B.A. (Biophysics)

Degree program Hours (120)

The Bachelors of Arts in Physics with a Biophysics Concentration prepares students interested in physics and planning to enter professional schools in medicine, biomedical engineering, and biomechanics as well as entry level biotechnology positions in industry and government. The flexible program offers the opportunity for parallel studies in another discipline. Students satisfying the degree requirements of this program will also have satisfied the course requirements for admission into medical schools. Interested students should consult the pre-medical advisor at (305) 348-3084 or the Pre-Health Professions Advising and Evaluation Committee (PPAEC) web site at http://casgroup.fiu.edu/prehealthadvise/pages.php?id=1282.

Lower Division Preparation

Course Description Credits Prerequisite Offered
CHM 1045 General Chemistry I 3 Fa, Sp, Sum
CHM 1045L General Chemistry Lab I 1 CHM 1045 (co) Fa, Sp, Sum
CHM 1046 General Chemistry II 3 CHM 1045, CHM 1045L Fa, Sp, Sum
CHM 1046L General Chemistry Lab II 1 CHM 1046 (co) Fa, Sp, Sum
MAC 2311 Calculus I 4 MAC 1114 or MAC 2147 or placement test score Fa, Sp, Sum
MAC 2312 Calculus II 4 MAC 2311 Fa, Sp, Sum
MAC 2313 Multivariable Calculus 4 MAC 2312 Fa, Sp, Sum
PHY 2048 Physics with Calculus I 4 MAC 2311 (pre or co) Fa, Sp, Sum
PHY 2048L General Physics Lab I 1 PHY 2048 (pre or co) Fa, Sp, Sum
PHY 2049 Physics with Calculus II 4 PHY 2048 Fa, Sp, Sum
PHY 2049L General Physics Lab II 1 PHY 2049 (pre or co) Fa, Sp, Sum

Additional Lower Division Courses

Course Description Credits Prerequisite Offered
BSC 1010 General Biology I 3 Fa, Sp, Sum
BSC 1010L General Biology I Lab 1 Fa, Sp, Sum
BSC 1011 General Biology II 3 Fa, Sp, Sum
BSC 1011L General Biology II Lab 1 Fa, Sp, Sum
CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry I 4 CHM 1046, CHM 1046L Fa, Sp, Sum
CHM 2210L Organic Chemistry I Lab 1 Fa, Sp, Sum
CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry II 3 CHM 2010, CHM 2010L Fa, Sp, Sum
CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry II Lab 1

Upper Division Program (48)

Course Description Credits Prerequisite Offered
PHY 3106 Modern Physics I 3 PHY 2049 Fa
PHY 3106L Modern Physics Lab I 1 PHY 3106 (pre or co) Fa
PHY 3107 Modern Physics II 3 PHY 3106 Sp
PHY 3107L Modern Physics Lab II 1 PHY 3107 (pre or co) Sp
PHY 3513 Thermodynamics 3 PHY 2048, PHY 2049 Fa
PHY 4134 Widely Applied Physics I 3 PHY 3107 Fa
PHY 4135 Widely Applied Physics II 3 PHY 4134 Sp
PHY 4221 Intermediate Classical Mechanics I 3 MAC 2313, PHY 2048, PHY 2049 Fa
PHY 4810L Senior Physics Lab 3 PHY 2048, PHY 2049 Sp
PHZ 4710 Introduction to Biophysics 3 PHY 3107 or CHM 3411 Fa
PHY,PHZ,AST Approved Upper Division Electives 6
Biology/Chemistry Approved Upper Division Electives 12
3xxx,4xxx Upper Division Physics or non-Physics 4

Pre-med majors

Pre-med majors are strongly encouraged to take the following upper division courses:

Course Description Credits Prerequisite Offered
PCB 3063 Genetics 3 BSC 1010, BSC 1010L Fa, Sp
PCB 3063L Genetics Lab 1 Fa, Sp
PCB 3702 Intermediate Human Physiology 3 BSC 1010 or BSC 1011 Fa, Sp
PCB 3702L Intermediate Human Physiology Lab 1 BSC 1010, PCB 3703 (pre or co) Fa, Sp
BCH 3033 General Biochemistry 3 CHM 2211, BSC 1010 Fa, Sp
BCH 3033L General Biochemistry Lab 1 Fa, Sp

The following courses could be substituted for the General Biochemistry courses BCH 3033 and its lab

Course Description Credits Prerequisite Offered
CHM 4304 Biological Chemistry I 3 CHM 2211,CHM 3120,BSC 1011(pre);CHM 3410(co) Fa, Sp, Sum
CHM 4304L Biological Chemistry I Lab 1 CHM 4304 (co) Fa, Sp, Sum