How to Apply to Biology at Florida State University: Biological Science, Computational Biology and Cell and Molecular Neuroscience Majors in the Department of Biological Science, with Seven Optional Academic Tracks and an ACT/CLT/SAT Score Required from Every Applicant, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Florida State University (FSU, in Tallahassee) offers biology through the Department of Biological Science, based in the King Life Sciences building on the main campus. This guide relies on the department pages and the Admissions and cost pages, covering US domestic, international and Chinese applicants, with transfer students at the end. Medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health and similar degrees are outside this guide, so please see the university website; chemistry is not covered here.

1. Degrees and tracks

• The department’s undergraduate majors: the department’s “Majors” page lists four — Biological Science, Biology FSU-Teach (teacher preparation), Computational Biology and Cell and Molecular Neuroscience; each has a description and an academic map page, which are in the university program guide and are not available on the pages read, so check the program guide for credits and required courses. The combined-degree page says the Bachelor of Science in Biological Science is the degree awarded.
• Seven optional academic tracks: the department says Biological Science majors may concentrate their biology electives in one sub-discipline — Cell and Molecular Biology; Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Science; Marine Biology; Physiology and Neuroscience; Plant Sciences; Pre-professional Health Sciences (medicine, veterinary medicine, optometry, dentistry, pharmacy, physical therapy and physician assistant); and Zoology. It stresses that tracks are not majors, only course recommendations, that selecting one does not prevent taking electives from another, and that courses outside the department do not count toward the major unless noted; the page also says students without a track choose “19 biology elective courses” from several sub-disciplines (as worded, with no unit explained).
• Combined BS/MS pathway: high-achieving students can double count 12 credit hours between the Bachelor’s and the Master’s degrees; applicants need at least 60 credit hours and a 3.0 GPA, and 90 credit hours (60 for Honors Program students) to take 5000-level courses; students apply after sophomore year and after the prerequisites for upper-division status (CHM 1045 and 1046 with labs, BSC 2010 and 2011 with labs), take the GRE in the junior year and apply to the graduate school at its end; the course-work only master’s needs 32 credit hours and no additional departmental funding is available. The page says “Last revised 2019-3-29”, so check that it is still current.
• Biochemistry: the BS and BA in Biochemistry are offered by the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, not Biological Science; the university program guide says the major gives a strong background in chemistry, physics and math with a broad introduction to biochemistry and biology, and calls it “a great pre-health or pre-med major, meeting most medical school prerequisites”; its listed prerequisites include BSC 2010/2010L and 2011/2011L, general and organic chemistry and calculus I–II, with 120 total hours and 72–73 hours of major coursework. The university does not say whether it counts as the biology major discussed here — confirm with the advisors.
• Total credits and required courses: total credits, required courses and labs for the Biological Science major are in the program guide and catalog and are not published on the pages read — check the program guide. The department’s undergraduate research page mentions a BSC 3402L Experimental Biology Laboratory and a “38-hour biological science coursework requirement”; the page prints no year, so rely on the current program guide.
• Capstones and placement years: the department says internships are off-campus activities related to biological science or the allied health professions and has an internship page — see the website.

2. How admission works

• You apply to the university, not the department: the department’s application links lead to the university portal (the FSU application or the Common App), and transfer applicants must select a major. Whether Biological Science is a limited-enrollment major is not stated on the pages read — confirm with Admissions; the university also says access to some programs is limited at the upper-division level, with criteria in the program guide.
• Declaring the major and transferring in: not published on the pages read. The department’s undergraduate advising office has full-time advisors in room 1067 of King Life Sciences, with appointments through Campus Connect and drop-in hours (Monday to Friday 8:30–11:45 a.m., Friday 1:30–4:00 p.m.); the site strongly advises seeing an advisor at least once a semester, preferably before registration.
• Pre-health advising: the Pre-Health Professions Advising Office in the College of Medicine offers additional advising for students aiming at medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, veterinary medicine, genetic counseling and similar careers.

3. Prerequisites and credit

• High school biology, chemistry, math: the department pages state no specific high school prerequisites; university-level minimum courses are in section 4 (4 years of math, 3 of natural science and so on). The combined-degree page names CHM 1045 and 1046 with labs and BSC 2010 and 2011 with labs as the courses needed for upper-division status.
• AP Biology: the Admissions AP table gives 3 = BSC 1005/1005L, 4 = BSC 2010/2010L, and 5 = BSC 2010/2010L plus BSC 2011/2011L.
• IB and A-Level biology: IB Biology Standard Level: 4 earns BSC 1005/1005L, and 5–7 the same as 4; Higher Level: 4 earns BSC 1005/1005L plus BSC 2010/2010L, with 5–7 the same as 4; Cambridge AICE: AS-Level earns BSC 1005 and 1005L, and A-Level earns BSC 2010, 2010L and BSC 2011 (grades A–E). Up to 45 semester hours can be awarded for accelerated credit, credit is awarded once per subject, and transfer or dual-enrollment credit takes precedence over exam credit. Whether these count toward the biology major’s required courses — ask the department advisors.
• First-year common courses and labs: not published on the pages read.
• Competitions: the pages read do not say how science olympiads are viewed in admissions.

4. Timeline and materials (university level, for biology applicants)

• How to apply: first-year applicants use either the Common App or FSU’s own application — FSU has no preference, but Early Decision must use the Common App; international and domestic applicants use the same application. The fee is $30, with waivers for ACT, College Board or NACAC fee waivers or other indicators of economic need.
• Plans and deadlines (Admissions first-year deadlines page; no year is printed — check that it is for 2027 entry): Early Decision (binding, domestic students only, no talent-based majors) — application 15 October, materials 22 October, decision 17 December, deposit 15 January; Early Action (non-binding, Florida residents only) — 15 October / 22 October, decision 17 December, deposit 1 May; Regular Decision (all students) — 1 December application, 8 December materials, decision 18 February, deposit 1 May; Rolling (all students) — 1 March application, 8 March materials, decisions on a rolling basis in April. The site says scholarship funds are limited and priority goes to Early Decision and Early Action applicants.
• Testing: the site says Florida Board of Governors regulations require every first-year applicant (international students included) to submit at least one ACT, CLT or SAT score; FSU superscores sub-scores, does not accept self-reported scores from the Common App (they are self-reported separately in the Admissions Portal), and treats February tests as the last usable date. The ACT Science section has not been required since the 2025–26 cycle, and the ACT composite counts only English, math and reading.
• Transcripts and essay: applicants from US schools complete the self-reported STARS record; an essay (up to 650 words, required, can be uploaded after applying) and a résumé (up to two pages) are submitted, and optional Schoolhouse.world certifications are accepted. The site does not mention recommendation letters.
• How applications are reviewed and reference data: review is holistic, built on “Vires” (strength: grades, rigor, tests, school profile), “Artes” (skill: activities outside the classroom) and “Mores” (character: essay and résumé), with no single criterion guaranteeing admission; the site says meeting the State University System minimum does not guarantee admission. Minimum courses: English 4, math 4, natural science 3, social science 3, world language 2 (sequential). The page prints the middle 50% of admitted students for Fall 2026 as core GPA 4.3–4.6, ACT 31–34 and SAT 1380–1480, and average courses completed by 2025 accepted students as English 4.5, math 6, natural science 5, social science 5 and world language 3.5.
• Honors: students interested in the University Honors Program select that option in the application and complete a separate supplemental application due 1 December.

5. US domestic applicants

• Costs (cost estimates page, 2026–27, Tallahassee main campus, undergraduates at 13 credits per term): for Florida residents, tuition $5,604 per year and fees $50; on-campus housing $8,420, food $5,740, books $1,380, transportation $2,320 and personal $2,504, with a printed on-campus resident total of $26,018; non-resident tuition is $22,232 per year with a printed on-campus total of $43,916. (The figures are estimates used to award aid; this guide does not add the items up.)
• Scholarships (first-year scholarships page): all admitted first-year students are automatically considered for the Admissions merit scholarships with no separate application, and those awarded typically have no grades below B. The page lists the Vires Scholarship (Florida residents, $16,000 over eight semesters), the Mores Scholarship ($12,000), the IB Diploma Scholarship ($8,000), the Sunshine Award ($4,000), National Merit Finalist awards (the Benacquisto Scholarship for Florida residents, covering the in-state cost of attendance), the Presidential Scholars and Stamps Scholars programs for students admitted to the Honors Program, and an out-of-state tuition waiver of about $609 per semester hour (about $18,452 per year) for non-Florida students, renewable with 15 credit hours a semester and a 3.0 GPA. Several amounts are labelled for students admitted from Fall 2024 — check the current amounts. Need-based aid requires the FAFSA.
• Florida residents: Early Action is for Florida residents only; the page also refers Florida residents to the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
• Scholarships specific to biology: see section 9.

6. International applicants

• Applying: international first-year applicants use the same application (FSU application or Common App), then complete the International School Form in the Admissions Portal and follow the checklist. Early Decision is for domestic students only and Early Action for Florida residents only, so international applicants use Regular Decision (1 December) or Rolling (1 March). Required items: ACT/CLT/SAT scores (self-reported), English proficiency (if the native language is not English), and the essay and résumé or activity list.
• Records and credential evaluation: applicants who attended a secondary school outside the United States or studied a non-US curriculum submit official academic records (sent directly by the school, exam board or a school official) plus a Secondary School Evaluation from an independent credential evaluation agency (degree equivalency and a US-equivalent GPA; a NACES member is recommended; records not in English need a certified English translation). The evaluation may be waived for applicants with an IB Diploma (1–7 scale), British-pattern examinations such as A Levels and IGCSE, or a school on a US grading scale.
• English requirements (English proficiency page): for applicants whose native language is not English, the minimum scores are TOEFL iBT 80 for tests before 21 January 2026 and 4.0 for tests on or after that date, Academic IELTS 6.5, PTE 55, Michigan Language Assessment 55, Duolingo 125, and Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 180. Scores must be sent by the testing agency and expire after two years. Whether English exemptions exist is not stated on the pages read.
• Proof of funds: after admission, students receive an email to complete an online Certification of Financial Responsibility; FSU must verify funds before issuing the I-20, and applicants must show support for the first year and confirm funds for the length of the program. For amounts, see the non-resident estimate in section 5.
• Scholarships: the international FAQ says all admitted first-year applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships, with no separate application, based on academic performance and test scores; details are in section 5.

7. Chinese applicants

• Gaokao and Chinese high school records: the pages read do not say whether the gaokao is considered or how it would be used, and give no China-specific guidance on the Chinese school system — not published; ask FSU Admissions (admissions@fsu.edu).
• General requirements that apply: because Chinese applicants attend secondary school outside the United States, the site’s rules call for official records and a third-party Secondary School Evaluation (section 6), ACT/CLT/SAT scores, English proficiency, and the essay and résumé, through Regular Decision or Rolling.
• AP/IB/A-Level credit: see section 3; the site gives no separate guidance for Chinese curricula.

8. Transfer students

• Who can apply: students with at least 12 semester hours of transferable college credit earned after high school; students who earn a high school diploma and an A.A. degree together must apply as first-year students.
• Materials and deadlines: all college transcripts (non-US coursework must be evaluated by a foreign credential evaluation agency), an official high school transcript, ACT/CLT/SAT scores (required for freshman and sophomore transfers, recommended for juniors and seniors), AICE/AP/IB/CLEP results and the residency form; those who will have attempted 90 or more semester hours upload a personal statement. University deadlines (no year printed — check that they are for 2027 entry): Spring 1 October, Summer 1 March, Fall 1 June; some programs have earlier deadlines (see the program guide); the fee is $30.
• GPA: the transfer “what we’re looking for” page says junior/senior applicants (60+ hours) should have at least a 3.0 on all attempted college coursework and at the last institution, and freshman/sophomore applicants (12–59 hours) a strong high school profile and test scores plus a 3.0, adding that “very few students with less than a 3.5 academic GPA will be admissible”. The international transfer page instead gives a minimum of 2.0 and says very few students with less than a 3.0 calculated GPA are admitted — the site is not consistent, so confirm with Admissions. Applicants need at least 3 semester hours of college English composition and 3 of college mathematics (C or higher) and the world-language requirement (through the second level in high school or college).
• Program requirements: transfer applicants must meet the requirements of the intended major (prerequisites, deadlines and so on) in the program guide; the page says access to some programs is limited at the upper-division level, with additional criteria applied equally to students entering with 52+ credit hours, A.A. transfers from Florida public institutions and rising juniors.
• Florida A.A. graduates: those who earned an A.A. at a Florida public institution immediately before transferring receive priority consideration (if they meet the major’s requirements).
• International transfers: official or certified copies of all secondary and post-secondary records; non-US coursework needs an evaluation (high school records with a US-equivalent GPA; university records with a course-by-course evaluation and GPA); English requirements as in section 6.
• Transfer conditions for biology are in the program description in section 1.

9. Research, scholarships and outcomes

• Undergraduate research (department research page): three routes — the UROP program lets students begin research in their freshman and sophomore years; Directed Independent Study (DIS) in a faculty lab through the repeatable BSC 4900 (usually 2–3 hours a semester), with up to 12 hours counting toward the BS and 6 toward the major, two consecutive semesters able to satisfy one upper-division laboratory, and a paper able to substitute for BSC 3402L; and Honors in the Major — two to four consecutive semesters of research with a thesis written and defended, noted on the transcript, for which applicants should have at least 60 (typically 75) credits, a 3.2 cumulative GPA and a 3.2 on at least 12 FSU semester hours. The page prints no year — check the current information.
• Department scholarships: the department site lists the Sheila B. Lutz Memorial Scholarship and an undergraduate scholarships page, whose content is not available on the pages read; university-level scholarships are in section 5.
• Outcomes: the combined-degree page says the degree suits continued professional study in the health or life sciences and employment as laboratory technicians in biotechnology, pathology or forensic laboratories, as field agents in environmental sciences, or as secondary education teachers; this is the site’s description, not employment statistics.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Common App or the FSU application; Regular Decision 1 December (check the year); $30 fee; at least one ACT/CLT/SAT score (self-reported); STARS record; essay and résumé
• Scholarships: automatic after admission, funds limited, apply early

International applicants (including China):

• Same application; International School Form; official records plus a Secondary School Evaluation; ACT/CLT/SAT self-reported; English proficiency (new TOEFL iBT 4.0, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 125 and others); essay and résumé; Certification of Financial Responsibility after admission
• How the gaokao is used is not published; ask FSU Admissions

After entry:

• Check the Biological Science program guide for required courses and labs; see an advisor at least once a semester

Transfer students:

• At least 12 transferable credits; Fall 1 June (check the year); GPA 3.0 (domestic-record page) or 2.0 (international transfer page) — the two pages disagree, so confirm with Admissions

Sources: Florida State University, Undergraduate majors; Academic tracks; Combined BS/MS pathway; Undergraduate advising; Undergraduate handbooks; Undergraduate research; Program guide: Biochemistry; First-year application; First-year deadlines and fees; What we are looking for (first-year); First-year scholarships; Accelerated credit; AP credit table; IB credit table; AICE credit table; International first-year; English proficiency; International FAQ; International transfer; Transfer application; Transfer deadlines; Transfer: what we are looking for; Cost estimates 2026–27. This is for the 2027 entry cycle. The first-year and transfer deadline tables print no year — check that they are for 2027 entry; some scholarship amounts are labelled for students admitted from Fall 2024. Check Florida State University’s website for the latest.