Biology Degree (3rd Edition)

• Admission profile

  It is recommended for the student to have completed a Science Baccalaureate programme. Within this profile, besides Biology, it would be recommended to have studied Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Geology and Earth and Environment Sciences.
  The qualities desirable for the future student of the Biology degree are:
  · Work skills.
  · Reasoning skills.
  · Observation, analysis, interpretation, and synthesis abilities.
  · Obtention, interpretation and application of knowledge skills.

• Minimum number of ECTS enrollment credits per student and school period

  It is recommended for the student to have completed a Science Baccalaureate programme. Within this profile, besides Biology, it would be recommended to have studied Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Geology and Earth and Environment Sciences.
  The qualities desirable for the future student of the Biology degree are:
  · Work skills.
  · Reasoning skills.
  · Observation, analysis, interpretation, and synthesis abilities.
  · Obtention, interpretation and application of knowledge skills.

• Tutorial action and reception

  · Webpage:
  https://www.usc.gal/es/centro/facultad-biologia
  · Information and promotion initiatives for the degrees taught at the centre.
  · Actions such as the creation of news and reports, the creation of promotional content on the faculty's website, or the enhancement of information disseminated through the most common search engines, in virtual press or on social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.).
  · Support for students of the SGC Process Manual of the Faculty of Biology. This process organises those aimed at guiding the student on any issue that may be relevant, such as information on professional opportunities or the possibility of reinforcing their training through mobility.

• Title suspension rules

  When a degree suspension occurs, the USC guarantees the adequate development of teachings that were initiated by their students until its suspension. For that, the Government Council approves the criteria related with the admission of new degree entry registration and the gradual suspension of teaching impartation, among others.
  If the suspended degree is substituted for a similar one —modifying the nature of the degree—, the new degree regulations will set the conditions to facilitate students the continuity of the new degree’s studies. These regulations will also set subject equivalences in both programs.

• Access and admission rules

  The entrance tests to the three Galician universities (Baccalaureate Evaluation for access to the University (ABAU) and for people over 25 and 45 years old) are organized by the Interuniversity Commission of Galicia (CIUG). To apply for a place, students must meet one of the following access requirements established in article 3 of RD 412/2014:
  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent and pass the university entrance test.
  • Meet the requirements for access to university in the educational systems of Member States of the European Union or other States with which Spain has signed international agreements on this matter.
  • Have passed the university entrance test for those over 25 years of age, for those over 40 years of age with work or professional experience or the test for those over 45 years of age.
  • Possess a degree in higher vocational training, teaching of plastic arts and design or higher sports technician, or equivalent qualifications.
  • Have an official university degree, master's degree or a title corresponding to the previous organization of university education (university diploma, technical architect, technical engineer, graduate, architect, engineer) or equivalent titles.
  • Have completed partial foreign or Spanish university studies, or who, upon completing foreign university studies, have not obtained their homologation in Spain and wish to continue studies at a Spanish university. In this case, it will be an essential requirement that the corresponding university recognize at least 30 ECTS credits.
  • Be able to access the university according to educational regulations prior to Organic Law 8/2013, not included in the previous sections.

  In general, there are the following access routes to the University:
  - University access test (ABAU) Once you have finished high school, in order to access a university degree, you must pass the Baccalaureate Evaluation for access to the University.
  https://ciug.gal/gal/abau
  - Access from Vocational Training If you have an official title of higher vocational training technician, higher plastic arts and design technician or higher sports technician, or titles, diplomas or studies declared equivalent or approved in the Spanish educational system, you can access to study a degree at the university. Applications will be ordered according to the average grade of the higher technical degree completed out of a maximum of 10. If you wish to improve your admission grade for degree studies, you can take the voluntary part of the ABAU test.
  https://www.usc.es/export9/sites/webinstitucional/gl/servizos/oiu/desca…
  - Access test for people over 25 years of age This test can be taken by people who are over 25 years of age in the year in which the test is held and who do not have any academic qualifications that give access to the university through another means.
  - People over 45 years of age Those over 45 years of age can study official degree qualifications after passing an adapted entrance test.
  - Access over 40 through validation of work experience.
  Access for those over 40 years of age to the Degree in Biology through validation of professional experience will be carried out taking into account the suitable professional profiles and the personal interview.
  The following list of professional families and levels with access to the degree in Biology has been established by the University:
  List of professional families and levels with access to the degree
  • Food industries: Level 3.
  • Chemistry: Level 2 and 3.
  • Health: Level 2 and 3.
  • Safety and Environment: Level 2 and 3.

The main objective of the Degree in Biology is to train professionals with a fundamental base of knowledge on this discipline and a general vision of the role of science in today's society. Furthermore, the purpose of the Degree in Biology is to train professionals with a scientific attitude in the interpretation of our environment and training in the field of biological experimentation and solid skills/abilities/competences, which will enable them to recognize and analyse new problems in the field of Biology, in order to plan or solve them, and thereby guarantee their incorporation into the professional practice.

Training objectives of the mentions

Major in Bio-sanitary Biology: it has a clear health/biomedical orientation and is focused on the study of the functioning of the human body. The objective of this mention is to begin the process of training professionals trained to, among other functions,: provide scientific-technical advice in the field of Biomedicine, teach and transmit knowledge related to the bio-sanitary field to specialized and non-specialized audiences, work in Biomedical research , clinical laboratories, assisted reproduction clinics, research/development/control of biotechnological processes, pharmaceutical/chemical/agro-alimentary industry or nutrition/dietetics.

Mention in Environmental Biology: aims to train professionals competent, among others, on the: identification, study and classification of living beings included in our biosphere, preserve this biodiversity, analyse the relationships between different species and their adaptations to the abiotic environment and their organisation in higher structures (ecosystems), plan/manage/exploit/preserve these populations, ecosystems and natural earth and marine resources, or prepare technical reports to evaluate the consequences that a specific project, installation or human activity causes on the environment.

• Competencies

  Com01 - Students must prove the acquisition, understanding and employment of knowledge pertaining to the different areas of Biology, including some vanguard aspects of their field of study.
  Com02- Students must have developed the necessary learning skills to engage in posterior studies with a high degree of autonomy.
  Com 03 - Students must know how to apply their knowledge to their work or profession in a professional manner, and they must possess the abilities proved by the elaboration and defence of arguments, and problem solving within their area of study.
  Comp04 - Know and know how to apply instrumental techniques, and design work protocols in the laboratory and in the field, applying the appropriate regulations and techniques related to safety, hygiene, waste management, quality and sustainable development.
  Comp05 - That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgements that include a reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.
  Comp06 - Be able to transmit information both in writing and orally and to debate ideas, problems and solutions related to Biology, in front of a general or specialised audience.
  Comp07 - Be able to integrate in interdisciplinary teams and apply theoretical and practical knowledge to solve complex problems, participate in scientific-technical or clinical projects in the field of biomedicine and guarantee health and well-being.
  Comp08 - Know and know how to apply the techniques, principles and basic processes to assess the state of conservation of ecosystems and propose solutions in scenarios of global change, as a central criterion in achieving the objectives of sustainable development.

• Abilities and skills

  A/S01 - Apply the theoretical-practical knowledge acquired in the transmission of information/ideas and in the posing and solving of problems, both in academic and professional fields.
  A/S02 - Know how to obtain and interpret relevant information, experimental findings and draw conclusions in topics pertaining to Biology.
  A/S03 - Autonomous studying and learning, with time and resources management, as well as new knowledge and techniques in Biology.
  A/S04 - Propose, apply and interpret mathematical models and statistic methods in the field of Biology.
  A/S05 - Develop the ability of obtaining, managing, preserving, identifying and classifying biological specimens, as well as their remains and trails.
  A/S06 - Know how to describe, analyse and interpret the environment in relation to the living beings.
  A/S07 - Ability to look for, process, analyse and synthesize information from diverse sources, including the use of ICTs in the field of Biology.
  A/S08 - Ability for reasoning, argumentation and critical thought.
  A/S09 - Ability to organise and plan the workload.
  A/S10 - Ability to work in teams and engage in problematic situations as part of a group.
  A/S11 - Ability to write and present an organised and understandable text, citing appropriately the sources of information employed.
  A/S12 - Ability to present before an audience in a clear, brief and coherent manner.
  A/S13 - Maintain an ethical commitment, as well as a commitment to equality and inclusiveness.
  A/S14 - Initiative, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and adaptation to new situations (resilience).

• Knowledge

  K01 - Know the most relevant concepts, methods and findings of the different branches of Biology.
  K02 - Know and understand the Physico-chemical principles of Biology.
  K03 - Know the origin of life, the mechanisms of inheritance and its evolution.
  K04 - Know the diversity of living beings and biological cycles, as well as, how to develop the ability to analyse and interpret its adaptations to the environment.
  K05- Know the structure of biomolecules, their Physico-chemical properties and relate it to their functions, integrating the different levels of organisation of living beings.
  K06 - Understand the principles of bioenergy and bio-signalling, and to know the main metabolic routes and their regulation, as well as the flow of genetic and biochemical information in living beings.
  K07 - Know and understand the structure and function of the virus, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
  K08 - Know and understand the development, morphology and anatomy of living beings.
  K09 - Understand and integrate the functioning and regulation of the main physiological processes of living beings, as well as their interaction with the biotic and abiotic environment.
  K10 - Know and understand the structure and dynamics of the populations and communities.
  K11 - Know the energy flow in the ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles.

Mobility

Student mobility is regulated through the “Regulation of inter-university exchange.” Exchange programmes are managed through the International Relations Office, such as national exchange programmes (SICUE) as well as Europeans (ERASMUS) and from outside the European Union (exchanges with Latin American countries or English-speaking countries):
https://www.usc.gal/gl/servizos/area/internacional
The centre organises information meetings for the students of the second and third year, about the different mobility programmes, in which the RAM (Academic Mobility Responsible), the manager of the centre and the mobility coordinator of the SICUE programme. Moreover, the academic coordinators of the programmes and the centre manager help the students in the management of documents for the establishment of agreements.

Internships

The study plan for the Biology Degree considers the completion of compulsory internships valued in 6 ects.
The student can enrol throughout the fourth year as long as he/she has completed 150 ECTS.
Although the internships are programmed within the first semester of the fourth year, students can complete them throughout the academic year.
The internship Will be organised and managed with the purpose of ensuring the quality, academic recognition, and the most appropriate use of these by the students. In order to do so, students must have an external tutor, from the institution in which the internship will be completed, who will be in contact with the academic tutor, which will be responsible of the assessment taking into account the quality of the Internship report made by the student and the report by the external tutor.
Internships can be carried out in collaborating organisms or entities, such as companies, public and private entities, related to the field of Biology, as well as the USC installations; currently the Biology faculty has agreements with many entities.

• Graduates profile

  The degree offers two mentions, optional to the students: the mention in Bio-sanitary Biology, and the mention in Environmental Biology. The first offers to the students the specialisation in the bio-sanitary field, enabling them to develop their work at clinical laboratories, human reproduction, public health, nutrition and dietetics, among others.
  The other, the mention in Environmental Biology is oriented to offer training to students that will enable them to develop their work in the field of preservation, characterisation and management of biodiversity and natural environment.
  Moreover, it would enable students to carry out a specialisation on the master's degrees in the fields of Sciences, Health Sciences, Environmental Sciences or Engineering.

• Professional outlets

  • Health professional in clinical laboratory, human reproduction, public health, nutrition, dietetics, animal and vegetal health, among others.
  • Scientific research and development professional in all fields of fundamental and applied advancement of experimental and life sciences, carrying out their tasks in fundamental research centres and in research and development departments of companies, industries or hospitals.
  • Professional of the pharmaceutic, agro-alimentary and chemical industry, mainly carrying out tasks of relevance in the technical areas of production and management of quality, from the perspectives of chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, toxicology, physiology, pharmacology and epidemiology, reflected on their activity as professionals in research and development.
  • Agricultural professional in the optimization of vegetable, animal and fungus crops already exploited regularly and in the search for new deposits of exploitable living resources.
  • Environmental professional mainly in sectors such as planning, conservation and control of the territory, resource management - forestry, agricultural, maritime... -, waste management, impact assessment and restoration of the natural environment.
  • Information, documentation and dissemination professional.
  • Professional of market and marketing of products and services pertaining to biological science in every area aforementioned.
  • Business management and organization professional who performs management or senior management tasks, expert in business fields related to the training and profession of the biologist.
  • Teaching professional.

To obtain the title of Graduate in Biology, it is mandatory to complete a Final Dissertation (TFG) of 12 ECTS credits, consisting of an original work prepared by the student, in which the training content received, the abilities, skills acquired during the studies of the Degree in Biology are integrated and developed.
Each student will be able to enroll and, therefore, take the TFG throughout the fourth academic year of the Degree, as long as they do not have more than 75 credits pending to complete the studies, excluding those corresponding to the Final Degree Project.
The TFG may be experimental (basic or applied research), industrial or bibliographic, and will include, at a minimum, bibliographic search and review tasks, reading and integration of information, preparation of results, writing, presentation and defense.
There are two TFG subjects, one corresponding to each mention. Thus, the 12 ECTS of the specific TFG will be added to the 36 ECTS of optional subjects to obtain each mention.
In this way, the TFG, which will be developed in the two semesters of 4th year, will serve as a practical reinforcement of the knowledge acquired in the optional subjects of said itinerary.