Print this page. About the Program
The Department of Biological Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science. As a student in the department, you will learn and study all aspects of biology, including plant and animal biology, cell and molecular life sciences, genetics, population biology, and ecology. Biology professors maintain dual rules as educators and researchers, and many labs provide opportunities for undergraduate research. You can join a lab as early as your freshman year. You can receive course credit for your research, and in many cases, you may receive financial support for research from either competitive fellowship programs (such as the Magellan Scholars Program) or from research grants of professors. The department’s research facilities include fully equipped labs for DNA synthesis, production of antibodies, and cellular microinjection. The Electron Microscopy Center and a genetic stock facility are available for research. The Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences offers you the opportunity to study environmental processes and tidal, estuarine, and coastal ocean environments. The department also houses the largest active herbarium in South Carolina.
Career Opportunities
A solid foundation in biological principles is necessary if you are interested in a career in such areas as:
• medicine
• biological research
• natural resource management
• teaching
Specializing within the field of biological sciences generally requires you to have a master’s or doctoral degree. While many graduates pursue medicine, dentistry or veterinary sciences, the field offers you a variety of career opportunities in academic institutions, research institutes, governmental agencies, health facilities, industry, and public education. The University Career Center is available to assist you in choosing a career direction and in increasing your marketability upon graduation. For additional information, call the center at 803-777-7280.
Admission/Progression Requirements
To be admitted into the program, you must meet all University and College of Arts and Sciences admission requirements. University requirements for freshmen include a completed application, specified nonrefundable application fee, high-school record complete up to the time of application (including record of at least 20 academic units of study earned as required by the University), and entrance examination scores (either SAT or ACT). Details for all applicant categories can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin. To major in biology, a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 and a minimum grade of “C” in all biology courses is needed. You will be expected to maintain a semester, yearly, and cumulative grade point average of 2.00. Your academic record will be reviewed at the end of each spring semester.
Program of Study (128 hours)
The following courses are required for this major: General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Essentials of Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Comprehensive Organic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry II, Essentials of Organic Chemistry Laboratory II, and Elementary Statistics. Physics and math are also recommended.
Of Special Interest
The biology program at Carolina offers you the chance to earn real-world experience—and not just in research labs. Recently, biology students and faculty helped grow and plant drought-resistant, low-growing greenery as part of the storm-water filtering system for USC’s first “green dorm.” The $30.9 million West Quad residence hall is designed to use 45 percent less energy than similar sized residence halls while providing a healthy environment for students. One of a handful of residence halls with LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), West Quad offers residents access to a 9,000-square-foot living and learning center, hydrogen fuel cell technology that is also used as a teaching tool for chemical engineering faculty, and a café that sells healthy foods and environmentally friendly products.
The University now offers a minor in neuroscience. For more information, click here.