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Biology (with Minor), Bachelor of Science

(Focus: Biology with Minor)

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 from (including honors equivalent):

MATH 1342Elementary Statistical Methods

3
MATH 1343Introduction to Biostatistics

3

Life and Physical Science – 6 hours

CHEM 1311General Chemistry I

3
CHEM 1312General Chemistry II

3

Integrative and Experiential Learning – 2 hours

CHEM 1111General Chemistry I Lab

1
CHEM 1112General Chemistry II Lab

1

Major Requirements – 44 Hours (32 advanced)

The BS in Biology with a minor consists of a 23-hour biology foundation and 21 hours of prescribed biology electives.

Biology Foundation – 23 hours (15 advanced)

Required lower division courses:

BIOL 1406General Biology I

4
BIOL 1407General Biology II

4

Required upper division courses:

BIOL 3301Biological Evolution

3
BIOL 3409Ecology

4
BIOL 3413Genetics

4
BIOL 4400Biological Communication (Capstone)

4

BIOL 4400: Capstone

Biology Electives – 21 hours (17 advanced minimum)

Students must take at least one course from each group representing one of three organizational levels of Biology. Group criteria do not need to be met with advanced hours.

Choose one Cellular/Molecular course:

BIOL 3401General Microbiology

4
BIOL 3403Medical Microbiology and Immunology

4
BIOL 3405Histology

4
BIOL 3406Developmental Mechanisms

4
BIOL 3412Cell Biology

4
BIOL 3415Molecular Biology

4
BIOL 4313Endocrinology

3
BIOL 4330Molecular Evolution

3
BIOL 4333Immunology

3
BIOL 4408Plant Pathology

4
BIOL 4413General Virology

4
BIOL 4417Bacterial Genetics

4
BIOL 4418Electron Microscopy

4
BIOL 4421Biotechnology

4
BIOL 4428Medical Genomics

4
CHEM 3303Biochemistry I

3

Choose at least one Organismal course:

BIOL 2401Anatomy and Physiology I

4
BIOL 2402Anatomy and Physiology II

4
BIOL 2428Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy

4
BIOL 3310Neurobiology

3
BIOL 3345Animal Nutrition

3
BIOL 3407Comparative Embryology

4
BIOL 3408Plant Morphology

4
 
BIOL 3311Mammalian Physiology

3
Or
BIOL 3411Mammalian Physiology

4
 
BIOL 3414Invertebrate Zoology

4
BIOL 4319Medical Entomology

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

3
BIOL 4402/MARS 4402Marine Zoology

4
BIOL 4404Ichthyology

4
BIOL 4405Plant Physiology

4
BIOL 4407Animal Parasitology

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 4420Plant Anatomy

3
BIOL 4422Neurobiology Methods

4

Choose at least one Ecological/Environmental course:

BIOL 2310/MARS 2310Marine Processes and Ecosystem Dynamics

3
BIOL 3404Conservation Biology

4
BIOL 3420Environmental Biology

4
BIOL 4316Environmental Toxicology

3
BIOL 4317Disease Epidemiology

3
BIOL 4318Ethnobotany

3
BIOL 4388Global Change Ecology

3
BIOL 4389Geographical Information Systems in Biology

3
BIOL 4403Introduction to Remote Sensing Technology

4
BIOL 4411Ecological Physiology of Animals

4
BIOL 4424Microbial Ecology

4
BIOL 4426/MARS 4426Marine Ecology

4
BIOL 4427/MARS 4427Marine Animal Field Studies

4
BIOL 4429Agroecology

4
BIOL 4432Animal Behavior

4

Support Courses – 4 Hours

Required

CHEM 2123Organic Chemistry I Lab

1
CHEM 2323Organic Chemistry I

3

Free Electives – 12 Hours

Advanced hours will vary to meet 42 advanced hour requirement.

Minor – 18 Hours (6 advanced)

Choose and complete an approved minor. Some minors are more than 18 hours.

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. Minimum 44 credit hours in Biology and 2.50 Biology GPA; At least 32 upper division hours in Biology.