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Biology (Biological Science), Bachelor of Science

(Focus: Biological Science)

The Department of Biology is committed to excellence in instruction, scholarly accomplishment, research, professional service, and student success. The Department provides a broad-based undergraduate education in Biology so as to give students the opportunity to pursue a career best-suited to their interests and abilities. Graduates are prepared to enter the workforce or continue their education in graduate or professional school. The Department provides rigorous pre-professional preparation for students seeking careers in biological sciences and health professions.

Note: For a PDF version of the degree requirements for this program go to the Undergraduate Programs page on the UTRGV website. 

 

Core Curriculum - 42 Hours

Students must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements. The courses listed below satisfy both degree requirements and Core Curriculum requirements.

Mathematics – 3 hours (including honors equivalents)

MATH 1342Elementary Statistical Methods

3
MATH 1343Introduction to Biostatistics

3

Life and Physical Sciences – 6 hours

CHEM 1311General Chemistry I

3
CHEM 1312General Chemistry II

3

Language, Philosophy and Culture – 3 hours from

PHIL 1300Critical Thinking

3
PHIL 1301Introduction to Philosophy

3
PHIL 1366Philosophy and History of Science and Technology

3

Integrative and Experiential Learning – 2 hours

CHEM 1111General Chemistry I Lab

1
CHEM 1112General Chemistry II Lab

1

Major Requirements – 58 Hours (28 advanced minimum)

The major requirements of the BS in Biology consist of a 42-hour biology core and 16 hours of prescribed biology electives.

Biology Core – 42 hours (18 advanced)

Required:

BIOL 1406General Biology I

4
BIOL 1407General Biology II

4
BIOL 3301Biological Evolution

3
BIOL 3409Ecology

4
BIOL 3413Genetics

4
BIOL 4400Biological Communication (Capstone)

4
CHEM 2323Organic Chemistry I

3
CHEM 2123Organic Chemistry I Lab

1
CHEM 2325Organic Chemistry II

3
CHEM 2125Organic Chemistry II Lab

1
CHEM 3303Biochemistry I

3
PHYS 1401General Physics I

4
PHYS 1402General Physics II

4

BIOL 4400: Capstone

Biology Electives – 16 hours (10 advanced minimum)

Choose one Cell/Molecular course from:

BIOL 3401General Microbiology

4
BIOL 3403Medical Microbiology and Immunology

4
BIOL 3412Cell Biology

4
BIOL 3415Molecular Biology

4
BIOL 4313Endocrinology

3
BIOL 4330Molecular Evolution

3
BIOL 4333Immunology

3
BIOL 4361Neuroscience I: Cellular and Molecular

3
BIOL 4413General Virology

4
BIOL 4417Bacterial Genetics

4
BIOL 4418Electron Microscopy

4
BIOL 4421Biotechnology

4
BIOL 4428Medical Genomics

4

Choose one Developmental/Morphology course from:

BIOL 2428Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy

4
BIOL 3405Histology

4
BIOL 3406Developmental Mechanisms

4
BIOL 3407Comparative Embryology

4
BIOL 3408Plant Morphology

4
BIOL 4420Plant Anatomy

3

Choose one Organismal/Environmental course from:

BIOL 2310/MARS 2310Marine Processes and Ecosystem Dynamics

3
BIOL 3404Conservation Biology

4
BIOL 3414Invertebrate Zoology

4
BIOL 3420Environmental Biology

4
BIOL 4316Environmental Toxicology

3
BIOL 4318Ethnobotany

3
BIOL 4319Medical Entomology

3
BIOL 4388Global Change Ecology

3
BIOL 4389Geographical Information Systems in Biology

3
BIOL 4402/MARS 4402Marine Zoology

4
BIOL 4403Introduction to Remote Sensing Technology

4
BIOL 4404Ichthyology

4
BIOL 4407Animal Parasitology

4
BIOL 4408Plant Pathology

4
BIOL 4409Herpetology

4
BIOL 4410/MARS 4410Marine Botany

4
BIOL 4412Ornithology

4
BIOL 4414Plant Taxonomy

4
BIOL 4415Entomology

4
BIOL 4416Mammalogy

4
BIOL 4419Aquatic Entomology

4
BIOL 4423Wildlife Ecology and Management

4
BIOL 4424Microbial Ecology

4
BIOL 4426/MARS 4426Marine Ecology

4
BIOL 4427/MARS 4427Marine Animal Field Studies

4
BIOL 4432Animal Behavior

4

Choose one Physiology course from:

BIOL 1322Human Nutrition

3
BIOL 2401Anatomy and Physiology I

4
BIOL 2402Anatomy and Physiology II

4
BIOL 3310Neurobiology

3
BIOL 3345Animal Nutrition

3
 
BIOL 3311Mammalian Physiology

3
Or
BIOL 3411Mammalian Physiology

4
 
BIOL 4317Disease Epidemiology

3
BIOL 4362Neuroscience II: System, Developmental, and Disorders

3
BIOL 4405Plant Physiology

4
BIOL 4411Ecological Physiology of Animals

4
BIOL 4422Neurobiology Methods

4

Support Courses – 6 Hours

Required

PSYC 2301General Psychology

3
SOCI 1301Introduction to Sociology

3

Free Electives – 14 Hours

Advanced hours will vary to meet 42 advanced hour requirement. MATH 1314 or 1414 or passing the Mathematics Exemption Test administered by the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences is required to enroll in PHYS 1401.

Total Credit Hours: 42

Total Credit Hours: 120

Admission, Progression, and Graduation Requirements, if applicable:

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements to this program: BIOL 1406, BIOL 1407, and CHEM 1311/CHEM 1111 with a ‘C’ or better grade in all of these courses and Department approval.

Graduation Requirements

  1. A 2.5 minimum GPA in Major Requirements is required for graduation.