Biology, Bachelor of Science
Program Overview
The School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences (SIBCS) is committed to excellence in instruction, scholarly accomplishment, research, professional service, and student success. SIBCS 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. SIBCS provides rigorous pre-professional preparation for students seeking careers in biological sciences and health professions.
Core Curriculum - 42 hours
The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility, and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below.
The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once.
The courses listed below fulfill core curriculum and major requirements. Students who have completed a core curriculum category with courses other than those listed below will still be required to take the listed course(s) to meet major requirements.
020 Mathematics – 3 hours
030 Life and Physical Sciences – 6 hours
090 Integrative and Experiential Learning – 6 hours
Major Requirements - 44 hours
Required Courses - 32 hours
Biology Foundation
Science Foundation
Prescribed Electives - 12 hours
Choose 12 additional hours in Biology (BIOL courses), at least 8 hours must be advanced institutional hours from UTRGV.
BIOL 4199, BIOL 4390, BIOL 4299, and/or BIOL 4399 may NOT be used for the Biological Sciences Electives category.
Free Electives - 34 hours
BIOL 4199, BIOL 4390, BIOL 4299, and/or BIOL 4399 may apply towards the Free Electives category.
Free elective credit hours at the advanced level may be needed to achieve the institutional minimum of 42 advanced hours.
Total Credit Hours: 42
Total Credit Hours: 120
View this program’s recommended roadmap to graduation.
UTRGV Roadmaps are a suggested sequence of courses designed to assist students in completing their undergraduate degree requirements. This is a term-by-term sample roadmap of courses required to complete the degree. Students must satisfy all requirements in their catalog including, but not limited to course prerequisites, grade point average and course grade benchmarks, progression requirements, and graduation requirements.
Students should meet with their academic advisor every semester to discuss their individualized path toward completion. Degree progress within this roadmap depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation and readiness, student time management, work and personal responsibilities, and financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.