BS in Biological Sciences: Quantifying Biology in the Classroom

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Florida International University

Program Overview

The BS in Biological Sciences: Quantifying Biology in the Classroom (QBIC) at Florida International University is a selective, interdisciplinary four-year track for students seeking a deeper approach to biological science through the integration of biology, mathematics, statistics, chemistry, and other quantitative disciplines. Students study areas such as ecology, genetics, cell biology, evolution, and organismal biology while developing the analytical and quantitative skills needed for biological research and professional or graduate programs.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their foundation in biological and quantitative science through BSC 2010 General Biology I, BSC 2010L General Biology I Lab, and BSC 2011 General Biology II, alongside chemistry and calculus coursework. The QBIC model connects lecture concepts with laboratory experimentation, allowing students to design experiments and begin working with biological data.

Year 2: The curriculum becomes more integrated, combining BSC 2921 QBIC Journal Club I, BSC 2922 QBIC Journal Club II, and STA 3193 Statistics for Biology I with ecology and genetics laboratory experiences. Students use the data generated in biology labs for statistical analysis, reinforcing the program's distinctive connection between biological concepts, experimentation, scientific literature, and quantitative interpretation.

Year 3: Students move into upper-division biological sciences with courses such as PCB 3043 Ecology, PCB 3063 Genetics, and PCB 4023 Cell Biology, while continuing the QBIC journal-club model. The program also gives students greater flexibility to pursue research opportunities and apply quantitative approaches to increasingly complex biological questions.

Year 4: Advanced study includes PCB 4674 Evolution, BSC 4927 QBIC Science Café, and QBIC Cell Biology and Evolution Journal Clubs, together with upper-division biology electives and distribution coursework across ecology, organismal diversity, physiology/biochemistry, and structure/development. Research participation can also lead to conference presentations, publications, and stronger preparation for graduate or professional programs.

Focus areas

Biological Sciences, Ecology, Genetics, Cell Biology, Evolution, Organismal Diversity, Physiology/Biochemistry, Quantitative Biology, Statistics, Scientific Research.

Learning outcomes

Students develop the ability to approach biological problems through conceptual, analytical, and quantitative methods; design and interpret biological experiments; analyze biological data using statistics; engage with current scientific literature; and build research skills applicable to graduate and professional study.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

Florida International University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor's and graduate degrees; its accreditation was reaffirmed in 2021, with the next reaffirmation scheduled for 2031. The specialized accreditation listing specifically identifies the Biological Sciences BS Biology Education major under CAEP, while the QBIC track itself is not listed as having a separate professional accreditation.

Reputation (employability rankings)

FIU was ranked No. 46 among U.S. public universities and No. 100 overall in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report rankings released in September 2026. FIU also reports that the Florida Board of Governors ranked it the No. 1 top-performing institution among Florida's 12 public universities for the fourth consecutive year in 2026, using performance measures including employment rates and median wages; these are university-level indicators rather than rankings specifically for the QBIC track.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

FIU’s Quantifying Biology in the Classroom (QBIC) track is built around an integrated, research-oriented approach in which students connect biological concepts with mathematics, statistics, and other quantitative disciplines. Rather than separating lecture and practical work, QBIC students can learn a biological concept, design experiments in the laboratory, discuss current research through journal club, reinforce concepts through peer-led team learning, and then analyze the laboratory data in statistics courses. The junior and senior years also provide greater flexibility for funded research opportunities.

Students gain practical experience through these program-specific opportunities:

Integrated laboratory projects: QBIC combines biology lecture and laboratory work with statistics, journal club, and peer-led team learning; students can design experiments, collect biological data, and carry that data into statistics for analysis.
Peer-led team learning: QBIC includes PLTL sessions, giving students a structured collaborative setting to reinforce biological concepts with their peers.
Research experience: Junior and senior QBIC students have access to funded research opportunities, and the program specifically encourages students to pursue scientific research experience, particularly paid positions.
Student research laboratories: FIU's Biological Sciences curriculum includes BSC 3915/4914 Student Research Lab I and II, allowing students to undertake independent laboratory study on projects of their choice.
Research internships: BSC 3905 Biological Sciences Research Internship provides supervised practical experience in a professional laboratory or field setting where biologists work.
Quantitative and computational skills: QBIC integrates mathematics, statistics, physical sciences, informational sciences, computer science, and biomedical engineering into biological-science training, helping students approach biological questions through conceptual, analytical, and quantitative methods.
Journal club: QBIC Ecology Journal Club trains students to dissect and analyze complex scientific literature, adding research-literacy experience alongside laboratory work.
DNA research facility: FIU's DNA Core Facility provides Sanger sequencing, next-generation sequencing, fragment analysis, BioAnalyzer services, and data analysis for Biological Sciences and related disciplines.
Research laboratories: Biological Sciences students are supported by research facilities spanning cellular and molecular biology, ecology, microbiology, marine biology, evolutionary biology, physiology, and zoology. FIU also lists facilities such as the DNA Core Facility, Florida Center for Analytical Electron Microscopy, Microscopy Imaging Facility, and Computational/Research Computing facilities.
Research institutes and centers: Relevant FIU research environments include the Institute of Environment, Center for Aquatic Chemistry and the Environment, International Center for Tropical Botany at the Kampong, International Forensic Research Institute, Tropical Conservation Institute, and STEM Transformation Institute.
Dedicated QBIC resources: QBIC Scholars have access to QBIC-paid tutors and a QBIC-only student space/study room, alongside personalized program support.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS in Biological Sciences: Quantifying Biology in the Classroom (QBIC) is designed for students seeking an in-depth, interdisciplinary approach to biological science, combining biology with mathematics, statistics and other quantitative sciences. FIU states that QBIC graduates are prepared for biological science professional and graduate programs, with many potential careers requiring further study such as an MD, master’s degree or PhD.

Career roles: Physician, Surgeon, Pharmacist, Clinical Specialist, Medical Laboratory Technician.

Career services: FIU Career and Talent Development provides STEM students with career advisors and access to Lightcast employment intelligence covering job titles, employers, employment trends, education requirements, technical skills and annual earnings. FIU also hosts STEM career events where students can connect with professionals for potential internships and employment.
Employment statistics and salary: FIU reports a $52,200 median wage for full-time employed bachelor's degree graduates in 2023–24; this is a university-wide bachelor's figure rather than a QBIC-specific salary. FIU also reports that its four-year graduation rate for first-time-in-college students reached 70% in 2024.
Research and professional connections: QBIC students are encouraged to participate in research before their junior year and may present at local or national conferences, publish research and pursue paid summer research opportunities. The program has also been connected with research opportunities involving FIU's Biological Sciences faculty, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and other scientific departments.
Industry and professional exposure: FIU's STEMCon provides opportunities to connect with employers and organizations including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ManTech International Corporation and Miami-Dade County Public Schools, alongside FIU STEM resources. These are university STEM career connections rather than QBIC-exclusive employment partnerships.
Accreditation value: FIU is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. FIU's accreditation was reaffirmed in 2021, with the next reaffirmation scheduled for 2031, providing continuing institutional accreditation for the degree.
Graduation outcomes: FIU reports a 70% four-year graduation rate in 2024 for first-time-in-college students, while the university states that the vast majority of its bachelor's graduates are employed full time or enrolled in graduate school within one year of graduation.
Professional preparation: QBIC's integrated curriculum is specifically designed to help students move between conceptual, analytical and quantitative approaches to biological problems, while research experience can strengthen applications to graduate and professional programs.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS in Biological Sciences: QBIC, students can continue into graduate and professional education. FIU's Biological Sciences Department offers an MS in Biology, PhD in Biology, and a combined MS in Forensic Science/PhD in Biology, while the QBIC program specifically identifies professional pathways such as medicine and pharmacy that typically require graduate-level study.