Department of Biological Sciences - Florida A&M University

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
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
BSC 1010 General Biology I Lecture 3
BSC 1010L General Biology Lab I 1
BSC 3926 Professional Development for Biology 1
MAC 1105 College Algebra or 1147 Pre-Calculus 3 or 4
ENC 1101 Freshman Communication Skills I 3
CHM 1045 General Chemistry I Lecture 3
CHM 1045L General Chemistry I Lab
1
15 or 16
Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
BSC 1011 General Biology II Lecture 2
BSC 1011L General Biology II Lab 2
CHM 1046 General Chemistry II Lecture 3
CHM 1046 L General Chemistry II Lab 1
ENC 1102 Freshman Communications Skills II 3
MAC 1114 Trig. Functions or 2311 Calculus I
3 or 4
14 or 15
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
PCB 2033 Ecology 3
Humanities Elective 3
MAC 2311 Calculus I 4
CHM 3210 Organic Chemistry I Lecture 3
CHM 3210L Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
Social Science Elective
3
Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
ZOO 3713 Comparative Anatomy 4
CHM 3211 Organic Chemistry II Lecture 3
CHM 3211L Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
17

Humanities Elective 3
MCB 3010 Microbiology
4
Summer Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
STA 2023 Statistics/Biostatistics
AMH 2091 Introduction to African American History or
3
AFA 3104 Introduction to African American Experiences
3
Junior Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
PCB 3063 Genetics 4
Biology Elective 6
PHY 2048 General Physics Lecture 4
PHY 2048L General Physics Lab
1
Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
BOT 3303/2313 Plant Anatomy/Morphology 3
Biology Elective 4
Free Elective (above 2000 level) 3
PHY 2049 General Physics II Lecture 4
PHY 2049L General Physics II Lab
1
Senior Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
BCH 4033 Biochemistry I Lecture 3
BCH 4033L Biochemistry I Lab 1
PCB 4023 Molecular Cell Biology 4
Free Elective (2000 level or above) 3
Free Elective (2000 level or above
3
15
6
15
15

Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
PCB 3723 Vertebrate Physiology Lecture 3
PCB 3723 Vertebrate Physiology Lab 1
Chemistry Elective 1-4
Biology Elective 3
BSC 4930 Professional Seminar 1
Free Elective (2000 level or above)
3
Bachelor of Science in Biology
(Concentration in Pre-Professional)
14
12-15
TOTAL 120
Freshman Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
BSC 1010 General Biology I Lecture 3
BSC 1010L General Biology I Lab 1
CHM 1045 General Chemistry I Lecture 3
CHM 1045L General Chemistry I Lab 1
MAC 1105 College Algebra or 1147 Pre-Calculus 3 or 4
BSC 3926 Professional Deveopment for Biology 1
ENC 1101 Freshman Communication Skills I
3
14 or 15
Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
BSC 1011 General Biology II Lecture 2
BSC 1011L General Biology II Lab 2
CHM 1046 General Chemistry II Lectur 3
CHM 1046L General Chemistry II Lab 1
ENC 1102 Freshman Communication Skills I 3
MAC 1114 Trig. Functions or 2311 Calculus I
3 or 4
14 or 15

Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
PCB 2033 Ecology 3
CHM 3210 Organic Chemistry I Lecture 3
CHM 3210L Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
Humanities Elective 3
Social Science Elective 3
MAC 2311Calculus I
4
Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
ZOO 3713 Comparative Anatomy 4
CHM 3211 Organic Chemistry II Lecture 3
CHM 3211L Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
Humanities Elective 3
MCB 3010 Microbiology
4
Summer Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
STA 2023 Statistics
AMH 2091 Introduction to African American History or AFA 3104
3
Introduction to African American Experiences
3
Junior Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
PCB 3063 Genetics 4
Biology Elective 3
ZOO3653 Developmental Anatomy 3
PHY 2048 General Physics I Lecture 4
PHY 2048L General Physics I Lab
1
Spring Semester Sem.
17
15
6
15

Hrs.
BOT 3303/2313 Plant Anatomy or Plant Morphology 3
Biology Elective 4
Free Elective (above 2000 level) 3
PHY 2049 General Physics II Lecture 4
PHY 2049L General Physics II Lab
1
Senior Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
BSC 4930 Professional Seminar 1
BCH 4033 Biochemistry I Lecture 3
BCH 4033L Biochemistry I Lab 1
PCB 4023 Molecular Cell Biology 4
Free Elective (above 2000 level)
3
Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
PCB 3723 Vertebrate Physiology Lecture 3
PCB 3723LVertebrate Physiology 1
BCH 4034 Biochemistry II Lecture 3
BCH 4034L Biochemistry II Lab 1
Free Elective (above 2000 level)
3
15
12
11
TOTAL 120
Bachelor of Science in Biology
(Concentration in Organismal, Ecological and Environmental Biology)
Freshman Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
BSC 1010 General Biology I Lecture 3
BSC 1010L General Biology Lab I 1
MAC 1105 or MAC 1147 College Algebra or Pre-Calculus 3 or 4
ENC 1101 Freshman Communication Skills I 3

CHM 1045 General Chemistry I Lecture 3
CHM 1045L General Chemistry I Lab 1
BSC 3926 Professional Development for Biology
1
15 o 16
Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
BSC 1011 General Biology II Lecture 2
BSC 1011L General Biology II Lab 2
CHM 1046 General Chemistry II Lecture 3
CHM 1046L General Chemistry II Lab 1
ENC 1102 Freshman Communication Skills II 3
MAC 1114 or 2311 Trig. Functions or Calculus I
3 or 4
14 or 15
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
PCB 2033 Ecology 3
Humanities Elective 3
CHM 3210 Organic Chemistry I Lecture 3
CHM 3210L Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
Social Science Elective 3
MAC 2311 Calculus I
4
Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
ZOO 3713 Comparative Anatomy 4
CHM 3211 Organic Chemistry II Lecture 3
CHM 3211L Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
Humanities 3
MCB 3010 Microbiology
4
Summer Semester
17
15
Sem.
Hrs.

STA 2023 Statistics/Biostatistics
AMH 2091 Introduction to African American History or
3
AFA 3104 Introduction to African American Experiences
3
Junior Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
PCB 3063 Genetics 4
Biology Elective 6
PHY 2048 General Physics Lecture 4
PHY 2048L General Physics Lab
1
Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
BOT 3303/2313 Plant Anatomy/Morphology 3
Biology Elective 4
PCB 4674 Evolutionary Biology 3
PHY 2049 General Physics II Lecture 4
PHY 2049L General Physics II Lab
1
Senior Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
BSC 4930 Professional Seminar 1
BCH 4033 Biochemistry I Lecture 3
BCH 4033L Biochemistry I Lab 1
PCB 4023 Molecular Cell Biology 4
Free Elective (2000 level or above
3
Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
PCB 3723 Vertebrate Physiology Lecture 3
PCB 3723 Vertebrate Physiology Lab 1
Chemistry Elective 1
6
15
15
12

Free Elective (2000 level or above)
Bachelor of Science in Science Education
(Concentration in Biology Education)
3
8-12
TOTAL 120
Freshman Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
ENC 1101 Freshman Communication Skills I 3
MAC 1105 College Algebra 3
BSC 1010 General Biology I Lecture 3
BSC 1010 General Biology I Lab 1
CHM 1045 General Chemistry I Lecture 3
CHM 1045L General Chemistry I Lab 1
EDG 3004 Overview and Orientation to teaching
1
Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
ENC 1102 Freshman Communication Skills II 3
MAC 1114 Trigonometric Functions 3
BSC 1011 General Biology II Lecture 2
BSC 1011 General Biology II Lab 2
CHM 1046 General Chemistry II Lecture 3
CHM 1046 General Chemistry II Lab 1
EDF 1005 Introduction to Education
3
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
15
17
Sem.
Hrs.
3
3
3
9

Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
PCB 2033 Ecology 3
CHM 3210 Organic Chemistry I Lecture 3
CHM 3210L Organic Chemistry I Lab
ARH 2000 Art Appreciation or
1
MUL 2111 Intro.To Music or
THE 2311 Theatre Appreciation
3
MAC 2311 Calculus I 4
EDG 2701 Teaching Diverse Population
3
Spring Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
MCB 3010 Microbiology 4
CHM 3211 Organic Chemistry II Lecture 3
CHM 3211L Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
PHI 2010 Intro. to Philosophy 3
EME 2040 Intro. to Educational Technology 3
AMH 2091 African American History
3
Junior Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
ZOO 3603 Developmental Anatomy 3
BOT 3303/2313 Plant Anatomy/Morphology 3
TSL 4324 Instructional Strategies for Teaching ESOL 3
PHY 2053 College Physics I Lecture 3
PHY 2053L College Physics I Lab or 3
PHY 2048 General Physics I Lecture 4
PHY 2048L General Physics I Lab 1
BSC 4930 Professional Seminar
1
Spring Semester
17
17
17
Sem.
Hrs.

GLY 2001 Intro. to Earth-Space Science 3
PCB 3723 Vertebrate Physiology Lecture 3
PCB 3723L Vertebrate Physiology Lab 1
ESE 4930 Inst. Seminar in Secondary Ed-Theory and Law 3
PHY 2054 College Physics II Lecture or
PHY 2049 General Physics II Lecture
4
SCE 3330 Teaching Science in High School
3
Senior Year
Fall Semester
Sem.
Hrs.
ESE 3341 Theory and Practice of Teaching 3
EDF 3430 Measurement and Evaluation of Educational Growth 3
PCB 3063 Genetics 4
EDF 3135 Adolescent Psychology
3
Spring Semester
ESE 4943 Student Teaching
16
13
Sem.
Hrs.
6
6
TOTAL 127