Biological Science
ACADEMIC MAP (Effective Summer 2024 and after)
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
This map is a term-by-term sample course schedule. The milestones listed to the right of each term are designed to keep you on course to graduate in four years. The Sample Schedule serves as a general guideline to help you build a full schedule each term. The General Education and Elective courses must be selected to satisfy all area and diversity requirements unless your program meets these requirements with major courses. Milestones are courses and special requirements necessary for timely progress to complete a major. Missing milestones will result in one of two types of map registration stops. The first level (Degree Map Off-track) is placed following grade posting if the student has missed a milestone (course and/or GPA) for the first time in the major. If a student is in non-compliance with milestones for two (2) consecutive semesters (excluding summers), a Major Change Required stop is placed on the student's registration.
The biology major works best if you can start in the highest math for which you have completed the prerequisites. If you start the biology major in MAC1105 College Algebra, you should take BSC2010 with Lab in Term 1. If you begin FSU with earned credit for MAC1105 College Algebra, you should take MAC1140 and CHM1045 with Lab during Term 1. Your career plans may require you to take science courses beyond the minimum required for the undergraduate degree in biology.
Mapping Coordinator: Shellie Camp
Email: scamp@fsu.edu
Sample Schedule and Required Milestones by Term
Sample Schedule: Term 1 hrs |
ENC1101 Freshman Composition3 |
MAC1140 Pre-Calculus Algebra 3 |
CHM1045 General Chemistry I and CHM1045 Lab4 |
GE History3 |
Required Milestones: Term 1 |
Complete ENC1101 ( ≥ C minus ) |
Complete MAC1105 ( ≥ C minus ) |
Sample Schedule: Term 2 hrs |
ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context 3 |
MAC1114 Analytic Trigonometry2 |
CHM1046 General Chemistry II and CHM1046 Lab4 |
GE Core Social Science3 |
Required Milestones: Term 2 |
Complete ENC2135 ( ≥ C minus ) |
Summer hrs |
MAC2311 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I4 |
BSC2010 Biological Science I and BSC2010 Lab4 |
Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs |
BSC2011 Biological Sciences II and BSC2011 Lab4 |
STA2171 Biological Sciences II 4 |
GE Core Humanities3 |
CHM2210 Organic Chemistry I3 |
BSC3938 Careers in the Biological Sciences1 |
Required Milestones: Term 3 |
Complete CHM1045 and Lab ( ≥ C minus in each) |
Complete BSC2010 and Lab ( ≥ C minus in each) |
Complete MAC1140 or MAC1114 ( ≥ C minus ) |
Sample Schedule: Term 4 hrs |
PCB3063 Genetics3 |
Biology major course3 |
GE Ethics3 |
CHM2211 Organic Chemistry II or PHY2053C College Physics A3-4 |
BSC3930 Seminar in Biological Frontiers1 |
Summer |
Two (2) Elective courses outside of the major |
Required Milestones: Term 4 |
Complete BSC2011 and Lab ( ≥ C minus in each) |
Complete CHM1046 and Lab ( ≥ C minus in each) |
Complete MAC1140 and MAC1114 ( ≥ C minus in each) |
Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs |
PHY2053C College Physics A or PHY2054C College Physics B4 |
BSC3016 Eukaryotic Diversity or PCB3134 Cell Structure & Function3 |
Elective course outside of the major3 |
GE additional course3 |
Required Milestones: Term 5 |
Complete MAC2311 ( ≥ C minus ) |
Civic Literacy requirement |
Sample Schedule: Term 6 hrs |
BSC3402L Experimental Biology Lab 3 |
Foreign Language course4 |
Biology major course3 |
Biology major course3 |
Required Milestones: Term 6 |
Complete CHM2210, CHM3217 or PHY2053C/2048C ( ≥ C minus ) |
Complete PCB3063, BSC3402L , BSC3016 or PCB3134 ( ≥ C minus ) |
Begin Foreign Language |
Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs |
Foreign Language Course4 |
Biology major course with Lab4 |
Elective course outside of the major3 |
GE additional course3 |
Required Milestones: Term 7 |
Complete a Pre-Graduation Check |
Complete 4 of the 5 Biological Science labs required for graduation |
Sample Schedule: Term 8 hrs |
PCB4674 Evolution3 |
Biology major course with Lab4 |
Foreign Language Course4 |
Elective course outside of the major3 |
Required Milestones: Term 8 |
Apply for Graduation in 1st two weeks |
Employment Information
Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: Baccalaureate level- Biological Laboratory Assistant/Technician, Biotechnologist, Biostatistician, Bio-Informatics Specialist, Crime Laboratory Analyst, Environmental Scientist, Medical Technologist, Technical Sales and/or Service Representative, Teacher-middle school and high school (with appropriate education preparation), Scientific Writer, Wildlife Biologist, Zoo Keeper. With further study: Biological Scientist/Researcher, Environmental Attorney, Environmental Scientist, Environmental Resource Manager, Fisheries Biologist/Marine Biologist, Microbiologist, Geneticist, Genetic Counselor, Optometrist, Physician, Physician Assistant, Pharmacist, Veterinarian, Dentist, Professor-community College, 4-year College, university.
Representative Employers: Educational Institutions, Consulting Firms, Research Institutions, Law Offices, Biotechnology Companies, Publishers, Biomedical Products Manufacturers, Pharmaceutical Companies, Hospitals and Clinics, Medical Laboratories, Museums, Zoos, Aquaria, Botanical Gardens, Federal and State Agencies involved in agriculture, commerce, defense, diplomacy, education, environmental protection, intelligence, law enforcement, public health agencies.
International Opportunities: International study is available for all students and may include opportunities for internships or taking course work towards various majors and minors. International study may have an impact on the MAP; therefore, it is important to consult with the academic advisor before participating. Interested students can find information about international study, research, internships, and service opportunities at: global.fsu.edu/undergraduate-students/going-abroad.
This Map is not a contract, either expressed or implied, between the University and the student, but represents a flexible program of the current curriculum which may be altered from time to time to carry out the academic objectives of the University. The University specifically reserves the right to change, delete or add to any Map at any time within the student’s period of study at the University.
View Biological Science Program Guide