The Department of Biology offers the bachelor's degree in biology with five specialization options to provide the student with the opportunity to focus their education on a specialty they find interesting. Whether your interests are in toxicology, forestry, medicine, agriculture, public health, biotechnology, or some other field, students should have little difficulty tailoring their education to meet their interests considering the variety of specializations available with the bachelor's degree. Before selecting any of the specialization options, please see your advisor for more information.
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Microbiology - Choose this specialty if you're interested in working with life smaller than the naked eye can see. Microbiology is quite a broad field due to the enormous diversity of microbial life. Bacteria play a critical role in disease, agriculture, and ecological processes. Microbiologists often have careers in the pharmaceutical, food production, pollution control, and environmental diagnostic fields.
If you’re interested in diagnosing bacterial and viral infections, such as MRSA, Salmonella and HIV, you need to be licensed as a
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
- Molecular Biology - Want to learn how life works at the molecular level? Choose the molecular biology track to learn how simple and complex reactions and processes make life possible. Become familiar with molecular biological tools that are used to reveal and manipulate biological processes for understanding and profit.
- Pre-professional - Want to be a doctor, dentist, veterinarian, pharmacist, physician's assistant, or physical therapist? This track will prepare for a career as a health professional. This track includes a Pre-Pharmacy AA (also see above under Interdisciplinary Sciences for a BS in Pre-Pharmacy).
- Fast-track to Biology Master's - This proposal outlines a 2/1/2 Fast-Track program ending in concurrently conferred B.S. and M.S. in Biology from UWF. The program is designed to offer a "fast-track" for students interested in earning an MS in Biology at UWF with specialization in Biotechnology or Marine Biology. There are options for students holding an AA degree as well as students working directly toward a BS. The BS in either Biology or Marine Biology and MS in Biology will be conferred concurrently upon completion of requirements for the MS degree. Entrance into the Fast-Track MS program requires an overall GPA in undergraduate work of 3.0 or better. Students in the Fast-Track program who choose to withdraw before completion of the requirements for the MS degree must fulfill all requirements set forth in the UWF catalog for the conventional track in Biology before they will receive a BS in Biology or in Marine Biology from UWF.
Minor in Biology
A 20 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. It is especially appropriate for students who
plan to work in administrative or other nonresearch-related areas of the biomedical, environmental, pharmaceutical, and other biological science-related industries.
A minimum of 14 sh must be taken at UWF, including at
least 9 sh of 3000/4000 course work taken in residence at
UWF. A minimum grade of .C. is required in all courses
used to satisfy the minor. Neither directed study nor credit
by exam (AP, CLEP, etc.) may be applied toward the minor.
Contact the Department of Biology
Academic Advisor for
assistance in choosing courses to meet specific needs.
Biology, Marine Biology, Medical Technology, and Zoo
Science majors may not earn this minor.
PCB 2131/L Cell Biology/Lab ..............................................4
Choose one:
BOT 2010/L General Botany/Lab ........................................4
ZOO 1010/L General Zoology/Lab ......................................4
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 which
includes at least one 4 sh lab course ....................................12
Additional Education Opportunities
Clinical Laboratory Sciences – Want to be involved in the medical field, working as a member of a team that diagnoses and monitors diseases like MRSA, Salmonella, Diabetes and Sickle Cell Anemia? This program leads to a certification and license as a Clinical Lab Scientist.
