Biology Prerequisites
Requirements for the B.S. degree with a major in Biology
Requirements for the B.A. degree with a major in Biology
Requirements for a minor in Biology
Honors Program
Sigma Xi
Pass/No Credit Option
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.

Prerequisites

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pass/No Credit Option

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

Courses of Instruction

BIOL 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 lab for many of the laboratory exercises. Traditional laboratory exercises will also be included. Designed for non-science majors. Credit may not be earned for BIOL 10003 and any of the following biology courses: 10103, 10113, or 10213.

BIOL 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 10103, 10113, 10504 and 10514.

BIOL 10433 Freshman Seminar in Biology Freshman Seminar in Biology Freshman Seminar in Biology. Topics may vary each time it is offered.

BIOL 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 form 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, Premedical or Predental programs.

BIOL 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, Premedical or Predental programs.

BIOL 10970 Special Problems: Lower Division. Special problems.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 30003 Biological Issues in Public Health. Prerequisites: BIOL 10504 and 10514. Examination of the biological basis behind a variety of current issues in public health. Critical analysis of these issues through lectures, class discussion and debate.

BIOL 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, or BIOL 10103, 10113.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 30233 Economic Botany. Prerequisite: BIOL 10103, 10113 or 10504, 10514. The economic importance of plants for food, building, material, clothing, fuel, medicine, oils, dyes and other products.

BIOL 30303 Microbiology. Prerequisite: CHEM 10113-10123, or CHEM 10114-10124. A general course in microbiology. Two hours lecture and one laboratory period per week.

BIOL 30323 Introduction to Marine Science. Prerequisite GEOL 10113, or permission of the instructor. Three hours of lecture per week. A study of the oceans including physiography, chemical, physical, biological, and geological processes and related products. (Offered as BIOL or GEOL credit.)

BIOL 30331 Biology Majors Assessment. Prerequisites: BIOL 10504, 10514, 30403, and 30603. A required course for all students who have completed the first four semesters of the curriculum for biology majors. Students, typically in the first semester of their junior year, are required to take the Major Field Test in Biology produced by Educational Testing Services. This course provides the venue in which the test is taken. Results from this assessment will be used to provide students and their academic advisors insights into potential deficiencies that should be addressed during the last half of their undergraduate training. It will also be used by the department as an ongoing assessment of the fundamental curriculum. Transfer students should consult the Department Chairperson prior to enrollment.

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

BIOL 30404 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy. Two hours lecture and two laboratory periods per week. A comparative study of the morphology systems of chordates.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 40001 Honors Seminar. Honors Seminar.

BIOL 40011 Honors Seminar. Honors Seminar.

BIOL 40033 Senior Honors Research in Biology. Senior honors research in Biology.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 40133 Molecular Biology of Eukaryotes. Prerequisites: BIOL 10504-10514, 30603; CHEM 30123 (or concurrent enrollment) or permission of 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.

BIOL 40142 Genetics Laboratory. Two three-hour laboratories each week. Prerequisites: BIOL 30603 and 40123. Experiments that illustrate the basic principles of transmission and molecular genetics.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 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 1.5 semester hours credit.

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

BIOL 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 1.5 semester hours credit.

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

BIOL 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.

BIOL 40501 Basic Biochemistry Laboratory. See Chemistry 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.

BIOL 40503 Basic Biochemistry. See Chemistry Prerequisite: CHEM 30123 or equivalent. Three hours lecture per week. Fundamental chemical properties, analysis techniques, metabolism and clinicopathology of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, enzymes and hormones.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 50103 Terrestrial Ecosystems. Three hours lecture per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 30403 or 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.

BIOL 50133 Biochemistry. Prerequisite: CHEM 30133, 40113 or permission of the instructor. Three lecture hours per week. A general survey of structure and function of biologically important compounds with methods of analysis. (Offered as BIOL or CHEM credit.)

BIOL 50143 Biochemistry. Prerequisite: CHEM or BIOL 50133. Biosynthesis, replication of DNA, synthesis and processing of RNA and proteins, and special topics e.g. brain and muscle functions, hormones and signal transduction, cancer, development, etc. (Offered as BIOL or CHEM credit.)

BIOL 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.

BIOL 50313 Biogeography. Prerequisite: BIOL 30403 or permission of instructor. Three hours lecture per week. An ecological approach to the study of the distribution of plant and animal communities.

BIOL 50324 Techniques in Cell and Molecular Biology. Three hours of lecture and one 3-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in BIOL or CHEM 50133 or equivalent and permission of instructor. Survey of techniques central to molecular and cellular biology, including centrifugation, chromatography, electrophoresis, spectrophotometry and radioisotopes.

BIOL 50463 Fundamentals of Neuroscience. Prerequisite: Graduate or senior standing or approval of the instructor. The fundamentals of functional neuroanatomy and neurophysiology with an emphasis on experimental and theoretical analysis of the basic brain behavior relationships. (Offered as BIOL or PSYC credit.)

BIOL 50472 Laboratory in Physiological Psychology and Neuroscience. Prerequisite: PSYC 30463 or its equivalent or PSYC 50653 or its equivalent, or concurrent registration in either PSYC 50436 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 (Offered as BIOL or PSYC credit)

BIOL 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 50436 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 (Offered as BIOL or PSYC credit)

BIOL 50502 Biochemistry Laboratory. Two four-hour laboratory periods per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 50143 or concurrent registration. (Offered as BIOL or CHEM credit.)

BIOL 50602 Preparation of Environmental Impact Statements. Two laboratory periods per week. The methodology of environmental impact statement preparation from initial collection of data to final report drafting is covered. The course is problem-oriented; students are taught to take the initiative in EIS preparation. (Offered as BIOL or GEOL credit.)

BIOL 50703 Ecology of Lakes and Streams. Prerequisite: BIOL 30403 or permission of instructor. Two hours of lecture and one laboratory period per week. Study of the physical, chemical and biological factors affecting the ecology of lakes, ponds and streams.

BIOL 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.

BIOL 50773 Introduction to Environmental Law. 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. (Offered as BIOL or GEOL credit.)

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

BIOL 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.

BIOL 50883 Introduction to Environmental Engineering Technology. 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. (Offered as BIOL or GEOL credit.)

BIOL 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; travel costs are exclusive of tuition; permission of instructors. Systematics and ecology of tropical marine invertebrates and terrestrial vertebrates with emphasis on Cnidarians, Arthropods, Mollusks and Reptiles.

BIOL 50910 Biology Seminar. 1.) The primary goal is to acquaint the student with the preparation and presentation (oral and/or written) of scientific information from the biological literature. May be repeated for credit with different topics to a maximum of 3 times (one semester hour per topic). 2.) Acquainting the student with the preparation and presentation (oral and/or written) of scientific information from the biological literature. May be repeated for credit with different topics to a maximum of 3 times. (One semester hour per topic.)

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

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