| The College of Arts & Sciences

 

Major in Biology

The biology major exposes students to a wide variety of field, laboratory, and classroom experiences fundamental to the life sciences. Through selected electives students can concentrate on specific areas of interest such as marine biology, ecology, microbiology, botany, zoology, or molecular biology. The major also offers the flexibility for students to minor in another area or to fulfill requirements for secondary teacher certification. Students have excellent opportunities to engage in independent research projects. Graduates are prepared to pursue employment in biological laboratories, and for further study in the health professions or graduate research institutions. Students may not major, double major, or minor in both biology and marine biology.

 

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Eleven (11) courses and an additional 10 semester hours of elective course credit are required: seven (7) core biology courses, four (4) core physical science courses, 10 semester hours of elective courses, and satisfactory performance on a comprehensive standardized examination. At least seven (7) courses required for the biology major must be taken at Rollins College or as part of a Rollins sanctioned program (e.g. Duke Marine lab, University of London).  Of these seven (7), at least five (5) must be BIO prefix courses beyond BIO 120/121. 
Students may not simultaneously major or minor in Biology and Marine Biology, or Biochemistry Molecular Biology.

CORE BIOLOGY COURSES (7 courses)

• BIO 120 General Biology I
• BIO 121 General Biology II
• One course in the Molecular Biology/Genetics group (BIO 308 Genetics or BIO 341 Molecular Biology)
• One course in the Ecosystems/Field Biology group (BIO 316 Ecology; BIO 330 Field Botany and Florida Ecosystems; BIO 210 Intro. Marine Science and BIO 388)
• One course in the Physiology group (BIO 311 Plant Physiology; BIO 312 Animal Physiology; or BIO 360 Cellular Biology)
• BIO 344 Biology Journal Club
• BIO 440 Senior Seminar or BIO 499 Independent Study: Biological Research

CORE PHYSICAL SCIENCE COURSES (4 courses)

• CHM 120 General Chemistry I
• CHM 121 General Chemistry II
• CHM 220 Organic Chemistry I
• PHY 120 General Physics I

          OR

• CHM 121 General Chemistry II
• CHM 220 Organic Chemistry I
• CHM 221 Organic Chemistry II
• PHY 120 General Physics I

BIOLOGY ELECTIVES (Ten (10) semester hours)

• Any biology course above BIO 210. Courses from the core grouping other than those used for the core, can be used as electives. One biological internship (BIO 296, 396, or 496) may be used as an elective.
• Plants play a central role in our biosphere. However, our modern society often fails to recognize the significance of plants in biological systems, the scientific contributions of plant based research, and the importance of plants in human affairs.Therefore, the Department recommends that at least one of the courses taken to fulfill the requirements for a major in biology be a plant-oriented biology course.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Students preparing for graduate programs in biology or professional schools, in health-related areas such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or pharmacy need a thorough introduction to chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Therefore, they are advised to take CHM 221 and PHY 121 or PHY 131, (a) calculus course(s), and a statistics course. In addition, some professional schools now require biochemistry. Students should be aware that requirements of different programs can vary and that they should seek guidance from advisors and program directors.

OFF-CAMPUS EXPERIENCES

Rollins College, has an agreement with Marine Biological Laboratories at Duke University and Woods Hole enabling students to spend a semester at these sites. Courses taken at the Duke lab can be used to fulfill two courses in the biology major (any combination of core and electives). Students participating in the Semester in Environmental Science at Woods Hole will be able to use courses taken there as the core course in ecosystems/field study and up to two (2) electives. Students need to petition and receive approval from the Department of Biology for this and any other off-campus program.

 

MINOR REQUIREMENTS

Six (6) core courses are required: Four (4) core biology courses, and two (2) core chemistry courses. In addition, a minimum of ten (10) semester hours of BIO prefix elective courses (BIO 210 or higher) are also required. At least one (1) of the elective courses must be at the 300 or 400 level. At least four (4) courses required for the biology minor must be taken at Rollins College or as part of a Rollins sanctioned program (e.g. Woods Hole, University of London). Of these four (4), at least three (3) must be BIO prefix courses beyond BIO 120/121.
Six (6) courses and 10 hours of elective classes are required.
Students may not simultaneously major or minor in Biology and Marine Biology, or Biochemistry Molecular Biology.

CORE BIOLOGY COURSES  (4 courses)

• BIO 120 General Biology I
• BIO 121 General Biology II

Two (2) courses satisfying two (2) out of the following three (3) clusters: molecular biology/genetics, ecosystems/field study, and physiology.

• Molecular biology/genetics
  • BIO 308 Genetics
  • BIO 341 Molecular Biology
• Ecosystems/Field study
  • BIO 210, 385F, 386F, or 387F Marine Biology Laboratory
  • BIO 316 Ecology
  • BIO 330 Field Botany and Florida Ecosystems
• Physiology
  • BIO 311 Plant Physiology
  • BIO 312 Animal Physiology
  • BIO 360 Cellular Biology

CORE CHEMISTRY COURSES  (2 courses in Chemistry selected from the list below.)

• CHM 120 General Chemistry I
• CHM 121 General Chemistry II
• CHM 220 Organic Chemistry I

BIOLOGY ELECTIVES (Ten (10) semester hours; at least one of the elective courses must be at the 300- or 400-level)

Any biology course above BIO 210. After satisfying core requirements in the cellular/molecular biology and ecosystems/field study, additional courses from these clusters may be used as electives.