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Dec 11, 2024
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2024-25 College of Liberal Arts
Biology Major
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 Return to: DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS
Meet the Faculty
The biology major exposes students to a wide variety of field, laboratory, and classroom experiences fundamental to the life sciences. Through selected electives, students may 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 teaching 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 simultaneously major or minor in biology and marine biology, or biochemistry/molecular biology.
Students with AP Biology scores of 5, or IB scores of 5, 6, or 7 (on the higher level IB exam), can be given the option of exemption from either BIO 120 or BIO 121 upon department chair approval.
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Major Requirements
Nine (9) courses and an additional 10 semester hours of BIO prefix elective course credit are required: seven (7) core biology courses, two (2) core chemistry courses, 10 semester hours of elective courses, and satisfactory performance on a comprehensive standardized examination. At least six (6) of the nine (9) courses required for the biology major must be taken at Rollins College or as part of a Rollins-sanctioned program (e.g., Duke Marine Laboratory, University of London). Of these six (6), at least four (4) must be BIO courses beyond BIO 120 /BIO 121 . At least one (1) 200-level BIO course is required and is a prerequisite for any 300 or 400-level BIO course. To declare this major, a student must have a minimum 2.0 GPA in at least two (2) of the courses listed on the major map.
Required Biology Courses (7 courses)
BIO 120 and BIO 121 Required
Molecular biology/genetics (1 course)
Ecosystems/field study (1 course)
Senior Seminar (1 course)
Biology Electives (10 credits)
Complete any biology course from BIO 210 and above; courses from the core groupings, other than those used to satisfy the core, may be used as electives.
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 (1) of the courses taken to fulfill the requirements for a major in biology be a plant-oriented biology course.
Required Chemistry (2 courses)
Complete Comprehensive Standardized Examination
Satisfactory Performance on a Comprehensive Standardized Examination is Required of All Majors.
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 220/220L , CHM 221/221L and PHY 120 /PHY 121 or PHY 130 /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 enabling students to spend a semester there. Courses taken at the Duke lab can be used to fulfill two courses in the biology major (any combination of core and electives). Students need to petition and receive approval from the Department of Biology for this and any other off-campus program.
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