Agricultural and Life Sciences | College of

Established

1884

Academic Advising

Each major has an undergraduate coordinator and faculty and staff advisors. Students see advisors in their majors for academic advising. The college also provides dedicated advising for students wishing to pursue careers in medicine, dentistry, and other health professions (pre-health). Students preparing for law careers can select any major in the college.

PRE-HEALTH PREPARATION

Six CALS majors include the prerequisite courses for professional schools, such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine. The college’s dedicated pre-health advisor guides students in incorporating prerequisite coursework into any CALS major. We offer programming each semester to help students succeed.

Qualified students can apply to the honors combination BS/DMD program in the College of Dentistry after one semester in their freshman year at UF. This program helps highly motivated students complete the bachelor’s degree and DMD in a shorter time than the two traditional programs. Participants major in microbiology and cell science or nutritional sciences. Both majors provide the science foundation required for dental school.

Qualified students can also apply to the Doctor of Pharmacy/Bachelor of Science in Biology or Microbiology and Cell Science program. Students complete most undergraduate requirements in the first three years and after the first year of the UF PharmD program, students earn their bachelor's degree.

Internships and Career Preparation

Research and Extension internships are offered each year on a competitive basis. Applications typically open late fall and facilitate placing students with faculty for direct experiential learning opportunities. CALS students are also eligible for the University Scholars Program. Students can also participate in research and Extension experiences under the direction of faculty through other volunteer and academic pathways.  Students are encouraged to discuss opportunities with their academic advisor.

The college provides financial assistance for experiential learning through the VP Promise Program. The VP Promise program provides financial assistance for undergraduate students pursuing immersive experiences in the areas of agriculture, life sciences, and natural resources.

The college's director of Alumni and Career Services assists students with interview preparation and job search resources. The college also sponsors CALS Career Expo in October.

Scholarships

The college provides nearly $400,000 annually in undergraduate scholarships. Newly admitted students are eligible to apply.  Learn more at: www.CALS.ufl.edu\scholarships. 

HONORS PROGRAM

In addition to the university honor’s college, CALS offers an upper division Honors Program for academically motivated students. The CALS Honors Program at the University of Florida offers academically motivated students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) an opportunity to enhance their education through advanced coursework, research, and a culminating thesis project. Designed for students with a strong academic record (3.75 GPA or higher), the program allows participants to gain a specialized honors certificate, graduate with honors or participate in the university scholars program.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES

Gaining international experience through a CALS Study Abroad experience can greatly enhance your education and open doors to exciting career opportunities. Our college makes it easier for you to take advantage of these opportunities by offering various support scholarships to help cover the cost of studying abroad. For students who want to continue building on this international experience, we also offer a minor, International Studies in Agricultural and Life Sciences, which allows you to further explore global issues and deepen your understanding of the world. Whether you're looking to study for a semester or engage in longer-term opportunities, we have resources available to help you succeed on your global journey.

LEADERSHIP

Getting involved through the college is the perfect way to build your unique story and discover more about yourself. There are more than 45 CALS affiliated student organizations. You can get to know many of them each fall during the CALS Kickoff, or you can choose to explore them on your own.

The CALS Ambassadors are selected to represent the college and create awareness of the academic programs and career opportunities in food, agriculture, natural resources and life sciences among students, teachers, advisors, and the general public.

The CALS Leadership Institute (CALS LI) is a two-semester program which helps students build leadership skills through courses, an international travel experience and networking connections. Students are selected through a nomination and interview process.

Admission | Freshmen

First-semester freshmen at the university will be admitted to the college when they declare a major. Students can remain in that major as long as they continue to meet or to exceed the critical-tracking criteria for the major. Students who fall below the minimum critical-tracking criteria or who fall below the minimum progression standards will not be allowed to continue in the major. These students must meet with an academic advisor to determine an alternative major.

Admission | Non-Freshmen

All UF students other than first-semester freshmen must apply to a major in this college. Students should first meet with an advisor in their major of interest. Unless otherwise specified by particular majors, students will be admitted to the major if they meet or exceed the critical-tracking criteria.

Readmission to the College

CALS students who have been dismissed from the university for poor academic performance can petition UF and the college for readmission after one semester.

Transfer Students

A transfer student from a Florida public college must have an Associate of Arts degree (or 60 credits for students transferring from private institutions, four-year institutions or institutions outside of Florida) and satisfy the admission requirements for the intended major to be eligible for admission to the college. Prospective transfer students should consult the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Transfer Guide to ensure completion of the required courses for admission to the college and the major of interest.
More Info

Detailed information on transfer admission and university admission requirements is available from the Office of Admissions.
More Info

Transfer students from other universities and non-Florida public colleges should complete the first two years’ requirements for the major before transferring to UF and to this college.

Student Responsibility

Students are expected to assume full academic responsibility for registering for and completing the proper courses and for fulfilling all requirements for the degree. Students should consult their advisors before registering for each semester to ensure that appropriate courses are taken in the proper sequence. Students who do not enroll in appropriate courses may not be allowed to register for the following term.

College Probation

A student whose overall grade point average falls below 2.0 is placed on college probation. The associate dean will notify the student that they are on probation and must remove all deficit points in two semesters or face college suspension.

During college suspension a student cannot register as a College of Agricultural and Life Sciences student.

College Retention Program

The college works individually with students on college probation to provide them an opportunity for academic success at the university. The retention program identifies obstacles that could prevent academic success, provides structure and mechanisms for success and connects students to administrators, faculty and staff who are committed to helping them.

Critical-Tracking Criteria

Students who do not complete the appropriate number of tracking courses each semester, and/or do not have the required tracking GPA, will have a hold placed on their record to prevent advance registration. They must meet with an advisor in their major to determine whether they may continue in that major.

Drop Policy

Students can drop courses during the drop/add period without penalty. Thereafter, courses can be dropped only by college petition in accordance with the deadlines. Drops requiring college petition are subject to the following rules:

• After the university’s drop deadline, students must first meet with an academic advisor in their major and then submit a petition to the college office.
• Students who withdraw from UF (drop all courses) must go to the Dean of Students Office, 202 Peabody Hall, to meet with an advisor.

General Education

Courses that satisfy General Education requirements are listed by category. The courses listed represent the most expedient way to fulfill graduation requirements. However, students can satisfy degree requirements with alternative course sequences. An economics course is required for all students and this course may also meet General Education requirements.

The college requires all students to complete courses in oral and written communication in addition to the General Education requirements. In majors where an equivalency is permitted, students should see their advisors for approved alternative courses. When majors list specific courses, students must select courses from the list.

Internships

By prior arrangement with an advisor and with supervision, a student may receive credit for practical work experience relevant to the major. Credit is earned at the rate of one credit per month of full-time work and cannot exceed three credits in any combination of work experience. A written report must be submitted before a (S or U) grade will be issued. Academic units offering this option list the course number 4941. Minimum criteria and general guidelines are available from the undergraduate coordinator for the major.

Minors

Pursuit of a minor is an excellent way for students to expand their knowledge of a particular subject and get the most out of their educational experience at UF. The minor provides a traditional and well-accepted way to recognize that a student has completed a significant body of work outside the major. Students can follow-up on long-time personal interests, satisfy intellectual curiosity generated by introductory courses, differentiate their program of study from those of fellow students or enhance their opportunities for employment or for admission to graduate or professional schools.

There is no limit to the number of minors a student can pursue, however, the addition of minors should not add more time to the student’s academic career at UF.

Eligibility Requirements

• An established UF GPA of 2.0 or higher
• On-track to complete your degree in a timely manner
• 45 credits earned
• Be able to complete the minor(s) in a timely fashion; it is forbidden to extend graduation for the sole purpose of completing a minor
• Complete a minimum of 6 credits exclusive to the minor (these exclusive credits will not count toward major(s) credit which includes critical tracking, college, major core, and advisor, departmental, and elective approved requirements for the student’s major or other minors)

College Honors Program

The CALS honors program is for students who have completed 60-90 credits and have a 3.75 or higher overall GPA.

CALS honors coursework integrates with required and elective courses in the student's chosen curriculum. To graduate as a CALS honors scholar, students must complete each requirement below and maintain a minimum upper-division GPA of 3.75.

• ALS 3923
• XXX 4915 Honors Thesis Research (3 credits)
• Two additional honors courses
• Honors thesis. Thesis projects are scholarly activities in teaching, research or extension that involve guided independent work. The student's project must have clear objectives and expected outcomes.

CALS honors coursework is identified as such on the transcript. Students who complete the program successfully are designated CALS honors scholars and receive a scholar's medallion and certificate.

Completion of the CALS honors program automatically qualifies students for graduation with magna cum laude or summa cum laude designation.

Students who are not in the CALS honors program can still graduate magna cum laude or summa cum laude, provided they have the necessary GPA and complete the honors thesis.

For additional information, contact the CALS honors program director at 352.392.1963.

A Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree requires a minimum of 120 credits. In addition, students must have university and junior/senior-level minimum GPAs of 2.0.

Students must complete the General Education and major requirements in effect at the time of their initial enrollment at UF.

Seniors must file an online application for degree with the Office of the University Registrar early in the semester in which they expect to graduate.
More Info

Graduating with Honors

Residence

The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences requires completion of 60 semester credits or more of coursework at the university for award of a baccalaureate degree. Some coursework can be taken at other accredited four-year institutions with approval of the college.

The last 30 semester credits applied toward a degree must be completed in residence in the college. In special cases, the college can waive this requirement.

Students can complete six of the required 30 credits of residence work by flexible learning, but each course must be approved in advance by the undergraduate coordinator for the major and by the college. The college will not accept flexible credit unless a student has a minimum upper-division GPA of 2.0 in all work attempted in residence.

MAJORS

The college's majors encompass agricultural sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, life sciences and preprofessional studies. Programs in the college prepare students for professional studies in dentistry, law, medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine as well as graduate study.

MINORS

CERTIFICATES

UF ONLINE MAJORS

Statewide Academic Programs

Recognizing the needs of nontraditional students, the university offers several Bachelor of Science degree programs at the following locations or via distance education:

• Apopka 
  • Plant Science
• Fort Lauderdale 
  • Geomatics
  • Plant Science
• Milton 
  • Natural Resource conservation
  • Plant Science
• Plant City 
  • Agricultural Education and Communication
  • Geomatics
• Online
  • Environmental Management in Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Microbiology and Cell Science

Students must first earn an AA degree from a Florida public college or 60 credits from another accredited institution, complete specific prerequisite courses, meet a specific GPA requirement and apply for admission to UF. After being accepted, students can pursue a Bachelor of Science without moving to Gainesville.

These students are also eligible for UF and CALS scholarships. UF faculty members teach and advise all students, and upon completion of the program requirements, UF confers the degree.

Courses in these programs are also available to the general public for continuing education.

Preprofessional Programs

Several CALS majors have specializations that help students complete the preprofessional requirements for admission to the colleges of dentistry, law, medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and other health professions.

• Students preparing for law careers can select any major in the college
• Specializations in animal sciences, biology, botany, entomology and nematology, food science, microbiology and cell science, nutritional sciences, and wildlife ecology and conservation prepare students for programs in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, optometry, pharmacy, and other health professions.
• Qualified students can apply to the honors combination BS/DMD program in the College of Dentistry after one semester in their freshman year at UF. This program helps highly motivated students complete the bachelor’s degree and DMD in a shorter time than the two traditional programs. Participants major in microbiology and cell science or nutritional sciences in CALS. Both majors provide the science foundation required for dental school.
• Qualified students can apply to the Doctor of Pharmacy/Bachelor of Science in Biology or Microbiology and Cell Science. Students can complete prerequisites for admission to the UF College of Pharmacy along with most of the requirements for the Biology and Microbiology and Cell Science majors in three years.  After the first year of the UF PharmD program, students earn their bachelor’s degree.
  More Info

---