Earn a bachelor's degree in biology
The Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology at St. Petersburg College prepares you to enter a range of biology careers, graduate programs or medical, dental or veterinary school. This degree offers subplans in animal sciences, biomedical sciences, cell and molecular biotechnology or ecology and organismal biology.
Our bachelor's degree in Biology is perfect if you have taken the common prerequisite classes in biology, chemistry and calculus as part of your A.A. degree or earned SPC's Biology A.A. transfer plan. Your major courses include a range of biology, chemistry, physics and math.
This degree offers subplans in
- Cellular & Molecular Biology
- Ecology, Evolution & Organismal Biology.
This academic program prepares you for the following careers. All job data is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Biological Technicians
Salary Data
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area Average
Florida Average
Projected employment for Florida
2020 Employment
2,340
2030
2,670
Percent Change
14
Projected Job Openings
300
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Salary Data
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area Average
Florida Average
Projected employment for Florida
2020 Employment
5,020
2030
5,580
Percent Change
11
Projected Job Openings
630
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
Salary Data
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area Average
Florida Average
Projected employment for Florida
2020 Employment
1,390
2030
1,460
Percent Change
5
Projected Job Openings
140
Features of SPC's Bachelor of Science in Biology
- Prepares you to work in a variety of careers in biological sciences like health care, education, conservation and research
- You get to utilize your skills in creative problem-solving, critical thinking, analyzing, communication and information technology across various biological science disciplines
- Gives you a foundation for graduate degrees such as a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy, or to study medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or pharmacy
Flexible by Design
We offer electives that let you focus on your interests, such as:
- Zoology
- Ecology
- Immunology
- Biotechnology
- Marine biology
- Plant biology
- Molecular biology
- Cellular biology
- Undergraduate research
Biology Bachelor of Science
printBIOLOGY-BS
Effective Beginning Catalog Term: Fall 2020 (580)
The requirements shown below are valid beginning Fall 2020 (580), and may not reflect degree requirements for current students. Current students should visit My SPC and view My Learning Plan to see specific degree requirements for their effective term.
Program Leadership Information
Natavia Middleton
Dean
(727) 398-8288
middleton.natavia@spcollege.edu
Program Summary
The Bachelor of Science in Biology degree serves primarily to educate students for laboratory and field-related careers in the Biological sciences and as a transfer curriculum for graduate and professional schools.
The Academic Pathway is a tool for students that lists the following items:
o the recommended order in which to take the program courses
o suggested course when more than one option exists
o which semester each course is typically offered
o if the course has a prerequisite
o courses that may lead to a certificate (if offered in the program)
If you are starting the program this term, click here to access the recommended Academic Pathway.
If you have already started the program, click here for the archived Academic Pathways.
Please verify the Academic Pathway lists your correct starting semester.
Florida CIP Code
1102601011: BIOLOGY SCIENCES (BS)
Federal CIP Code
26.0101: Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
Job Related Opportunities
- A Biology-BS degree may lead to a career in the following fields: Biotechnology, Medical and Environmental laboratories, Field Biology, Research Biology, Aquaria and Zoo Biology.
- This degree also prepares students to pursue a graduate degree in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Optometry, Physician's Assistant, Physical Therapy and Chiropractic medicine.
Admission Rules
Admission requires completion of sixty (60) college-level credits from a regionally accredited institution, including:
- 15 credits of transferable general education courses,
- ENC 1101 Composition I (or equivalent),
- college level math (MAT 1100, STA 2023/H or any MAC, MTG, MAS prefix)
- cumulative gpa of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale in all college courses
- completion of the state-mandated prerequisites listed below with a minimum grade of "C"
NOTE: Students should complete MAC 1147 as early as possible to ensure timely progression; this course is a Prerequisite to MAC 2311 and PHY 1053.
Graduation Rules
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
If you have not completed two consecutive years of the same foreign language in high school or 8 credits in college, you will need to complete 8 credits of foreign language before completing the B.S. program.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENT
60 credits with at least 15 General Education credits
STATE MANDATED PREREQUISITES
Grade of "C" or better required.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Courses listed below MUST be completed prior to admission.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Courses listed below may be completed after admission but MUST be completed in order to graduate.
MAJOR CORE COURSES
Major Requirements (Complete 35 credits)
MAJOR ELECTIVE COURSES
Major Electives (Complete 9 credit)
SUBPLAN
Select ONE subplan from below (Complete 16 credits)
SUBPLAN CORE COURSES
Cellular & Molecular Biology (CMB) (Complete 4 credits)
SUBPLAN ELECTIVE COURSES
Cellular & Molecular Biology (Complete minimum 12 credits)
SUBPLAN CORE COURSES
Ecology, Evolution & Organismal Biology (EEOB) (Complete 4 credits)
SUBPLAN ELECTIVE COURSES
Ecology, Evolution & Organismal Biology (Complete minimum 12 credits)
1 BSC 3017 should be completed in first semester of program
2 BSC 4931 should be completed in last semester of program
Prepare for your bachelor's degree at SPC
St. Petersburg College offers a Biology A.A. transfer plan that prepares you for our Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology.
COMPLETE Your Biology BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE AND DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC DEGREE
SPC is now offering a unique partnership with the National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) that allows you to earn your Bachelor of Science in Biology from SPC and your Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) from NUHS. As an Advanced Scholar, your last year of SPC's Biology degree can also be your first year toward pursuing a rewarding career in chiropractic medicine at NUHS. Learn more about the Advanced Scholars Program.