Biology B.S.
Overview
The curriculum in biology provides students a fundamental knowledge of biology allowing them exposure to new, cutting edge areas of biological research. The biology degree prepares students to enter exciting and challenging careers in the many diverse and rapidly expanding areas of biological employment, including molecular biology, biotechnology, microbiology, science teaching, forensics, environmental biology, conservation and the health sciences (medical/dental school; veterinary, pharmacology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, dosimetry, public health (microbiology), chiropractic, optometry, physician assistant, podiatry, cytotechnology and clinical laboratory sciences.) The biology program also provides courses for general education (university core) in the natural sciences to introduce students to science, biology, biological concepts and how these affect society. The Department of Biology also provides courses to support other university programs such as chemistry, education, kinesiology, criminal justice (forensics), pharmacology, and nursing. Excellence in teaching and faculty mentoring with students is of the highest priority in the department. Many of the biology faculty have received UT System-wide and University-wide teaching excellence awards. Biology faculty have nationally and internationally recognized research programs in which students are highly encouraged to participate to prepare them for future studies at the graduate level and professional schools.
Biology High School Preparation
Students desiring a major in biology are expected to have a strong high school background in science and mathematics as well as to have good writing skills. Calculus, biology, chemistry, and physics are disciplines the student should have studied in high school. Students who have not had these studies in high school may have additional prerequisite courses as part of their curriculum. Contact the chair of the Department of Biology for information and advisement.
Options:
The following options are available to a student interested in biology:
- B.S. in Biology- 29 semester hours of Core Biology Courses (most of these courses require laboratory): General Biology I & II, Ecology, Cell Biology, Plant Biology, Evolution, Scientific Communication I & II; 21 semester hours of Biology Electives chosen from the following: Vertebrate Natural History, Aquatic Biology, Biogeography, Ornithology, Herpetology, Conservation Biology, Entomology, Cell & Molecular biology, Microbiology, Physiology, Immunology, Genomics, Bioinformatics. Non-biology Courses required: Calculus I, College or University Physics I & II, General Chemistry I & II, Organic Chemistry I & II, Biochemistry I. Statistics is required for many health professional schools (medical/dental/PA etc).
- Minor in Biology: General Biology I & II plus 12 upper-division hours for a total of 20 semester hours.
- Teacher Certification: See Teacher Certification in Life Science or Science.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours = 120
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University Core Curriculum—(42 hrs.)
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A grade of C or above in all required upper-division Biology courses attempted.
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Lower division preparation (may be part of University Core) 20 semester hours:
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Required Biology courses (46 hours with a minimum of 16 upper-division hours at this university)
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Biology Core (29 hrs. - see list below)
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Biology Electives (15 hrs. - see list below)
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Additional courses required for the B.S. in Biology (12 semester hrs.)
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CHEM 3342/CHEM3143 and CHEM 3344/
CHEM 3145 Organic Chemistry I & II (8 semester hrs.)
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CHEM 4334/
CHEM 4135 Biochemistry (4 semester hrs.)
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Additional electives
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CHEM 3310/
CHEM 3111 Analytical Chemistry or Math1342 Statistics
Biology Core (29 hrs.)
Biology electives (15 hrs.)
Must complete at least one course from each of the four groups.
Course with corresponding lab are counted as one course selection.
Group I
Group II
Group III
Group IV
Suggested Four-Year Curriculum for Biology BS
Freshman Year
First Semester (14 hrs.)
| BIOL 1306 | General Biology I [TCCN: BIOL 1306] | |
| BIOL 1106 | General Biology I Laboratory [TCCN: BIOL 1106] | |
| CHEM 1311 | General Chemistry I [TCCN: CHEM 1311] | |
| CHEM 1111 | General Chemistry I Laboratory [TCCN: CHEM 1111] | |
| | Communication (Core, 3 hrs.) | |
| | Elective (3 hours) | |
Second Semester (15 hrs.)
| BIOL 1307 | General Biology II [TCCN: BIOL 1307] | |
| BIOL 1107 | General Biology II Laboratory [TCCN: BIOL 1107] | |
| CHEM 1312 | General Chemistry II [TCCN: CHEM 1312] | |
| CHEM 1112 | General Chemistry II Laboratory [TCCN: CHEM 1112] | |
| | Communication (Core, 3 hrs.) | |
| MATH 2413 | Calculus I [TCCN: MATH 2413] | |
Sophomore Year
First Semester (14-15 hrs.)
Second Semester (15 hrs.)
| CHEM 3344 | Organic Chemistry II | |
| CHEM 3145 | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | |
| BIOL Group I | |
| BIOL Group I Lab | |
| BIOL 3334 | Cell Biology | |
| BIOL 3134 | Cell Biology Laboratory | |
| | Language, Philosophy and Culture (Core, 3 hrs.) | |
Junior Year
First Semester (15 hrs.)
Second Semester (14 hrs.)
| BIOL Group II | |
| BIOL Group II Lab | |
| BIOL 3338 | Biological Evolution | |
| PHYS 1302 | College Physics II [TCCN: PHYS 1302] | |
| PHYS 1102 | College Physics II Laboratory [TCCN: PHYS 1102] | |
| | Elective (3 hours) | |
NOTE: University Physics (
PHYS 2325/2125 and 2326/2126 may be substituted for college physics)
Senior Year
First Semester (17 hrs.)
| POLS 2305 | Introductory American Government [TCCN: GOVT 2305] | |
| CHEM 4334 | Biochemistry I | |
| CHEM 4135 | Biochemistry I Laboratory | |
| BIOL 4114 | Scientific Communication I | |
| BIOL Group III | |
| | Elective (3 hours) | |
| HIST 1302 | United States History II [TCCN: HIST 1302] | |
Second Semester (15-16 hrs.)
| POLS 2306 | Introductory Texas Politics [TCCN: GOVT 2306] | |
| BIOL 4115 | Scientific Communication II | |
| BIOL Group IV | |
| BIOL Group IV Lab | |
| | Human Expression (Core, 3 hrs.) | |
| | Elective 1-2 hrs. | |
| | Creative Arts (Core, 3 hrs.) | |