Bachelor in Biology University of Tampa CSSME and CNHS

The Department of Biology offers students a wide selection of stimulating courses catering to degrees in biology, marine science-biology, marine science-chemistry, biology-business, and environmental science.

Students studying any of the biological fields are presented with many experiential learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom, including:

• Rigorous laboratory exercises
• Class field trips
• Weekend excursions to places like the Florida Keys and Everglades National Park
• International travel opportunities
• Semester-long study abroad programs

Bachelor of Science in Biology: This broad but intensive program can be tailored to fit nearly any career path, including preparation for governmental or private sector employment in the field or in the lab, as well as preparation for graduate studies and acceptance to degree programs in health-related fields. Four concentrations are available in this degree program: general biology, molecular biology, pre-professional biology, and biology-business.

Bachelor of Arts in Biology: Recently added to the list of degrees offered at UT, the Bachelor of Arts in biology is similar to the Bachelor of Science in biology, but allows additional flexibility for students preparing for a career or graduate program that relies less on courses in chemistry and physics. Two concentrations are available in this degree program: general biology and organismal and evolutionary biology.

Minor in Biology: A valuable addition to the degree programs of students pursuing degrees that require a basic knowledge of the natural world, such as chemistry, physics, psychology, exercise science, and any other degree that might be strengthened by a general knowledge of biological principles.

Practical Experience

Students studying any of the biological fields are presented with many experiential learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom, including rigorous laboratory exercises and field trips to places like the Florida Keys and Everglades National Park. Students are also encouraged to participate in international travel courses or semester-long study abroad programs. Students recently participated in faculty-led travel courses to Costa Rica to study tropical ecosystems and to Honduras to study coral reef ecosystems.

The University maintains a formal affiliation with the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL), an educational and research institute located in Ocean Springs, MS. This arrangement allows students to take field courses in marine science at GCRL during the summer. Course credit is awarded through the University of Southern Mississippi and is accepted at UT as transfer credit.

The Bachelor of Science in Biology degree is the most versatile of all the majors in the Department of Biology, allowing students to tailor their studies to nearly any career path. This rigorous program provides coursework and skills that students need to prepare for admission to professional health degree programs and graduate school or careers in highly specialized fields in the natural sciences. It has more extensive mathematics, chemistry, and physics course requirements, leaving less room for students to take biology electives or other courses outside the major than does the Bachelor of Arts in Biology.

B.S. Biology students are expected to specialize in a particular area of study, or "concentration," that most closely matches their anticipated career. Four concentrations are available within this major.

General Biology Concentration

This program provides students with the most flexibility. Students assimilate knowledge of a broad range of subjects in the natural and physical sciences, but can also fine-tune their degree to learn concepts and gain skill sets that apply to nearly any specific career path. This is the concentration of choice for students seeking entry into professional programs, graduate programs, or employment in fields that are not specifically covered in the other three Biology B.S. concentrations.

Biology-Pre-Professional Concentration

Among our more popular degree programs, this concentration draws from coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics to provide students with all the coursework and background needed for success in health-related fields. This focused, rigorous program is specifically designed to prepare students for entry into medical, veterinary, dental, optometry, and other advanced degrees in the medical profession.

Molecular Biology Concentration

The emphasis of this program is on coursework that will help prepare students for careers where molecular biology concepts and techniques are the main focus. This program will prepare students for careers or advanced degrees in molecular genetics, immunology, biotechnology, forensic science, and biomedical research.

Biology-Business Concentration

This program blends contemporary biological knowledge with fundamental principles of economics and business. It is designed specifically for students interested in pursuing careers in biomedical, agricultural, biotechnical, environmental, and other applied fields where sales, marketing, management, and accounting skills are required.

The Bachelor of Arts in Biology degree provides biology students with a more liberal educational Pathway and is appropriate for students wishing to specialize in a field of biology that is less reliant on collateral sciences such as chemistry and physics, or students that also have interests that fall outside of biology. The emphasis in this program is to obtain a broad, liberal arts education rooted in the study of the diversity, complexity, and evolution of life.

Students working toward a Bachelor of Arts in biology are expected to specialize in a particular area of study, or "concentration," that most closely matches their anticipated career trajectory. Two concentrations are available within this major. Both are fairly general in scope, and coursework can be tailored to fit nearly any career path, from the very basic and theoretical, to the most applied, real-world areas of study.

General Biology Concentration

This is the most flexible degree program offered in the Department of Biology. Within this concentration, students can specialize in one of three areas of study, depending on their specific interests, or pursue broad training by completing multiple courses from all three categories. The three "course distribution categories" include ecology/environmental biology, organismal/evolutionary biology, and cell/molecular biology (refer to the UT Catalog for lists of courses). With this degree, students can pursue career paths ranging from basic and theoretical research to applied fields centered on solving real-world problems.

Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Concentration

This program meets the requirements for students interested in a variety of career paths involving the evolution, development, physiology, behavior, ecology, and conservation of organisms. This concentration is great for students interested in pursuing careers in evolutionary biology, natural history, systematics and taxonomy, conservation, and many other theoretical and applied fields. It combines a historical perspective on evolution and biodiversity with the innovative and technological aspects of novel fields such as biomechanical modeling and geographic information systems.

Recent graduates who have chosen to major in these fields have established successful careers in many governmental agencies and the private sector. Additionally, many graduates attend top-tier graduate schools or professional programs. The foundation for their success was gained through the hands-on educational experience and personalized attention afforded by The University of Tampa.

Internships are available in many disciplines and locations, including local agencies, medical offices, and consulting firms. A number of faculty-led collaborative research opportunities are also available for exceptional students, providing direct exposure to the concepts, methods, and technologies utilized in their chosen field. Exceptional students have myriad opportunities to enter into funded research collaborations with faculty, obtain summer funding for their own independent research, and present the results of their research at professional meetings and in peer-reviewed literature.