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Description

The biology major, with a premedical emphasis, provides a strong curriculum in biology with significant study in the physical sciences. This major can provide the basis for graduate study in specialized fields of biology, for professional training in medical fields, and for teaching. Professional careers in the medical fields and in biology involve graduate study beyond the baccalaureate degree; therefore, both the core and the major have been designed to meet the admission requirements of many medical, dental, pharmacy, optometry, allied health, and veterinary schools, and of schools for graduate study in the biological sciences. Dual admission and combined programs with the Nova Southeastern University Health Professions Division are available for select, qualified students. Information on these programs can be obtained from the Office of Admissions.

Biology Specializations
Biology specializations are for students who require specific prerequisites for professional schools in the health professions. To earn a specialization, a student must achieve a C or higher in all coursework in that specialization. Requirements may vary and specific graduate programs may require additional courses in writing, math, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities. Students should consult with specific graduate schools to be sure that they meet the requirements.

The biology (premedical) major is offered during the day on NSU’s main campus.

Learning Outcomes

A successful biology graduate is expected to:

1. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the scientific method;
2. Demonstrate essential knowledge of biological sciences;
3. Demonstrate essential knowledge of physical sciences as they relate to the biological sciences;
4. Use mathematics to solve scientific problems and evaluate research data;
5. Demonstrate the ability to use standard laboratory and research techniques to collect and assess data;
6. Demonstrate an ability to synthesize and integrate biological principles with contemporary issues.

Curriculum Requirements

General Education Requirements (30 credits)

Students are required to complete 30 credit hours as part of the General Education Program.

Biology Major Requirements (65-69 credits)

Core Courses (45 – 49 credits)
BIOL 1500 Biology I/Lab (4 credits)
BIOL 1510 Biology II/Lab (4 credits)
BIOL 3600 Genetics/Lab (4 credits)
CHEM 1300 General Chemistry I/Lab (4 credits)
CHEM 1310 General Chemistry II/Lab (4 credits)
CHEM 2400 Organic Chemistry I/Lab (4 credits)
CHEM 2410 Organic Chemistry II/Lab (4 credits)
OR CHEM 2200 Essentials of Organic Chemistry (4 credits) may be taken in place of Organic Chemistry I and II (8 credits)
One 2000-level LITR course (3 credits) OR LITR 3500 Literature and Medicine (3 credits)
MATH 2100 Calculus I (4 credits)
MATH 3020 Applied Statistics (3 credits)
One 3000-level PHIL course from the following list:
PHIL 3010 Ethical Issues in Communication (3 credits)
PHIL 3180 Biomedical Ethics (3 credits)
PHIL 3200 Ethics and Sport (3 credits)
PHIL 3220 Philosophy of Science (3 credits)
PHIL 3360 Environmental Ethics (3 credits)
PHYS 2350 Physics I/Lab (4 credits)
PHYS 2360 Physics II/Lab (4 credits)

Major Electives (20 credits)
BIOL 2600 Medical Terminology (3 credits)
BIOL 3200 General Ecology/Lab (4 credits)
BIOL 3300 Invertebrate Zoology/Lab (4 credits)
BIOL 3312 Human Anatomy and Physiology/Lab (5 credits) OR BIOL 3320 Anatomy and Physiology I/Lab (4 credits)
BIOL 3330 Anatomy and Physiology II/Lab (4 credits)
BIOL 3400 Microbiology/Lab (4 credits)
BIOL 3500 Histology/Lab (4 credits)
BIOL 3700 Kinesiology (3 credits)
BIOL 3710 Exercise Physiology (3 credits)
BIOL 3800 Evolution (3 credits)
BIOL 4200 Neurobiology (3 credits)
BIOL 4300 Microbial Pathogenesis (3 credits)
BIOL 4340 Cellular and Molecular Biology (3 credits)
BIOL 4360 Immunology (3 credits)
BIOL 4380 Discovering Genomics, Proteomics, and Bioinformatics (3 credits)
BIOL 4390 Advanced Experimental Molecular Biology (3 credits)
BIOL 4400 Developmental Biology (3 credits)
CHEM 3650 Biochemistry/Lab (4 credits)
MATH 2001 Introduction to Mathematical Models in Biology (3 credits)
MBIO 2410 Marine Biology and Lab (4 credits)
MBIO 3700 Biology of Fishes/Lab (4 credits)

Pre-Health Professions

Health professional schools often require specific courses in addition to those in the biology major. As minimum academic requirements vary by program and by school, the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences does not prescribe specializations for students to complete. Instead, students may use the Nova Southeastern University Health Profession Division program requirements as a general guide to determine graduate school prerequisites. For admission into NSU’s health profession programs, students must achieve a C or higher in all coursework within that specialization. Requirements may vary and specific graduate programs may call for additional courses in writing, math, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities.

Students are strongly encouraged to consult faculty members and academic advisors to discuss their curriculum plan. In addition, it is recommended that students review Web sites of those professional schools for which an application is being considered. This review should take place early and often during the academic course of study.

Listed below are Web site links to the entrance requirements of NSU’s health professional programs:

Research and Internships

Of great interest to many students is participating in hands-on original research and under the supervision of a working research scientist, our students have the opportunity to earn credit toward their degree by doing cutting edge research in the fields of biology, genetics, cell biology, endocrinology, ecology, chemistry, biochemistry, and mathematics. Research questions currently under investigation by faculty members include: the effects of protein buildup on contact lenses, Florida panther genetics, shark population genetics, Gulf Stream ecology, bioinformatics, brain structure and function, and fish reproductive cycles.

In addition to original research, NSU biology students are offered opportunities to shadow physicians and nurses in local hospitals.

The academic program and curriculum requirements listed on this page are from the 2009-2010 edition of the NSU Undergraduate Student Catalog. Students are bound by policies and curricula published in the catalog in effect the semester they enter the university, unless an agreement is made with appropriate NSU administration officials allowing them to abide by policies published in a later catalog.