 4 2
- PCB 4315C - Marine Ecology of Florida Credit Hours: 4 2
- PCB 4353 - Florida Ecology, Natural History and Conservation Credit Hours: 3 2
- PCB 4353L - Florida Ecology Lab Credit Hours: 1 2
- PCB 4402 - Disease Ecology & Ecoimmunology Credit Hours: 3 2
- PCB 4413 - Sensory Ecology Credit Hours: 3 3
- PCB 4514 - Genetics II Credit Hours: 3 2
- PCB 4524 - Molecular Biology II Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 4575 - Wildlife Genomics Credit Hours: 3 2
- PCB 4678 - Evolution and Medicine Credit Hours: 3 2
- PCB 4683L - Evolutionary Biology Lab Credit Hours: 1 2
- PCB 4684 - Population Genetics Credit Hours: 3 2
- PCB 4723 - Animal Physiology Credit Hours: 4 3
- PCB 4462 - GIS for Biologists: A Practical Introduction for Undergraduates Credit Hours: 3 2
- PCB 5435C - Marine Ecology of Florida Credit Hours: 4 2
- PCB 5485 - Models in Ecology Credit Hours: 3 2
- ZOO 3713C - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Credit Hours: 5 3
- ZOO 3454 - Ichthyology Credit Hours: 3 3
- ZOO 3733C - Human Anatomy Credit Hours: 4
- ZOO 4205C - Invertebrate Biodiversity Credit Hours: 4 3
- ZOO 4272 - Ornithology Credit Hours: 3 3
- ZOO 4310C - Vertebrate Evolution & Ecology Credit Hours: 4 3
- ZOO 4405C - Sea Turtle Ecology and Conservation Internship Credit Hours: 3 3
- ZOO 4462C - Herpetology Credit Hours: 4 3
- ZOO 4480 - Mammalogy Credit Hours: 4 3
- ZOO 4480L - Mammalogy Lab Credit Hours: 1 2
- ZOO 4513 - Animal Behavior Credit Hours: 3 3
- ZOO 4603C - Embryology/Development Credit Hours: 5 3
- ZOO 4756C - Comparative Vertebrate Histology Credit Hours: 4 3
- ZOO 4910L - Research Experience in Animal Behavior in a Zoo Environment Credit Hours: 3 3
Biology B.S.: Ecology, Evolutionary and Conservation Biology Track (22 Credit Hours)Required Electives (choose two from the following): (6-8 Credit Hours)
"C" (2.0) or better required in each course.
- BSC 3052 - Conservation Biology Credit Hours: 3
- BSC 4821 - Biogeography Credit Hours: 4
- PCB 4684 - Population Genetics Credit Hours: 3
- ZOO 4310C - Vertebrate Evolution & Ecology Credit Hours: 4
- ZOO 4513 - Animal Behavior Credit Hours: 3
Restricted Electives (choose from the following): (7-9 Credit Hours)
- Additional courses may be added to the lists of restricted electives in the future and will appear on the myKnight audit.
- BOT 4303C - Plant Kingdom Credit Hours: 4
- BOT 4503C - Plant Physiology Credit Hours: 4
- BOT 4713C - Plant Taxonomy Credit Hours: 5
- BSC 3453C - Biological Research Methods and Experimental Design Credit Hours: 3
- BSC 4330 - Invasion Biology Credit Hours: 3
- BSC 4821 - Biogeography Credit Hours: 4
- BSC 3052 - Conservation Biology Credit Hours: 3
- BSC 4861L - Urban Ecological Field Studies Credit Hours: 3
- OCE 3008 - Oceanography Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3343L - Principles of Field Ecology Credit Hours: 5
- PCB 3354 - Tropical Ecology and Conservation Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3044L - Principles of Ecology Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- PCB 3355L - Tropical Marine Biology Credit Hours: 2
