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Department Information and Typical Discipline-Specific Academic Degree & Qualifications1 of faculty within Biological Sciences

The Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University is a research intensive academic unit with an emphasis on educating broadly-trained life scientists. We offer Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Marine Biology, and Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Biology.

The faculty, staff and students in the Department publish over 100 scientific papers yearly that describe the research funded by over $10M annually in grants and contracts. Our curriculum is rigorous and provides a background in critical thinking, research, and communications skills. Our undergraduate majors have successfully entered careers in the life sciences in public, private and non-profit organizations. Many of them enter graduate school in the life sciences, or professional schools like medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary science, and law. Our graduate degrees are designed to prepare the next generation of research scientists for academics, government, and industry.

Degrees offered

  • The Biological Sciences Department offers the following programs:
  • BS, BA in Biological Sciences
  • BS in Biological Sciences: Biology Education
  • BS in Biological Sciences: Quantifying Biology in the Classroom (QBIC)
  • BS in Marine Biology
  • MS in Biology
  • Combined MS in Forensic Science/PHD in Biology
  • Ph.D. in Biology

Terminal Degree2 for each discipline taught in Biological Sciences

  • Ph.D. in Biology/Biological Sciences (26.0101)

Related Disciplines3

  • Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (26.02) - all courses
  • Botany/Plant Biology (26.0301) - all courses
  • Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences (26.04) - all courses
  • Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (26.13) - all courses
  • Genetics (26.0801) - all courses
  • Microbiology (26.0502) - all courses
  • Molecular Biology (26.0204) - all courses
  • Natural Resources Management and Policy (03.0201) – all PCB courses
  • Neurobiology and Neurosciences (26.15) - all courses
  • Physical and Biological Anthropology (45.0202) – all BSC, PCB, ZOO prefix courses
  • Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences (26.09) - all courses
  • Virology (26.0504) – MCB courses
  • Zoology/Animal Biology (26.07) - all courses

 Related Disciplines3 for specific courses

  • Environmental Biology (26.1305) - BSC 3941
  • Environmental Science (03.0104) - BOT 6926, BSC 3941, 4931, 4934, 5406, 5935, 6926, 6946, MCB 5116, PCB 4467, 5418, 5423, 6025, 6318
  • Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management (03.0301) - BSC 1010L, 1011L, 2023L, 3941, PCB 2099, 2099L, 4723, 4803, OCB 2003, 2003L, 3043
  • Geology/Earth Science (40.0601) - BSC 4304, 5302, 5929, ZOO 4114
  • Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography (26.1302) - BSC 3941
  • Medical Science (51.1401) - PCB 3702, 3703
  • Molecular Genetics (26.0802) - BSC 3027, 3924, 4205, 4401, 4434, 4443, 4925, 4926, 4927, 5406, 5446, 6314, 6925C
  • Natural Resources Management and Policy (03.0201) - BSC 4303, 4361, 5215, 5446, 5459
  • Virology (26.0504) - BSC 3941

Other Teaching Qualifications (Description of Required Academic Degree and Justifications4 for the programs in Biological Sciences)

Consideration of other teaching qualifications in lieu of academic credentials is made on a case-by-case basis and accepted in special cases where evidence of exceptional, research or other qualifications can be documented and are directly applicable to the course being taught.

Notes

1Whenever instructors are not credentialed by their advanced degree or by an approved CIP relationship, they must be credentialed through a narrative justification of the instructor's qualifications to teach this/these course(s). Such credentialing is based on the proposed instructor's academic and professional preparation; diplomas, certificates, or relevant licensures; publications and presentations in the field; honors, awards, and professional recognitions; and other demonstrated competencies, skills, and experiences which the instructor brings to the University. These must be clearly tied to the specific courses to be taught and should establish beyond doubt that the instructor is qualified to teach the specific courses they are to be assigned.

The Office of the Provost reviews all such justifications and where the justifications warrant the instructor's teaching the courses proposed, it will either approve the justification for the appropriate period (seven years for full-time faculty members, or four years for part-time faculty members) or employ one of two additional clearance categories beyond the advanced degree and related-discipline categories which it may use to credential some instructors where their accomplishments warrant this:

Active Research Clearance in the Discipline or Active Artistic/Special Talent Clearance in the Discipline

2The level and discipline of the terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., MS, MFA, doctorate) that is required to teach graduate courses in the discipline

3For each discipline, all strongly-related degree(s) and/or equivalent names for the discipline (include level) that would also be appropriate for teaching at the graduate level

4(1)The appropriate academic degrees and justifications for each related degree above if not obvious; (2) the justification for why the terminal degree is not a doctorate in a discipline, e.g., specific examples of best practice in the discipline and accrediting association language; and (3) any other criteria used to determine appropriate academic qualifications to teach specialty courses in the program.

Current/Effective Date 11/15/2024