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Biology


Requirements for the B.S. degree with a major in Biology
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Requirements for the B.A. degree with a major in Biology.
B.S./M.S. (3:2) Program in Biology
Requirements for a minor in Biology.
Area of Specialization for Secondary Education:
Honors Program
Courses of Instruction

(BIOL)

Available as a major or minor on the B.A. and B.S. degrees.

The B.A. is provided for the student who has a general interest in the biological sciences but who does not plan to pursue advanced work in graduate school or undertake professional achievements in biological sciences. Students who may plan a graduate program in biological sciences should enroll in the B.S. curriculum. Those who plan to apply to a medical college, dental college, or other professional program must meet additional requirements of such schools.

Requirements for the B.S. degree with a major in Biology. A minimum of 36 semester hours in Biology as follows: (1) BIOL 10504 and BIOL 10514, (2) BIOL 30403, (3) BIOL 30603, (4) 22 additional hours in Biology including a minimum of 3 courses with laboratories (one of which may be either BIOL 40033, 40803 or 40900.) Associated requirements: CHEM 10113, 10123, 10122, 30123, 30122, and 30133; PHYS 10153, 10151, 10163, 10161; MATH - four semester hours of calculus are required; additional courses in mathematics, computer science or statistics are encouraged. The total semester hours for the B.S. degree is 132, including provisions for 12-22 semester hours of electives.

Requirements for the B.A. degree with a major in Biology. A minimum of 27 semester hours of Biology as follows: (1) BIOL 10504 and 10514, (2) BIOL 30403, (3) BIOL 30603, (4) 13 additional approved hours in Biology including a minimum of 2 courses with laboratories (excluding BIOL 40033, 40803, and 40900). Students who do not present credit for a high school course in chemistry will take one year of college chemistry. One year of high school or college physics is also advised. A total of 124 semester hours is required.

B.S./M.S. (3:2) Program in Biology The combined B.S./M.S. program in Biology gives a student an opportunity to obtain both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in only five years. The advantage of saving one year of study may be attractive not only to students interested in health professions who wish to explore research activities but also students who are fully committed to attending graduate school. The program is structured so that students spend their first three years as Biology majors, completing a variety of requirements including University Core Requirements (UCR). Students enroll in their fourth year and in the next two or more years complete the degree requirements for both B.S. and M.S. degrees. Students are eligible to receive the B.S. upon satisfaction of the B.S. degree requirements. For a detailed program format, contact the Department of Biology. Early planning is essential due to the rigors and time constraints of the program.

Financial Aid. Students are eligible for undergraduate financial assistance during their fourth year. Assuming satisfactory progress and availability of funds, students may receive tuition remission as well as an assistantship stipend during their fifth year.

Prerequisites, Application Process and Credit Allocation. A minimum grade point average of 3.0, with a 3.2 minimum in Biology, is required for application into the program. During their junior year, students are required to take both the basic and the Advanced Biology portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and submit these scores along with an application for review by the departmental Committee on Graduate Studies and the College of Science and Engineering. If the student scores below the 60th percentile in any of the subject areas (Cell and Molecular, Organismal, Ecology and Evolution) on the Advanced Biology portion of the GRE, the student should confer with the Director of Graduate Studies for additional requirements. Before being admitted to candidacy, the student must take the regular examinations in the prescribed courses and earn a grade of "B" or better. Students are expected to have accumulated 98-101 semester hours of credit before entry into the fourth year of the program. Specific course requirements are as follows:

UCR (minus 6 hrs. Biology) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Biology 10504, 10514, 30403, 30603, and 3 courses with laboratories,
(one of which may be either BIOL 40033, 40803 or 40900) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23-26
Chemistry 10113, 10123, 10122, (or 10114, 10124), 30123, 30122, 30133 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Physics 10153,10151, 10163, 10161 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Calculus (MATH 10524) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98-101

Students are encouraged to take three hours of BIOL 40900 (Research Problems) in the summer after their third year. During their fourth year, students will be expected to take 31-34 semester hours of formal coursework. Of this, 10-13 hours will be Biology courses at the 30000 level or greater. The remaining hours must be graduate level courses, a minimum of 12 of which must be Biology courses, including BIOL 60011. The 31-34 hours taken during the fourth year will apply towards the B.S. degree. Students will file an intent to graduate and will receive the B.S. after they have completed 132 hours, including the requirements above and a total of 36 hours of credit in Biology courses. A maximum of 19 hours of graduate course work will apply towards both the B.S. and the M.S. degrees. During the fifth year of study, students will complete additional graduate hours of course work (5-6 hours, including BIOL 60001 and BIOL 60910) needed to accumulate a total of 137 semester hours of course work. They will also perform thesis research and receive 6 hours of thesis credit.

Requirements for a minor in Biology. A minimum of 21 semester hours of Biology including a minimum of three upper division (30000 or above) courses.

For the Combined Science minor on the B.A. degree, the following courses may be applied: Biology 10504-10514, 20204, 20214, 20233 (or 30303), 30104, 30504, 30603, 40223.

Area of Specialization for Secondary Education: Students seeking certification for teaching Biology at the secondary school level should be advised by the departmental secondary certification advisor.

Specific requirements for dual fields including Biology as a teaching field follow:

Required:

10504-10514 Principles of Life Sciences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
30403 Ecology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
30603 Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Select 10-12 hours from

30104 Comparative Invertebrate Zoology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
30124 Biology of the Vertebrates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
30303 Microbiology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
30504 Plant Biology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
40123 Genetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
40133 Molecular Biology of the Eukaryotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
40404 General Animal Physiology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-26

Specific requirements for Single Teaching Fields and Broad Teaching Fields

Biology (Single Teaching Field)

10504-10514 Principles of Life Sciences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
20204 Anatomy and Physiology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
or 20214 Anatomy and Physiology
or 40404 General Animal Physiology

30104 Comparative Invertebrate Zoology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
30124 Biology of the Vertebrates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
30303 Microbiology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
30403 Ecology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
or 30613 Natural History of North America

30504 Plant Biology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
30603 Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
30000 or above Advanced Biology Elective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-37

Pass/No-Credit: Courses for the major (including associated requirements) and the minor may not be taken on a Pass/No Credit basis. The only exception is BIOL 30011.

Honors Program. Biology majors who plan to pursue Departmental Honors must be members of the Honors Program and should enroll in BIOL 40001 and 40011 during their junior year and BIOL 40033 during the fall semester of their senior year.

Sigma Xi. The department is a sponsor of Sigma XI, the Honor Society for Research in the Natural Sciences.

Biology 10504-10514 or the equivalent are prerequisites to all other courses in the department except 20204-20214, 20233, 30233, 30613, and 30803. Credit will not be given for both 20233 and 30303.
 
The following is a complete list of courses offered by this department. Go to Class Search on Registrar's Page to see which courses are being taught this semester.

Courses of Instruction


10003 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN BIOLOGY. Two hours lecture and one two-hour laboratory period per week. A study of biology spanning contemporary issues in the biological sciences from the cellular and molecular to the ecosystem levels of biological organization. Laboratory experiences will utilize the Biology Computer Laboratory Facility for many of the laboratory exercises. Some traditional laboratory exercises will be included. Designed for non-science majors. Credit may not be earned for both BIOL 10003 and BIOL 10213, nor can 10003 be used for Biology major credit.

10213 BIOLOGICAL CONCEPTS AND THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. Three hours lecture/discussion per week introducing students to the basic biological concepts underlying contemporary issues experienced by human beings. The course cannot be used for biology major credit or be substituted for the following biology courses: BIOL 10504 and 10514.

10504 PRINCIPLES OF LIFE SCIENCES. Three hours lecture and one laboratory per week. Prerequisite: A senior high school course in Biology or Chemistry. Origin of the universe and evolution of life from the molecular level to the eukaryotic cell. Introduces the basic principles of cell structure, metabolism, Mendelian and quantitative genetics. This course is prescribed for each student declaring a major interest in Biology, Pre-medical or Pre-dental programs.

10514 PRINCIPLES OF LIFE SCIENCES. Three hours lecture and one laboratory per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 10504. Evolution of plants and animals with an introduction to principles of natural selection, population genetics, taxonomy, anatomy and physiology. This course is prescribed for each student declaring a major interest in Biology, Pre-medical or Pre-dental programs.

20204 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. Three hours lecture and one laboratory period per week. The structure and function of cells and tissues; the architectural plan of the human body, and the integumentary, skeletal and muscular systems. Not available for students who are Biology majors or minors or are in the pre-medical/pre-dental program.

20214 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. Three hours lecture and one laboratory period per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 20204 or permission of instructor. Structure and function of the nervous, circulatory, digestive, respiratory, excretory, reproductive and endocrine systems of the human body. Not available for students who are Biology majors or minors or are in the pre-medical/pre-dental program.

20233 BASIC MICROBIOLOGY. Two hours lecture and one laboratory period per week. Microorganisms and the manner in which they affect health; characteristics, growth requirements, methods of transfer, and reactions of the body toward invading organisms and the principles underlying immunity. Not available for students who are Biology majors or minors or are in the pre-medical/pre-dental program.

30003 BIOLOGICAL ISSUES IN PUBLIC HEALTH. Prerequisites: BIOL 10504-10514. Examination of the biological bases behind a variety of current issues in public health. Critical analyses of these issues through lectures, class discussion and debate.

30011 INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH. One hour lecture per week acquainting students with the diversity of research approaches and techniques used in the field of Biology. Prerequisites: BIOL 10504, 10514.

30104 COMPARATIVE INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY. Three hours lecture and one laboratory period per week. Advanced study of ecology, phylogeny, and comparative morphology of invertebrate animals. Usually offered in fall semesters of even-numbered years.

30124 BIOLOGY OF THE VERTEBRATES. Three hours lecture and one laboratory per week. Systematics, evolution, distribution, life histories and special adaptations of the vertebrate animals.

30303 MICROBIOLOGY. Prerequisite: CHEM 10113-10123. A general course in microbiology. Two hours lecture and one laboratory period per week.

30233 ECONOMIC BOTANY. Prerequisite: BIOL 10504, 10514. The economic importance of plants for food, building, material, clothing, fuel, medicine, oils, dyes and other products.

30323 INTRODUCTION TO MARINE SCIENCE. (Geology 30323) A study of the oceans including physiography, chemical, physical, biological, and geological processes and related products.

30403 ECOLOGY. Prerequisites: BIOL 10504-10514. Three hours lecture per week. Principles of plant and animal ecology with introduction to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

30404 COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE ANATOMY. Two hours lecture and two laboratory periods per week. A comparative study of the morphology systems of chordates.

30463 PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY. Three lectures per week. Prerequisite: PSYC 10213, 10514, 10524 or its equivalent. Study of the nervous system, action systems, and sensory systems as background for the physiological bases of discrimination, motivation, emotions, and learning. (Also offered as Psychology 30463.)

30504 PLANT BIOLOGY. Three hours lecture and one laboratory period per week. Study of the morphology, life history, physiology, ecology, evolution and socio-economic aspects of plants./ Coverage includes the cyanobacteria, fungi and algae. Usually offered in fall semesters of even-numbered years.

30603 CELLULAR, MOLECULAR, AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY. Prerequisites: BIOL 10504-10514. Three hours lecture per week. Basic structure and function of plant and animal cells; molecular genetics of cells and organisms; mechanisms governing cell reproduction and differentiation.

30613 NATURAL HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA. Three hours lecture per week. A review of the variety of habits and lifeforms on the North American continent. Arctic tundra, forests, swamps, aquatic habitats, deserts, and mountains are considered in light of the unique adaptations required for associated fauna and flora. The course is designed for nonscience majors and education students with a major emphasis in biological science.

30703 PLANT SYSTEMATICS. Two hours lecture and one laboratory period per week. Characteristics of the major groups and families of flowering plants. Basic history and general principles of taxonomy and fundamental concepts of phylogeny and plant evolution. identification of plants represented in the local flora.

30803 HISTORY OF BIOLOGY. The course traces the origin and historical development of basic concepts in biology, including the background and the work of persons who significantly contributed to the understanding and formulation of biological concepts.

40001 HONORS SEMINAR.

40011 HONORS SEMINAR.

40033 SENIOR HONORS RESEARCH IN BIOLOGY.

40123 GENETICS. Prerequisites: BIOL 10504-10514, 30603; CHEM 10113, 10123, 10122 (OR 10114, 10124), 30123 (or concurrent enrollment.) Three hours of lecture per week. Survey course in the study of mechanisms of inheritance with particular emphasis on molecular genetics.

40133 Molecular Biology of Eukaryotes. Prerequisites: BIOL 10504-10514, 30603; CHEM 30123 (or concurrent enrollment) or permission of the instructor. Three hours of lecture per week. A study of the molecular mechanisms of basic biological processes in eukaryotes with emphasis on gene regulation, the structure and function of macromolecules, cell growth and differentiation, mechanisms of diseases and applications in biotechnology.

40203 HISTOLOGY. Prerequisite: BIOL 30603 or permission of the instructor. Two hours lecture and one laboratory period per week. Study of basic tissues of the vertebrate body and how they differentiate.

40223 EMBRYOLOGY. Prerequisite: BIOL 30603 or permission of the instructor. Two hours lecture and one laboratory period per week. An introduction to developmental biology. Experimental analysis of organogenesis in amphibia using microsurgery.

40253 IMMUNOLOGY. Prerequisites: CHEM 30123, BIOL 30303 or 20233 or permission of instructor. Two hours lecture and one laboratory period per week. The immune system; characteristics of antigens; antibodies and their reactions; cellular and humoral aspects of immunity; immune disorders.

40300 THE TEACHING OF BIOLOGY. Prerequisite: Written permission of the instructor of the course in which the student plans to serve. Students attend laboratory-staff meetings and serve as laboratory instructors of one section per week in various courses. For 1 1/2 semester hours credit.

40303 HISTOGENESIS. Prerequisite: BIOL 30603. Three hours lecture per week on molecular mechanisms in stem-cell and tissue differentiation.

40323 DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY. Prerequisite: BIOL 30603. Three hours lecture per week on molecular mechanisms in embryonic development.

40310 THE TEACHING OF BIOLOGY. Prerequisite: Written permission of the instructor of the course in which the student plans to serve. Students attend laboratory-staff meetings and serve as laboratory instructors of one section per week in various courses. For 1 1/2 semester hours credit.

40404 GENERAL ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY. Three hours lecture and one laboratory period per week. Prerequisites: PHYS 10153-51, 10161-61, and CHEM 30123, 30122, 30133, or permission of instructor. Basic functions of animal bodies will be studied in terms of physical and chemical principles; quantitative physiological experiments will be demonstrated and conducted.

40501 BASIC BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY. (See Chemistry 40501) Prerequisite: Prior completion or co-registration in BIOL 40503. One three-hour laboratory per week. Analysis of chemicals found in body fluids. Includes clinical methods and pathology.

40503 BASIC BIOCHEMISTRY. (See Chemistry 40503) Prerequisite: Chemistry 30123 or equivalent. Three hours lecture per week. Fundamental chemical properties, analysis techniques, metabolism and clinicopathology of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, enzymes and hormones.

40803 BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND WRITING. Field and laboratory research experiences for advanced students. Nine clock hours per week are required (total 135 hrs/sem). Upon completion of an independent research project, the results will be written in a format suitable for publication in the scientific literature. Credit will not be given for both BIOL 40803 and BIOL 40900 for the same project. A student may receive credit for this course only one time. Does not substitute for BIOL 40033.

40900 SENIOR PROBLEMS IN BIOLOGY. Field and laboratory problems for advanced students. Nine clock hours per week of laboratory and/or field work are required for each semester hour of credit, for up to a total six semester hours of credit. A student may receive only three hours of credit in the major for this course. Three hours of credit may also be taken for university electives. If a student has been enrolled in or will enroll in BIOL 40033 or BIOL 40803, then only up to three hours of BIOL 40900 may be taken for university elective credits.

50103 TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS. Three hours lecture per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 10504/10514 and permission of instructor. Concepts, principles and mechanisms of the function of terrestrial ecosystems, including ecophysiology of component species, nutrient cycling, energy flow, ecosystem stability and global ecology.

50133 BIOCHEMISTRY. (See CHEM 50133) Three hours lecture per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 30133. A general survey of structure and function of biologically important compounds with methods of analysis.

50143 BIOCHEMISTRY. (See CHEM 50143) Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 50133 or CHEM 50133. Biosynthesis, Replication of DNA, Synthesis and processing of RNA and proteins and special topics, e.g., brain and muscle function, hormones and signal transduction, cancer, development etc.

50303 SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION. Three hours lecture per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 30403. Concepts of classical and numerical taxonomy and the principles of phylogeny, organic evolution and speciation.

50313 BIOGEOGRAPHY. Prerequisite: BIOL 30403 or permission of instructor. Three hours of lecture per week. An ecological approach to the study of the distribution of plants and animals, and their communities.

50324 TECHNIQUES IN CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. Three hours of lecture and one 3-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Biology or Chemistry 50133 or equivalent and permission of instructor. Survey of techniques central to molecular and cellular biology, including centrifugation, chromatography, electrophoresis, spectrophotometry and radioisotopes.

50463 FUNDAMENTALS OF NEUROSCIENCE. Three lectures per week. Prerequisite: Senior or graduate standing, or approval of instructor. Fundamentals of functional neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, with an emphasis on experimental and theoretical analysis of basic brain-behavior relationships. (Also offered as PSYC 50463).

50472-50482 LABORATORY IN PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE. Prerequisite: PSYC 30463 or its equivalent or PSYC 50653 or its equivalent, or concurrent registration in either PSYC 50463 or PSYC 30463. One lecture and one laboratory per week. Emphasis will be on the laboratory techniques employed in physiological psychology and neuroscience in analyzing the neural and hormonal correlates of behavior. (Also offered as PSYC 50472-50482.)

50502 BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY. Two four-hour laboratory periods per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 50143 or CHEM 50143 or concurrent registration.

50602 PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Two laboratory periods per week. The methodology of environmental impact statement preparation from initial collection of data to final report drafting. Problem-oriented exercises in which students can learn to take the initiative in EIS preparation. (Also offered as GEOL 50602).

50703 ECOLOGY OF LAKES AND STREAMS. Prerequisite: BIOL 30403 or permission of instructor. Two hours lecture and one laboratory per week. Study of the physical, chemical and biological factors affecting the ecology of lakes, ponds and streams.

50713 MARINE ECOLOGY. Prerequisite: BIOL 30403 or permission of the instructor. Two hours of lecture and one laboratory per week. A study of marine communities and factors that influence the distribution of marine organisms. At least one field trip to the Texas coast to sample marine communities. Samples collected during the field trip will be analyzed by students in the laboratory.

50773 INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW. (See GEOL 50773) Prerequisite: Enrollment in Environmental Sciences, Master of Science Program, or senior standing with appropriate major (biology, geology, chemistry or other science; engineering; pre-law; business management.) Three hours lecture per week. Introduction to and analysis of selected federal statutes regulating environmental degradation and environmental clean-up, including the National Environmental Policy Act and regulation of air quality, water quality, wastes, hazardous and toxic substances and enforcement.

50803 ECOLOGY OF FISHES. Prerequisite: Biol 30403 or permission of instructor. Two hours lecture and one laboratory period per week. Ecology of fishes, basic techniques of fisheries management

50813 MEDICAL MYCOLOGY. Three hours lecture per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 30303 (20233), CHEM 30123, 30133, or approval of instructor. Study of the causative etiological agents of the systemic mycoses, their isolation and identification.

50883 INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Introduction to fundamentals of pollution control technology; impact of federal and state legislation on the construction, modification and control of industrial plants. Other topics include hazardous pollutants, modification to ambient quality, and basic pollution modeling. (Also offered as GEOL 50883.)

50903 TROPICAL BIOLOGY. Two hours lecture per week, one week of field work in the tropics and a terminal project. Prerequisites: Six semester hours in Biology; permission of instructors. Travel costs are exclusive of tuition. Systematics and ecology of tropical marine invertebrates and terrestrial vertebrates and terrestrial vertebrates with emphasis on Cnidarians, Arthopods, Mollusks, and Reptiles.

50923 HERPETOLOGY. One hour lecture and two three-hour laboratories per week. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Classification, laboratory and field identification and seminars on natural history, ecology, evolution and behavior of reptiles and amphibians.