Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

The Biological Sciences program at UFSC is offered in daytime and evening formats. The daytime program provides general coursework during the first two years; in the third year, students must choose between a teaching degree (licenciatura) and a bachelor’s degree leading to other career paths (bacharelado). The evening program, in contrast, has a teaching focus from the beginning.

Both degrees offer a broad-ranging training that provides students with knowledge of various biological areas, such as Cell Biology, Embryology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Botany, Physiology, Parasitology, Morphology, Ecology, Zoology, Microbiology, Immunology and Pharmacology; as well as Teaching Methods, Education Studies and Educational Psychology.

The School of Biological Sciences offers a good infrastructure with strong research performance, which also provides undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in projects in various research areas. Some of these areas include: the study of biodiversity and its conservation, zoology, botany, genetics, animal and environmental toxicology, biological actions of medicinal herbs and natural products, virology, parasitology, behavioral genetics,  neurobiological mechanisms of stress, anxiety, depression, drug abuse, eating behavior, pain, inflammation and aging.

Biological Sciences graduates complete the program with a solid academic background and a broad academic profile. The vast internship opportunities since the early stages of the program ensure students a solid scientific education and the possibility to choose among various areas of work. The teaching degree also provides students with a solid educational base and education-specific internships which contribute to their teacher training in Biology.

Biological Sciences students receive a generalist training. Therefore, they do not emphasize training in specific areas, such as Marine Biology or Environmental Conservation. However, through elective courses, they can deepen knowledge in the most diverse fields, such as Entomology, Field Botany, Applied Mycology, Plant Biotechnology, Stem Cells, Drug Use, Abuse and Dependence, Malacology, Medicinal Plants, Phytogeography, Bee Biology, Medical Biochemistry, Aquatic Mammals, among many others.

Professional Profile

Biological Sciences graduates are qualified to provide services, execute projects and carry out research in various areas of biology, such as preservation, sanitation, protection and enhancement of environmental quality, biotechnology, etc. The School of Biological Sciences (CCB) has a number of laboratories where cutting-edge research is conducted and where students find vast possibilities to develop their Scientific Initiation projects, which contribute largely to their studies throughout the program.

Biologists can guide, direct, advise or consult companies, conduct investigations, and prepare technical reports and opinions. The School of Biological Sciences houses a Junior Enterprise (Simbiosis), managed exclusively by students, which provides practical experience with some of these tasks.

Those who opt for the teching degree are able to work in primary and secondary schools. Students in the teaching degree have about 1000 class hours of pedagogical courses, besides a teaching practice component (PPCC). In addition to the pedagogical courses, students receive strong training in various biological fields.