Department of Biological Sciences
Concentration in Molecular and Cellular Biology
Concentration in Pre-Professional
Concentration in Organismal, Ecological and Environmental Biology
Concentration in Biology Education
Course Descriptions
The Department of Biology's mission parallels the mission of Florida A&M University, which is to provide,
enlighten and enrich the student's academic environment. They will become highly qualified individuals who are
prepared and capable of serving as leaded contributors in our ever-evolving society.
The department is dedicated to providing contemporary quality undergraduate and graduate education in several
areas of the biological sciences, including pre-medical biology to science education. The structure of our programs
ensures that students are exposed to courses that will prepare them for careers in all areas of biology. The laboratory
experiences offered by the department require that students develop competencies in the use of modern biological
techniques, and in the analysis, interpretation and presentation of data.
Part of our mission is to create opportunities for our students conducting research. Our students are well prepared to
enter graduate or professional schools; such as medical, dental, or pharmacy; or to enter the workforce. It is our goal
to produce graduate students who produce publishable research. We also prepare our graduate students to continue
their education in doctoral or medical programs. The department serves non-majors as well, exposing this population
of students to biological concepts that impact their lives. The faculty and staff of the Department of Biology strive to
always provide "Excellence with Caring."
A student may obtain a bachelor of science degree from one of the four curricula. A particular
curriculum should be selected only after discussion with an academic advisor in the department.
Grade and Quality Point Requirements - The student in biology who plans to pursue a degree in
any of the major curricula will be required to earn a grade of “C” or better in biology core
courses (lecture and lab).
Requirements for a Minor in Biology - A minor in biology requires twenty credit hours of
biology courses. A student must complete BSC 1010 and 1011 (lecture and lab) with a grade of
“C” or better. The additional twelve hours may be taken from the following courses: ZOO 3713,
PCB 2033, PCB 3063, BOT 3303, BOT 2313, PCB 4024, PCB 4023, and PCB 3723.
Faculty
Professors: Latinwo, Lekan; Adams, James; Washington, Arthur
Assistant Professors: Abonyo, Barack; Drum, Matthew; Gottschalk, Virginia; Hacisalihoglu,
Gokan; Lebby, Kimberly; McCollum, Adrian; Miller, J.R.; Odewumni, Caroline O; Rolle,
Roderick; Thornton, Michael;
Instructors: Abdullah, Ahkinya; Mihalcik, Elizabeth
Instructor/Academic Advisor: Banks, Letina
Bachelor of Science in Biology
(Concentration in Molecular and Cellular Biology)
Freshman Year
Sem.
Hrs.
Fall Semester
BSC 1010 General Biology I Lecture
BSC 1010L General Biology Lab I
BSC 3926 Professional Development for Biology
MAC 1105 College Algebra or 1147 Pre-Calculus
ENC 1101 Freshman Communication Skills I
CHM 1045 General Chemistry I Lecture
CHM 1045L General Chemistry I Lab
3
1
1
3 or 4
3
3
1
15 or 16
Spring Semester
BSC 1011 General Biology II Lecture
BSC 1011L General Biology II Lab
CHM 1046 General Chemistry II Lecture
CHM 1046 L General Chemistry II Lab
ENC 1102 Freshman Communications Skills II
MAC 1114 Trig. Functions or 2311 Calculus I
Sem.
Hrs.
2
2
3
1
3
3 or 4
14 or 15
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
PCB 2033 Ecology
Humanities Elective
MAC 2311 Calculus I
CHM 3210 Organic Chemistry I Lecture
CHM 3210L Organic Chemistry I Lab
Social Science Elective
Sem.
Hrs.
3
3
4
3
1
3
17
Spring Semester
ZOO 3713 Comparative Anatomy
CHM 3211 Organic Chemistry II Lecture
CHM 3211L Organic Chemistry II Lab
Sem.
Hrs.
4
3
1
Humanities Elective
MCB 3010 Microbiology
3
4
15
Summer Semester
STA 2023 Statistics/Biostatistics
AMH 2091 Introduction to African American History or
AFA 3104 Introduction to African American Experiences
Sem.
Hrs.
3
3
6
Junior Year
Fall Semester
PCB 3063 Genetics
Biology Elective
PHY 2048 General Physics Lecture
PHY 2048L General Physics Lab
Sem.
Hrs.
4
6
4
1
15
Spring Semester
BOT 3303/2313 Plant Anatomy/Morphology
Biology Elective
Free Elective (above 2000 level)
PHY 2049 General Physics II Lecture
PHY 2049L General Physics II Lab
Sem.
Hrs.
3
4
3
4
1
15
Senior Year
Fall Semester
BCH 4033 Biochemistry I Lecture
BCH 4033L Biochemistry I Lab
PCB 4023 Molecular Cell Biology
Free Elective (2000 level or above)
Free Elective (2000 level or above
Sem.
Hrs.
3
1
4
3
3
14
Spring Semester
PCB 3723 Vertebrate Physiology Lecture
PCB 3723 Vertebrate Physiology Lab
Chemistry Elective
Biology Elective
BSC 4930 Professional Seminar
Free Elective (2000 level or above)
Sem.
Hrs.
3
1
1-4
3
1
3
12-15
TOTAL 120
Bachelor of Science in Biology
(Concentration in Pre-Professional)
Freshman Year
Sem.
Hrs.
Fall Semester
BSC 1010 General Biology I Lecture
BSC 1010L General Biology I Lab
CHM 1045 General Chemistry I Lecture
CHM 1045L General Chemistry I Lab
MAC 1105 College Algebra or 1147 Pre-Calculus
BSC 3926 Professional Deveopment for Biology
ENC 1101 Freshman Communication Skills I
3
1
3
1
3 or 4
1
3
14 or 15
Spring Semester
BSC 1011 General Biology II Lecture
BSC 1011L General Biology II Lab
CHM 1046 General Chemistry II Lectur
CHM 1046L General Chemistry II Lab
ENC 1102 Freshman Communication Skills I
MAC 1114 Trig. Functions or 2311 Calculus I
Sem.
Hrs.
2
2
3
1
3
3 or 4
14 or 15
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
PCB 2033 Ecology
CHM 3210 Organic Chemistry I Lecture
CHM 3210L Organic Chemistry I Lab
Humanities Elective
Social Science Elective
MAC 2311Calculus I
Sem.
Hrs.
3
3
1
3
3
4
17
Spring Semester
ZOO 3713 Comparative Anatomy
CHM 3211 Organic Chemistry II Lecture
CHM 3211L Organic Chemistry II Lab
Humanities Elective
MCB 3010 Microbiology
Sem.
Hrs.
4
3
1
3
4
15
Summer Semester
STA 2023 Statistics
AMH 2091 Introduction to African American History or AFA 3104
Introduction to African American Experiences
Sem.
Hrs.
3
3
6
Junior Year
Fall Semester
PCB 3063 Genetics
Biology Elective
ZOO3653 Developmental Anatomy
PHY 2048 General Physics I Lecture
PHY 2048L General Physics I Lab
Sem.
Hrs.
4
3
3
4
1
15
Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
3
4
3
4
BOT 3303/2313 Plant Anatomy or Plant Morphology
Biology Elective
Free Elective (above 2000 level)
PHY 2049 General Physics II Lecture
PHY 2049L General Physics II Lab
1
15
Sem.
Hrs.
Senior Year
Fall Semester
BSC 4930 Professional Seminar
BCH 4033 Biochemistry I Lecture
BCH 4033L Biochemistry I Lab
PCB 4023 Molecular Cell Biology
Free Elective (above 2000 level)
1
3
1
4
3
12
Sem.
Hrs.
3
1
3
1
Spring Semester
PCB 3723 Vertebrate Physiology Lecture
PCB 3723LVertebrate Physiology
BCH 4034 Biochemistry II Lecture
BCH 4034L Biochemistry II Lab
Free Elective (above 2000 level)
3
TOTAL
11
120
Bachelor of Science in Biology
(Concentration in Organismal, Ecological and Environmental Biology)
Freshman Year
Fall Semester
BSC 1010 General Biology I Lecture
BSC 1010L General Biology Lab I
MAC 1105 or MAC 1147 College Algebra or Pre-Calculus
ENC 1101 Freshman Communication Skills I
Sem.
Hrs.
3
1
3 or 4
3
CHM 1045 General Chemistry I Lecture
CHM 1045L General Chemistry I Lab
BSC 3926 Professional Development for Biology
3
1
1
15 o 16
Spring Semester
BSC 1011 General Biology II Lecture
BSC 1011L General Biology II Lab
CHM 1046 General Chemistry II Lecture
CHM 1046L General Chemistry II Lab
ENC 1102 Freshman Communication Skills II
MAC 1114 or 2311 Trig. Functions or Calculus I
Sem.
Hrs.
2
2
3
1
3
3 or 4
14 or 15
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
PCB 2033 Ecology
Humanities Elective
CHM 3210 Organic Chemistry I Lecture
CHM 3210L Organic Chemistry I Lab
Social Science Elective
MAC 2311 Calculus I
Sem.
Hrs.
3
3
3
1
3
4
17
Spring Semester
ZOO 3713 Comparative Anatomy
CHM 3211 Organic Chemistry II Lecture
CHM 3211L Organic Chemistry II Lab
Humanities
MCB 3010 Microbiology
Sem.
Hrs.
4
3
1
3
4
15
Summer Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
STA 2023 Statistics/Biostatistics
AMH 2091 Introduction to African American History or
AFA 3104 Introduction to African American Experiences
3
3
6
Junior Year
Fall Semester
PCB 3063 Genetics
Biology Elective
PHY 2048 General Physics Lecture
PHY 2048L General Physics Lab
Sem.
Hrs.
4
6
4
1
15
Spring Semester
BOT 3303/2313 Plant Anatomy/Morphology
Biology Elective
PCB 4674 Evolutionary Biology
PHY 2049 General Physics II Lecture
PHY 2049L General Physics II Lab
Sem.
Hrs.
3
4
3
4
1
15
Senior Year
Fall Semester
BSC 4930 Professional Seminar
BCH 4033 Biochemistry I Lecture
BCH 4033L Biochemistry I Lab
PCB 4023 Molecular Cell Biology
Free Elective (2000 level or above
Sem.
Hrs.
1
3
1
4
3
12
Spring Semester
PCB 3723 Vertebrate Physiology Lecture
PCB 3723 Vertebrate Physiology Lab
Chemistry Elective
Sem.
Hrs.
3
1
1
Free Elective (2000 level or above)
3
TOTAL
8-12
120
Bachelor of Science in Science Education
(Concentration in Biology Education)
Freshman Year
Fall Semester
ENC 1101 Freshman Communication Skills I
MAC 1105 College Algebra
BSC 1010 General Biology I Lecture
BSC 1010 General Biology I Lab
CHM 1045 General Chemistry I Lecture
CHM 1045L General Chemistry I Lab
EDG 3004 Overview and Orientation to teaching
Sem.
Hrs.
3
3
3
1
3
1
1
15
Spring Semester
ENC 1102 Freshman Communication Skills II
MAC 1114 Trigonometric Functions
BSC 1011 General Biology II Lecture
BSC 1011 General Biology II Lab
CHM 1046 General Chemistry II Lecture
CHM 1046 General Chemistry II Lab
EDF 1005 Introduction to Education
Sem.
Hrs.
3
3
2
2
3
1
3
17
Summer Semester
PSY 2012 Intro to Psychology
SPC 2600 Public Speaking or
SPC 1050 Foundation of Speech
AMH 2010 U.S. History 1492-1865 or
AMH 2020 U. S. History 1865-Present
Sem.
Hrs.
3
3
3
9
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
PCB 2033 Ecology
CHM 3210 Organic Chemistry I Lecture
CHM 3210L Organic Chemistry I Lab
ARH 2000 Art Appreciation or
MUL 2111 Intro.To Music or
THE 2311 Theatre Appreciation
MAC 2311 Calculus I
EDG 2701 Teaching Diverse Population
Sem.
Hrs.
3
3
1
3
4
3
17
Spring Semester
MCB 3010 Microbiology
CHM 3211 Organic Chemistry II Lecture
CHM 3211L Organic Chemistry II Lab
PHI 2010 Intro. to Philosophy
EME 2040 Intro. to Educational Technology
AMH 2091 African American History
Sem.
Hrs.
4
3
1
3
3
3
17
Junior Year
Fall Semester
ZOO 3603 Developmental Anatomy
BOT 3303/2313 Plant Anatomy/Morphology
TSL 4324 Instructional Strategies for Teaching ESOL
PHY 2053 College Physics I Lecture
PHY 2053L College Physics I Lab or
PHY 2048 General Physics I Lecture
PHY 2048L General Physics I Lab
BSC 4930 Professional Seminar
Sem.
Hrs.
3
3
3
3
3
4
1
1
17
Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
GLY 2001 Intro. to Earth-Space Science
PCB 3723 Vertebrate Physiology Lecture
PCB 3723L Vertebrate Physiology Lab
ESE 4930 Inst. Seminar in Secondary Ed-Theory and Law
PHY 2054 College Physics II Lecture or
PHY 2049 General Physics II Lecture
SCE 3330 Teaching Science in High School
3
3
1
3
4
3
16
Sem.
Hrs.
Senior Year
Fall Semester
ESE 3341 Theory and Practice of Teaching
EDF 3430 Measurement and Evaluation of Educational Growth
PCB 3063 Genetics
EDF 3135 Adolescent Psychology
3
3
4
3
13
Sem.
Hrs.
Spring Semester
ESE 4943 Student Teaching
6
TOTAL
6
127