Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

UFSC offers a Biological Sciences degree (with an option for Education) and a Biology Education degree.

The Biological Sciences degree has courses in the day period and the Biology Education degree in the evening period. The day program offers general courses in the first two years and, in the third year, the student must choose if they will follow the teaching career. In the evening program, the degree is already aimed at teaching.

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.

UFSC Biological Sciences and Biology Education graduates complete the courses 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 education degree also provides students with a solid educational base and education-specific internships which contribute to their teacher training in Biology.

Biological Sciences and Biology Education 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 called Simbiosis, managed exclusively by students, which provides practical experience with some of these tasks.

Those who opt for the Education degree are able to teach 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 areas.