Program Overview

The School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences is committed to excellence in instruction, scholarly accomplishment, research, professional service, and student success. The School 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 School provides rigorous pre-professional preparation for students seeking careers in biological sciences and health professions.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Role of the Cell: The Biology graduate knows the role of the cell in life and living systems, and understands the interrelationships among subcellular structures that contribute to its functioning as a unit
2. Role of Genetics: The Biology graduate understands the role of genetics in inheritance and can explain how environmental conditions influence natural selection processes and contribute to adaptation.
3. Diversity of Life: The Biology graduate is aware of the diversity of life and interrelationships between an organism and its environment.
4. Structure and Function: The biology graduate understands how the organization of a specific structure within an organism is related to a specific function, understands interrelationships among organs and organ systems within an organism, and how interaction between structure and function contribute to the survival of the organism.
5. Scientific Method: The biology graduate understands the Scientific Method, is able to analyze and interpret data, and communicate research findings in both oral and written form.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR FALL 2024 ADMITS AND FORWARD

1. Core Curriculum
   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.
   
   Required courses:
   020 Mathematics – 3 hours
   
   Choose one:
   MATH 1314 College Algebra
   MATH 1414 College Algebra
   MATH 2412 Precalculus
   MATH 2413 Calculus I
   
   030 Life and Physical Sciences – 6 hours
   CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I
   CHEM 1312 General Chemistry II
   
   090 Integrative and Experiential Learning – 6 hours
   CHEM 1111 General Chemistry I Lab
   CHEM 1112 General Chemistry II Lab
   BIOL 1406 General Biology I
   One credit hour from BIOL 1406 applies .
   
   
   
2. Major requirements – 45 hours
   
   Required: Biology Foundation
   1. BIOL 1406 General Biology I
      Three credit hour s from BIOL 1406 applies.
   2. BIOL 1407 General Biology II
   3. BIOL 3201 Techniques in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Laboratory
   4. BIOL 3215 Cell, Molecular, and Genetics Laboratory
   5. BIOL 3230 Biology Data Analysis and Informatics Laboratory
   6. BIOL 3301 Ecology and Evolution
   7. BIOL 3313 Genetics
   8. BIOL 3315 Cell and Molecular Biology
   9. BIOL 3325 Integrative Physiology
      OR
      BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I
   
   Required: Science Foundation
   1. CHEM 2323 Organic Chemistry I
   2. CHEM 2123 Organic Chemistry I Lab
   3. MATH 1342 Elementary Statistical Methods
      OR
      MATH 1343 Introduction to Biostatistics
   
   Required: Biological Sciences Electives – 12 hours (8 hours advanced)
   Choose 12 additional hours in Biology (BIOL courses), at least 8 hours must be advanced hours (3000/4000 level courses from UTRGV).
   
   BIOL 4199, BIOL 4390, BIOL 4299, and/or BIOL 4399 may not be used for the Biological Sciences Electives category.
   
   
   
3. Free Electives – 34 hours
   Any BIOL or other disciplines courses up to 120 hours.
   
   BIOL 4199, BIOL 4390, BIOL 4299, and/or BIOL 4399 may apply towards the Free Electives category.

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION – 120 HOURS

MINIMUM ADVANCED LEVEL HOURS (3000 and 4000 courses) – 42 HOURS

Please click here to view course descriptions for the new required Biology Foundation courses.

CAREER TRACKS
Many fields in the study of biological systems require broadly based training that transcends the classical boundaries of biology. In planning a program of work to meet his or her degree requirements, a student interested in specializing in interdisciplinary career tracks should choose courses both in biology and in sciences that complement biology.

Students are encouraged to concentrate their Biology and Free elective courses in one of the following career tracks. There is no transcript notation for completing these career tracks.

The career tracks are: ( to be updated soon!)

• Astrobiology
• Forensic Anthropology
• Pre-dental
• Pre-medicine
• Pre-veterinary
• Wildlife Ecology & Management
• More coming soon. 

CONSIDERING GRADUATE SCHOOL?
Biology majors who intend to continue to the graduate level in biology or a related biological science should plan their coursework carefully. It is strongly recommended that such students include as many of the upper-division and skill-oriented courses as possible, as well as courses in research methods, data analysis, and appropriate courses outside the BIOL discipline.