The Biotechnology B.S. produces highly trained workers that will meet the workforce needs of the biotechnology industry. Students seeking admission to professional schools (medical, dental, optometry, veterinary, podiatry, and pharmacy) will meet most of the admission requirements for those programs while obtaining a Biotechnology B.S. degree.
Admission Requirements
- Students who declare this major are admitted in a “Pending” status.
- In order for students to transition out of “Pending” status, they must earn a “C” or better in each of the following courses or their equivalents: BSC 2010C, CHM 2045C, CHM 2046, CHM 2210.
Degree Requirements
- Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the most current catalog
- Students should complete the General Education Program before transferring within the Florida College System or State University System.
- Students should consult with a BSBS academic advisor at least once per semester.
- Courses designated in section 1 below may be taken at a Florida College System institution, and should usually be completed in the first 60 hours
- Grades below “C” in Common Program Prerequisites, Core Requirements and Restricted Electives are not accepted.
- Students in undergraduate majors within the College of Medicine are expected to consistently make good progress towards their degrees. Therefore, the COM/BSBS Progress Policy mandates that undergraduate students meet the requirements of the policy. Below are the specific requirements of the Progress Policy:
- Students with 3 withdrawal (W) grades will be placed in a probationary status.
- Students with 5 withdrawal (W) grades will meet with an advisor from the Knights Major Exploration and Transition Center for selection of a different major.
- Medical withdrawals are not included in this withdrawal component.
- Students who earned 5 low grades (C-, D, F, W, NC, U) will be placed on a probationary status and will meet with a peer mentor for major advising.
- Students who earn more than 8 low grades (C-, D, F, W, NC, U), will meet with an advisor from Knights Major Exploration and Transition Center for selection of a different major.
- Students with 2 unsuccessful attempts of the same UCF course will be placed on a probationary status and will meet with a peer mentor for major advising.
- Students with 3 unsuccessful attempts of the same UCF course will meet with an advisor from the Knights Major Exploration and Transition Center for selection of a different major.
General Education Program (GEP) (36 Credit Hours)
Communication Foundations
- 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
- STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
Select One: (4 Credit Hours)
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4 (Required)
- MAC 2253 - Applied Calculus Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
Social Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
Science Foundations
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4 (Required)
- BSC 2010C - Biology I Credit Hours: 4 (Required)
Common Program Prerequisites (CPP) (21 Credit Hours)
See “Common Prerequisites” in the Transfer and Transitions Services section for more information.
1 This course is substituted with BSC 3403C.
2 See Transfer Notes for possible substitutions.
- BSC 2010C - Biology I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP)
- BSC 2011C - Biology II Credit Hours: 4 1
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4 2 (GEP)
- CHM 2046 - Chemistry Fundamentals II Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2210 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2211 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3
- STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4 (GEP)
- PHY 2053C - College Physics I Credit Hours: 4
- PHY 2054C - College Physics II Credit Hours: 4
Core Requirements: Basic Level
Core Requirements: Advanced Level (52 Credit Hours)
Life Sciences
- MCB 3020C - General Microbiology Credit Hours: 5
- PCB 3522 - Molecular Biology I Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 4524 - Molecular Biology II Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 4720 - Industrial Perspectives Seminar Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 4312 - Molecular Biotechnology Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 4135 - Applied Molecular Cell Biology Credit Hours: 3
- Select one of the following courses
- BSC 3403C - Quantitative Biological Methods Credit Hours: 4
- or
- MCB 4721C - Methods in Biotechnology Credit Hours: 4
Select one of the following sequences of courses:
- PCB 4280 - Molecular Immunology Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3233L - Immunology Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- or
- PCB 3233 - Immunology Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3233L - Immunology Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
Chemistry
- BCH 4053 - Biochemistry I Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2046L - Chemistry Fundamentals Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- CHM 2211L - Organic Laboratory Techniques I Credit Hours: 2
Physics
Select one of the following sequences of courses:
- PHY 2053C - College Physics I Credit Hours: 4
- PHY 2054C - College Physics II Credit Hours: 4
- or
- PHY 2048C - General Physics Using Calculus I Credit Hours: 4
- PHY 2049C - General Physics Using Calculus II Credit Hours: 4
Math
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4
- MAC 2253 - Applied Calculus Credit Hours: 3
Restricted Electives (6 Credit Hours)
Two courses minimum, no more than one may be taken outside the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. Each graduate must complete 3 credits of MCB 4912 or MCB 4970H or serve an internship. Only three hours of Honors thesis or undergraduate research will count toward the restrictive elective requirement.
Those students who do not qualify for MCB 4970H may elect MCB 4912 Undergraduate Research as a substitute course, but a research report must be submitted to instructor after completion of research project.
Additional restricted electives can be taken as approved by the associate director.
1 Students must take MCB 3203L - Pathogenic Microbiology laboratory in order for the combination to count as 1 restricted elective
- BCH 4054 - Biochemistry II Credit Hours: 3
- BCH 4103L - Biochemical Methods Credit Hours: 2
- MCB 3203 - Pathogenic Microbiology Credit Hours: 3 1
- MCB 4404 - Bacterial Genetics and Physiology Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 4204 - Cellular Microbiology: Host-Pathogen Interactions Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 4284 - Immunobiology Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 4503C - Virology Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 4603 - Environmental Microbiology Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 4912 - Directed Independent Research Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 4970H - Honors Undergraduate Thesis II Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 5225 - Molecular Biology of Disease Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 5505 - Molecular Virology Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 5654C - Applied Industrial Microbiology Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 5932 - Current Topics in Molecular Biology Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3063 - Genetics Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3703C - Human Physiology Credit Hours: 4
- PCB 4234 - Cancer Biology Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 4521 - Tissue Engineering Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 4805 - Endocrinology Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 5275 - Signal Transduction Mechanics Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 4414 - Microbial Metabolism Credit Hours: 3
Capstone Requirements
Electives
Foreign Language Requirements
Admissions
- Two years of one foreign language in high school, or one year of one foreign language in college (or equivalent proficiency exam) prior to graduation.
Graduation
Additional Requirements
Required Minors
Departmental Exit Requirements
- A student must complete all coursework in the baccalaureate curriculum as shown, and, earn a GPA of at least 2.0 for all coursework in the Prerequisites, Core and Restricted Electives
- A minimum of 20 hours must be taken at UCF in the department of the major
- Students will be required to take a comprehensive test during their last semester
University Minimum Exit Requirements
- A 2.0 UCF GPA
- 48 semester hours of upper division credit completed
- 60 semester hours earned after CLEP awarded
- 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
- A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
- Complete the General Education Program, the Gordon Rule, and nine hours of Summer credit.
Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 120
Additional Information
Honors In Major
- Application and admission through the department and the Burnett Honors College
- Fulfill University requirements for Honors in the Major and maintain a 3.2 UCF GPA; 3.5 in the major; 3.2 cumulative average for graded upper division courses regardless of the institution
- Complete the following with a grade of B or better and successfully complete the oral defense of the Honors Thesis MCB 4970H Honors Undergraduate Thesis II Credit Hours: 3
Related Programs
- Biology (B.S.)
- Chemistry (B.S.)
- Medical Laboratory Sciences (B.S.)
- Biomedical Sciences (B.S.)
Certificates
Related Minors
- Biology Minor
- Chemistry Minor
- Biomedical Sciences Minor
Advising Notes
Transfer Notes
- Students who begin a two semester sequence course (e.g. General Chemistry) at a Florida College System institution are strongly encouraged to complete the sequence before transferring. If it will not be possible to complete the sequence before transferring, the student should postpone beginning the course until enrolling at UCF.
Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses
- Substitutes for Common Program Prerequisites
- MAC X311 or MAC X233 or MAC X353 or MAC X281
- PHY X253C & PHY X054C or PHY X048/X048L & PHY X049/X049L
- STA X023 or STA X122 or STA X014 or STA X024 or STA X321
Acceptable Substitutes
- CHM 2045C may be substituted with CHM 2040 and CHM 2041 Credit Hours: 4
- BSC 2011C - Biology II Credit Hours: 4 may be substituted with: BSC 3403C
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4 may be substituted with: CHM 2040
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4 may be substituted with: CHM 2041
Program Academic Learning Compacts
- Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at: http://www.oeas.ucf.edu/alc/academic_learning_compacts.htm
Equipment Fees
- Part-Time Student: $39 per term
- Full-Time Student: $78 per term
Plan of Study
Freshman Year - Fall (14 Credit Hours)
1 or follow math sequence determined by Math Placement Exam
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2045C - Chemistry Fundamentals I Credit Hours: 4
- MAC 2311C - Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Credit Hours: 4 1
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
Freshman Year - Spring (14 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3
- BSC 2010C - Biology I Credit Hours: 4
- CHM 2046 - Chemistry Fundamentals II Credit Hours: 3
- CHM 2046L - Chemistry Fundamentals Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Fall (14 Credit Hours)
- CHM 2210 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 3020C - General Microbiology Credit Hours: 5
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 3
- CGS 1060C - Introduction to Computers Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Spring (16 Credit Hours)
- CHM 2211 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3
- BSC 3403C - Quantitative Biological Methods Credit Hours: 4
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective or Elective Credit Hours: 3
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- CHM 2211L - Organic Laboratory Techniques I Credit Hours: 2
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Summer (9 Credit Hours)
- Restricted Elective or Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- CHM 2211L - Organic Laboratory Techniques I Credit Hours: 2
- Elective Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Fall (13 Credit Hours)
- PCB 3522 - Molecular Biology I Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 4720 - Industrial Perspectives Seminar Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
Select One: (4 Credit Hours)
1 *Students electing to enroll in the PHY 2048C/PHY 2049C sequence must plan to accommodate MAC 2311C/MAC 2312 as prerequisites.
- PHY 2053C - College Physics I Credit Hours: 4
- PHY 2048C - General Physics Using Calculus I Credit Hours: 4 1
Junior Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)
- PCB 4524 - Molecular Biology II Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 4280 - Molecular Immunology Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3233L - Immunology Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- PCB 4529C - Experimental Molecular Cell Biology Credit Hours: 4
Select One: (4 Credit Hours)
1 *Students electing to enroll in the PHY 2048C/PHY 2049C sequence must plan to accommodate MAC 2311C/MAC 2312 as prerequisites.
- PHY 2054C - College Physics II Credit Hours: 4
- PHY 2049C - General Physics Using Calculus II Credit Hours: 4 1
Senior Year - Fall (13 Credit Hours)
- MCB 4721C - Methods in Biotechnology Credit Hours: 4
- MCB 4312 - Molecular Biotechnology Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective or Elective Credit Hours: 3
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- BCH 4053 - Biochemistry I Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 4414 - Microbial Metabolism Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Spring (12 Credit Hours)
- PCB 4174 - Foundation of Bio-Imaging Science Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective or Elective Credit Hours: 3
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- BCH 4053 - Biochemistry I Credit Hours: 3
For students who transfer in their junior year
- For students who transfer in their junior year from a Florida College System institution, the revised sequence of courses is provided [it is assumed that GEP and physics will be completed at an FCS institution:
Junior Year - Fall
Students electing to enroll in the PHY 2048C/PHY 2049C sequence must plan to accommodate MAC 2311C/MAC 2312 as prerequisites.
- MCB 3020C - General Microbiology Credit Hours: 5
- MCB 4720 - Industrial Perspectives Seminar Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Spring
- PCB 3522 - Molecular Biology I Credit Hours: 3
- BSC 3403C - Quantitative Biological Methods Credit Hours: 4
- BCH 4053 - Biochemistry I Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Fall
- MCB 4414 - Microbial Metabolism Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 4721C - Methods in Biotechnology Credit Hours: 4
- MCB 4312 - Molecular Biotechnology Credit Hours: 3
- Elective 3000 level Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Spring
- PCB 4524 - Molecular Biology II Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 4280 - Molecular Immunology Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 3233L - Immunology Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
- PCB 4529C - Experimental Molecular Cell Biology Credit Hours: 4
- PCB 4174 - Foundation of Bio-Imaging Science Credit Hours: 3
