Biology Major

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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 or upon department chair approval.

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 /. 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

BIO 244 Required

BIO 244 - Biology Journal Club
Note: It is recommended that biology majors take this coure in their second year.

Molecular biology/genetics (1 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 , and / or /, (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.