Biological Sciences

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Bachelor's DegreeAcademicCIP: 26.0101

Majoring in biological sciences provides students with the foundation for a wide range of careers, including jobs in medicine* and allied fields, education, biotechnology, environmental agencies and NGOs, science writing, forensic science, research, law, marine biology and more. Because our department offers a wide range of upper-level courses, students can explore a variety of fields of interest or focus on a specific area for a target career. The B.S.

Credits

120 credits

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.

Biological Sciences

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Bachelor's DegreeAcademicCIP: 26.0101

Credits

120 credits

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 25-2031.00

Skills

Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingWritingActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingScienceJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringInstructingLearning StrategiesSocial PerceptivenessMathematicsQuality Control AnalysisTime ManagementCoordination

Knowledge

English LanguageMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsBiologyEducation and TrainingChemistryCustomer and Personal ServiceFood ProductionAdministration and ManagementAdministrativePsychologyLaw and GovernmentPublic Safety and SecurityProduction and ProcessingSales and MarketingMechanicalEngineering and TechnologyDesignPhysicsMedicine and Dentistry

Abilities

Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionWritten ExpressionDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningProblem SensitivityInformation OrderingNear VisionCategory FlexibilitySpeech ClaritySpeech RecognitionFluency of IdeasFlexibility of ClosureVisual Color DiscriminationMathematical Reasoning

Tasks

Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to perse
Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English,
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as molecular biolo
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instructio
Write letters of recommendation for students.
Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory technique
Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
Enter data into databases.
Operate drones to capture aerial footage or photographs of crime scenes for further analysis.
Conduct research, or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and
Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to
Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research perso
Taste or smell foods or beverages to ensure that flavors meet specifications or to select samples wi
Measure, test, or weigh bottles, cans, or other containers to ensure that hardness, strength, or dim
Maintain records of testing results or other documents as required by state or other governing agenc
Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.
Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field dat
Use geospatial technology to develop soil sampling grids or identify sampling sites for testing char
Operate drone technology to capture aerial imagery and data for crop monitoring and analysis.
Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouri
Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving e
Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.
Study nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive values of animal feed materials.
Write up or orally communicate research findings to the scientific community, producers, and the pub
Develop improved practices in feeding, housing, sanitation, or parasite and disease control of anima
Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.
Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the re
Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.
Inventory and order lab supplies.
Supervise or direct the work of other geneticists, biologists, technicians, or biometricians working
Plan or conduct basic genomic and biological research related to areas such as regulation of gene ex
Prepare results of experimental findings for presentation at professional conferences or in scientif
Maintain accurate laboratory records and data.
Design molecular or cellular laboratory experiments, oversee their execution, and interpret results.
Write grant applications to obtain funding.
Develop new software applications or customize existing applications to meet specific scientific pro
Communicate research results through conference presentations, scientific publications, or project r
Create novel computational approaches and analytical tools as required by research goals.
Perform hydrologic, hydraulic, or water quality modeling.
Analyze storm water systems to identify opportunities for water resource improvements.
Conduct, or oversee the conduct of, investigations on matters such as water storage, wastewater disc
Schedule subjects for appointments, procedures, or inpatient stays as required by study protocols.
Perform specific protocol procedures such as interviewing subjects, taking vital signs, and performi
Assess eligibility of potential subjects through methods such as screening interviews, reviews of me
Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.

Technology

Data base user interface and query softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareGeographic information systemGraphics or photo imaging softwareOffice suite softwareObject or component oriented development softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareElectronic mail softwareSpreadsheet softwareDevelopment environment softwareComputer based training softwareDocument management softwareMobile location based services softwareCalendar and scheduling softwareWord processing softwareWeb platform development softwareGraphical user interface development softwareMap creation softwareDesktop publishing softwareOperating system softwareData mining softwareData base management system softwarePortal server softwareCustomer relationship management CRM softwareAccounting softwareCategorization or classification softwareVideo conferencing software

Tools

Bunsen burnersComputer data input scannersComputer laser printersDesktop computersDigital video camerasDissection scalpelsDocument camerasGlass beakersInteractive whiteboardsLaboratory heating platesLaptop computersLiquid crystal display LCD projectorsMultimedia projection equipmentOptical compound microscopesPencil compassesAnaerobic growth chambersBenchtop ultracentrifugesCarbon dioxide analysis equipmentCarousel slide projectorsChemiluminescence imaging systemsCompact digital camerasCompact disk CD playersConference telephonesDigital calculatorsDigital video disk DVD playersElectrophoresis equipment35 millimeter camerasBenchtop mixersBiohazard suitsBlood collection kits

Work Values

RelationshipsAchievementWorking ConditionsIndependenceSupportRecognition

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for