Bachelor of Science in Biology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Central Florida

Program Overview

The University of Central Florida’s Bachelor of Science in Biology provides a broad foundation in biological, chemical, mathematical, and physical sciences while allowing students to shape their studies around interests such as molecular biology, conservation biology, marine biology, or zoology. The program is well suited to students planning careers in biological sciences or further study in graduate and professional programs such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and optometry.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with foundational biological and scientific concepts through BSC 2010C – Biology I, which covers the cellular and chemical basis of life, genetics, and evolution, followed by BSC 2011C – Biology II, focusing on organismal anatomy and physiology, biodiversity, ecology, and evolution. Chemistry and mathematics courses establish the supporting scientific foundation needed for advanced biology study.

Year 2: Students strengthen their core science preparation through courses such as CHM 2045C – Chemistry Fundamentals I, CHM 2046 – Chemistry Fundamentals II, and CHM 2210 – Organic Chemistry I, alongside physics, statistics, and mathematics requirements. These courses build the chemical, quantitative, and physical-science knowledge needed for upper-level biological study.

Year 3: The curriculum moves into advanced biological concepts with PCB 3023 – Molecular Cell Biology, PCB 3044 – Principles of Ecology, and PCB 3063 – Genetics, examining biology from cellular and molecular mechanisms through populations and ecosystems. Students also complete upper-level laboratory work such as PCB 3044L – Principles of Ecology Laboratory or PCB 3063L – Genetics Laboratory, beginning to specialize through their selected Biology track and electives.

Year 4: Students deepen their specialization through advanced study such as PCB 4683 – Evolutionary Biology and track-specific electives, which can include BSC 4445C – Genomics Laboratory, BSC 4456 – Programming for Biologists, PCB 4462 – GIS for Biologists and Ecologists, or ZOO 4405C – Sea Turtle Ecology and Conservation Internship. Depending on their interests, students can develop expertise across areas including plant science, animal biology, marine biology, conservation, genomics, physiology, and ecology while completing the 120-credit degree.

Focus areas: Molecular biology, conservation biology, marine biology, general biology, ecology and evolutionary biology, zoology and pre-veterinary science, plant science, animal biology, genomics, physiology, microbiology, and other specialized biological fields.

Learning outcomes: Students develop knowledge of biological systems from cellular and molecular processes through organisms, populations, and ecosystems, while building skills in scientific problem-solving, data analysis, experimentation, laboratory methods, and application of biological information.

Professional alignment (accreditation): UCF states that the Biology B.S. prepares students for professional and graduate schools, including medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, and veterinary programs; a specific professional accreditation for the Biology B.S. is not stated on the official program page.

Reputation (employability rankings): UCF’s official Biology program pages do not state a specific QS or Guardian employability ranking for the Biology B.S.; therefore, no program-specific ranking is provided.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Central Florida combines laboratory coursework with opportunities for independent research, field-based learning, and internships. Students can develop practical skills through upper-level biology laboratories, work directly with faculty researchers, and access specialized facilities ranging from the Biological Sciences Building to field stations, greenhouses, and the UCF Herbarium.

Students can build this hands-on experience through several program-specific opportunities:

Upper-level laboratories: Biology majors complete two upper-level biology laboratories, with options including Genetics Laboratory, Evolutionary Biology Lab, Genomics Laboratory, General Microbiology, Florida Ecology Lab, Marine Ecology of Florida, Wetland Ecology & Biogeochemistry, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Lab, Mammalogy Lab, and others.
Undergraduate research: UCF Biology has 22 active research labs where undergraduates can work as research assistants on topics including sea turtles, marine mammals, conservation genetics, coastal ecology, plant evolutionary ecophysiology, and more.
Faculty-mentored research: The department provides opportunities for students to conduct research under the direction of faculty members, strengthening critical, analytical, and scientific writing skills. The Research and Mentoring Program (RAMP) provides an additional faculty-mentored research pathway for students considering graduate education.
Internships: Biology students can undertake internships as on-site work experiences related to their major or career interests; eligible internship, research, and independent-study credits can contribute toward biology degree requirements. The department specifically lists opportunities such as the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey and Sea Turtle Ecology and Conservation Internship.
Field research: Feller’s House Field Station provides access to the Mosquito Lagoon and has been used extensively by UCF Biology students and faculty for field research involving oysters, sea turtles, birds, fishes, invertebrates, marine mammals, mangroves, seagrasses, and marshgrasses.
Marine fieldwork: The Caretta House at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge serves as a sea turtle field station where undergraduate interns participate in hands-on field-based training and research, including monitoring nesting beaches and juvenile sea turtles.
Plant research facilities: UCF’s 6,000-square-foot Greenhouse supports research in plant physiology, plant genetics, and plant-microbial relationships, with automated drip irrigation systems and additional high tunnels for larger-scale plant research.
Biological Sciences Building: The Biological Sciences Building houses UCF’s Department of Biology, including instructional and research laboratories, classrooms, and faculty offices supporting undergraduate and graduate biology programs.
Specialized research equipment: The Aquatic Biogeochemistry Lab and Soil and Sediment Laboratory provide instrumentation for analyzing soil and water parameters, including a Shimadzu greenhouse-gas chromatograph, Elementar CN analyzer, YSI water-quality multiprobe, LiCor infrared gas analyzer, TOC-TN analyzer, water-quality analyzer, freeze dryer, and other laboratory equipment.
Herbarium resources: The UCF Herbarium houses more than 20,000 plant and fungi specimens and supports research in taxonomy, biogeography, systematics, and evolution. Students can also participate in specimen curation and digitization projects.
Study abroad and field learning: The Biology Department offers study-abroad courses through the UCF Costa Rica Center in San José, Costa Rica, including Integrated Principles of Zoology and Animal Behavior.
Research partnerships: Biology research extends across laboratory and ecosystem scales and includes collaborations with organizations such as the Archbold Biological Station and Disney’s Wilderness Preserve, providing additional research environments beyond the main campus.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Central Florida develops skills in hypothesis testing, experimental design, scientific literature, data analysis, and laboratory and field methods, preparing graduates for opportunities across health, environmental science, conservation, research, and related biological fields. UCF identifies career possibilities including biological scientist, life scientist, research scientist, laboratory manager, and clinical research coordinator, while the degree also provides preparation for graduate and professional programs.

Career and Employment Opportunities: Graduates can pursue roles such as Biological Scientist, Research Scientist, Laboratory Manager, and Clinical Research Coordinator, depending on their chosen coursework, experience, and career goals.

Career services: UCF Career Services provides career planning and resume support, while the Biology Department specifically directs students to Career Services for help developing a career plan and editing resumes. UCF’s Dixon Career Development Center also provides Labor Market Insights covering job demand, projected employment trends, salaries, employers, and required education.
Employment and salary figures: UCF’s Biology BS page reports 10% projected growth through 2029 for biology occupations and $96,000 median earnings for biology graduates. These figures are presented by UCF as program-level career information and should not be interpreted as a guaranteed graduate salary.
Internships and professional experience: Biology students can receive academic credit for approved internships, with up to 4 credits of internship/research/independent study counting toward restricted electives. Examples listed by UCF include internships with the UCF Arboretum and Sustainability program, Central Florida Zoo, Audubon Birds of Prey, Back to Nature, and wildlife-conservation organizations.
University–industry and research partnerships: UCF Biology maintains partnerships with organizations including Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore, supporting research, monitoring, conservation, and educational activities. UCF has a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge for research and educational activities at the Caretta House field station.
Research-to-career opportunities: UCF’s NSF-funded T.R.I.P. (Transfer-Student Research and Integration Program) combines research experience, community integration, and professional development, with the stated goal of supporting placement in the life-science workforce or graduate school.
Graduation outcomes: The Biology BS can lead directly toward employment in laboratory, government, environmental, conservation, and biological-science settings, while UCF also states that graduates are prepared for professional and graduate schools.
Accreditation value: UCF's Biology BS page does not state a separate program-specific professional accreditation for this degree; therefore, no additional biology-specific accreditation claim is made here.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Biology BS, students can continue into graduate programs in biology, life sciences, biomedical fields, conservation, marine science, or related disciplines. UCF also specifically supports pre-professional pathways toward programs such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine, with students able to select Biology coursework aligned with professional-school prerequisites.