Frequently Asked Questions
- What is academic advising?
- What can I expect from my advisor?
- When do I get assigned an advisor and when can I meet him or her?
- How and when do I sign-up for courses?
- What is the minimum grade requirement in courses for this major?
- What are the critical tracking courses for the major?
- How do I register for MCB 4905 Undergraduate Research and how do I find a research sponsor?
- How do I register for MCB 4034L, Advanced Lab?
- What do I need to do to graduate with honors?
- Can I take classes at other community colleges/universities in the summer?
- Which college do I select to receive my degree in Microbiology and Cell Science?
- What is the first day of classes for courses offered in the department?
- How do I apply for graduation?
- I am a current microbiology and cell science major who wants to change to a new major. What do I do?
- What courses are required as prerequisites to be accepted as a transfer student from a community college?
What is academic advising?
The purpose of academic advising is to help you to formulate and reach your own educational goals, while also making sure you understand the requirements of both the college, department, and university. For example, your adviser will assist you with such procedures as getting permission to drop or add a class, permission to register as a transient student during summers, and approval of distribution credit from transfer courses. And, your adviser will also help you to make the most of the opportunities that the college and department have to offer.
What can I expect from my advisor?
Your advisor will listen carefully to your questions and concerns, offer suggestions for how to match available courses and programs to your interests, and most of all, make sure that you fully understand all of the options so that you can make intelligent choices on your own.
When do I get assigned an adviser and when can I meet him or her?
All current and perspective microbiology and cell science majors can see a department advisor. We highly recommend you schedule an appointment with one as soon as you begin your career as a student here at the university and feel you are interested in the major. It is recommended that you meet with your advisor a minimum of once each term. All appointments are scheduled online.
How and when do I sign-up for courses?
As an entering freshmen or transfer student, you will be pre-assigned a temporary advisor during preview or transfer orientation who will assist you in registering for your first semester courses. After that, you will be responsible for registering yourself via the ISIS system at your scheduled registration time.
What is the minimum grade requirement in courses for this major?
All critical tracking courses and department required core and elective courses require a grade of C or higher. If you receive a grade lower than the requirement, you must retake it to meet the degree requirements. The department reserves the right to consider requiring students to change their major after two unsuccessful attempts at a required course. A grade of W is considered one attempt.
What are the critical tracking courses for the major?
The critical tracking courses for the major include: CHM 2045, CHM 2045L. CHM 2046, CHM 2046L, BSC 2010, BSC 2010L, BSC 2011, BSC 2011L, MAC 2311, and CHM 2210. Students must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA in these courses to remain in the major.
How do I register for MCB 4905 Undergraduate Research and how do I find a research sponsor?
Finding a sponsor is the responsibility of the student. The form and the list of professors are available in the advising office and on the web. Once you find a sponsor, you must complete the research form and turn it in to the department secretary. She will then register you for the course. For specific information on undergraduate research, refer to the undergraduate research link.
How do I register for MCB 4034L, Advanced Lab?
This advanced lab is departmentally controlled and first preference is given to students who need the lab to complete their departmental requirements that semester. To register, students must complete the MCB 4034L Advanced Lab form and return it to the department secretary. Students are notified by email of the status of their registration in the class. The form can be accessed through this link: 4034ladvlabform.pdf.
What do I need to do to graduate with honors?
All students who have a UF GPA of 3.5 or higher for their upper division course work will be eligible to graduate with honors, cum laude. High honors, Magna cum laude, requires a 3.75 GPA through graduation and highest honors, summa cum laude, requires a 3.85 GPA through graduation. Both magna and summa cum laude honors have the additional requirements of a minimum of four credits in MCB 4905 research, enrollment in one of the following courses: PCB 5235, Immunology, MCB5503, Honors Virology, PCB5136 Lab, Techniques in Microbial and Cell Biology, MCB 5353 Lab, Laboratory for Microbial Genetics, or MCB 5458, Energy Transformations. Students are required write a research paper and submit it to their specific college for final approval.
Can I take classes at other community colleges/universities in the summer?
Yes, with approval from your academic advisor. It is a university policy that your last 30 hours be completed at the University of Florida. A maximum of 60 credits from a community college can be attributed toward fulfillment of the120 credit hour minimum requirement .However, you may petition your college if you have an extenuating circumstance which may require you to take a course elsewhere. And, not all courses are approved. The process involves completion of a transient form which is done online via the web site www.facts.org. It is your responsibility to turn the form in to the institution you will be attending and then check to be sure your grades are transferred and posted on your UF transcript once the courses are completed.
Which college do I select to receive my degree in Microbiology and Cell Science?
The microbiology and cell science degree is offered in two colleges; the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The microbiology core and elective requirements are identical in both colleges. However, the general education and college requirements vary for each college. For college requirements in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences refer to the Undergraduate Requirements for Agricultural and Life Sciences web page. For college requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, refer to the Undergraduate Requirements for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences web page. It is your choice as to which college to elect to declare your major in depending upon your individual goals and philosophy.
What is the first day of classes for courses offered in the department?
All classes in the department, including labs, start on the first day of classes each semester, including summers.
How do I apply for graduation?
Students must apply for graduation the same semester they plan to graduate. This must be done by a specific deadline which is usually early-on in the semester. The deadline is posted on ISIS and is available from the Registrar's office. Applications for degree certification are submitted electronically online via ISIS.
I am a current microbiology and cell science major who wants to change to a new major? What do I do?
Go directly to the advisor of the new major you wish to change to. If accepted, you will have to be approved by the college of your new major. If your new major is in the College of Liberal Arts and Science, you will need to see an advisor in the Academic Advising Center and can call 392-1521 for information regarding appointments and walk-in times. You do not need to see an advisor in the microbiology and cell science department to change to a new major.
What courses are required as prerequisites to be accepted as a transfer student from a community college?
Transfer students are required to have completed General Chemistry 2045, CHM 2045L, CHM 2046, CHM 2046L, BSC 2010, BSC 2010L, *BSC 2011, BSC 2011L, and MAC 2311 with a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all attempts in these courses and no grade below a "C".
*BOT 1010/BOT 1010 Lab or ZOO 1010/ZOO 1010 Lab satisfy the BSC 2011 + BSC 2011 Lab requirement (Biology II).