Bachelor of Science in Biology

In addition, students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Biology must complete the following degree-level requirements. In some cases, courses that fulfill degree-level requirements also meet the requirements of the core.

1. Two courses with a writing flag. One of these courses must be upper-division. Courses with a writing flag are identified in the Course Schedule. They may be used simultaneously to fulfill other requirements, unless otherwise specified.
2. Options I–VII and X: One of the following foreign language/culture choices. Students in options VIII and IX are exempt from this requirement.
   
   1. Second-semester-level proficiency, or the equivalent, in a foreign language.
   2. First-semester-level proficiency, or the equivalent, in a foreign language and a three-semester-hour course in the culture of the same language area.
   3. Two three-semester-hour courses in one foreign culture area. The courses must be chosen from an approved list available in the dean’s office and the college advising centers.
3. At least twenty-four semester hours of upper-division coursework beyond Biology 325 in biology and approved related fields, including at least one course from each of the following areas. In most options, the student must use specific courses to meet this requirement; these courses are listed in Additional Prescribed Work for Each Option.
   
   1. Cellular, developmental, and molecular biology: Biology 320, 326R, 344, 349.
   2. Physiology and neurobiology: Biology 328, 361T, 365R, 365S.
   3. Ecology, evolution, and behavior: Biology 357, 359K, 370, 373.
4. At least twenty-one semester hours of upper-division coursework in biology must be completed in residence at the University. All students must complete at least thirty-six semester hours of upper-division coursework.

5. Mathematics 408C and 408D, or 408N and 408S.
6. An eight-semester-hour sequence of coursework in physics chosen from the following: Physics 301, 101L, 316, and 116L; 317K, 117M, 317L, and 117N; 303K, 103M, 303L, and 103N; 302K, 102M, 302L, and 102N.
7. Chemistry 301 or 301H, 302 or 302H, and 204.
8. Either Biology 311C, 311D, and 325 or Biology 315H and 325H. These courses must be completed before the student progresses to other upper-division biology courses.
9. At least four laboratory courses in biology. Three of these courses must be upper-division. One of the four courses must have a field component; the following courses may be used to meet this requirement: Biology 321L, 340L, 453L, 354L, 455L, 456L, 369L, 373L, Marine Science 352D, 354, 354C.
10. Biology 328M and three hours of coursework chosen from the following: Chemistry 320M, computer science courses at the level of Computer Science 303E or 313E, Geological Sciences 401 or 303, and upper-division mathematics courses.
11. In fulfilling requirement 3 above, the student must complete the following courses. No single course may be used to meet more than one of these requirements.
    
    1. Ecology: Biology 357, 373, or Marine Science 320.
    2. Evolution: Biology 370.
    3. Behavior and comparative physiology: Biology 322 and 122L, 359K, or 361T.
    4. One of the following taxon-based diversity courses or pairs of courses: Biology 321L, 324 and 124L, 327 and 127L, 340L, 342L, 448L, 352, 353F, 453L, 354L, 455L, 262, 262L, 369L, Marine Science 352D, 354, 354C, 354E.
    5. Six additional hours chosen from the following:
       
       1. Evolution: Biology 458L, 363, 472L, 374 and 174L, 478L.
       2. Ecology: Biology 456L, 364, 364E, 373L, Marine Science 120L, 352C.
       3. Behavior: Biology 438L, 359J, 359R.
       4. Conservation biology: Biology 359, 375, Marine Science 354Q.
12. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 126 semester hours.

5. Mathematics 408C and 408D, or 408N and 408S.
6. An eight-semester-hour sequence of coursework in physics chosen from the following: Physics 301, 101L, 316, and 116L; 317K, 117M, 317L, and 117N; 303K, 103M, 303L, and 103N; 302K, 102M, 302L, and 102N.
7. Chemistry 301 or 301H, 302 or 302H, and 204.
8. Either Biology 311C, 311D, and 325 or Biology 315H and 325H. These courses must be completed before the student progresses to other upper-division biology courses.
9. At least four laboratory courses in biology and related fields. Three of these courses must be upper-division. The student must complete Biology 206L or 208L. Anthropology 432L, Kinesiology 324K and Marine Science 120L may be counted toward this requirement, but the student must complete at least one upper-division laboratory course in biology.
10. Biology 328M and Chemistry 220C, 320M, and 320N.
11. In fulfilling requirement 3 above, the student must complete Biology 346, at least six semester hours in area a below, and at least three hours each in areas b through e.
    
    1. Cellular and molecular biology: Biology 320, 320L, 323L, 325L, 325T, 226L and 326R, 344.
    2. Anatomy: Anthropology 432L, Biology 446L, 478L, Kinesiology 324K.
    3. Physiology: Biology 361T, 365R, 365S.
    4. Behavior and psychology: Biology 359K, 359R, Psychology 332.
    5. Evolution and ecology: Biology 357, 364, 370, 373.
12. In fulfilling requirement 3 above, the student must complete at least fifteen semester hours of coursework, including at least nine hours of upper-division work, in one of the following concentrations. A course counted toward requirement 11 may not also be counted toward requirement 12.
    
    1. Cellular, molecular, and developmental biology: Chemistry 369 and twelve hours chosen from the following courses: Biology 320L, 323L, 325T, 226L, 326R, 328D, 330, 230L, 331L, 332, 337 (Topic: Genomics), 337 (Topic: Epigenetics), 339M, 345, 349, 349L, 365N, 366R, 379J.
    2. Genetics and biotechnology: Chemistry 369 and twelve hours chosen from the following courses: Biology 325L, 325T, 226L, 326R, 335, 337 (Topic: Genomics), 337 (Topic: Emerging Infectious Disease), 337 (Topic: Epigenetics), 347, 366, 366R, Philosophy 325M.
    3. Pathogenesis and immunity: Chemistry 369 and twelve hours chosen from the following courses: Biology 226L, 326R, 330, 230L, 332, 336, 337 (Topic: Emerging Infectious Disease), 339M, 347, 360K, 160L, 360M, 361, 361L, 365T.
    4. Social aspects of health and disease: Chemistry 369, Geography 357, Pharmacy 350K, Philosophy 325M, Sociology 319, 330C, 336C, 336D, 354K, 358D, 369K (Sociology 319 and 369K may not both be counted in the concentration).
    5. Problems of developing countries: Biology 351, Geography 340D, 342C, 346, 356, 356T (Topic: Global Societies), 357, 358, Sociology 319, 324K, 340C, 346, 369K, 369L. (Sociology 319 and 369K may not both be counted in the concentration).
    6. Human impact on the environment: Biology 359, 373, 373L, 375, 478T, Geography 334, 335N, 336C, 346, 356T (Topic: Environment, Development, and Food Production), 366K, 367K, Marine Science 320, 120L, 354Q, Philosophy 325C, Sociology 319.
13. Biology 137 (Topic 1: Senior Seminar in Human Biology), completed on the pass/fail basis in the student’s senior year.
14. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 126 semester hours.

5. Mathematics 408C and 408D, or 408N and 408S.
6. An eight-semester-hour sequence of coursework in physics chosen from the following: Physics 301, 101L, 316, and 116L; 317K, 117M, 317L, and 117N; 303K, 103M, 303L, and 103N; 302K, 102M, 302L, and 102N.
7. Chemistry 301 or 301H, 302 or 302H, 204, 220C, 320M, and 320N.
8. Either Biology 311C, 311D, and 325 or Biology 315H and 325H. These courses must be completed before the student progresses to other upper-division biology courses.
9. At least four laboratory courses in biology. Three of these courses must be upper-division. The student must complete Biology 206L or 208L.
10. Biology 328M.
    
11. Geological Sciences 307 or Marine Science 307; Biology 101C (Topic: Marine Science Seminar); and three semester hours in geological sciences, chosen from courses that may be counted toward the requirements for a major in geological sciences.
12. In fulfilling requirement 3 above, the student must complete the following courses.
    
    1. Biology 226L and 326R.
    2. Marine Science 320 and 120L.
    3. At least twenty-one semester hours of coursework chosen from the following: Biology 321L, 327, 127L, 328, 128L, 354L, 361T, 370, 375, Geological Sciences 422K, Marine Science 440, 352C, 352D, 353 (Topic 17: Marine Fish Physiology), 354C, 354Q, 354T, 354U, 367K, 170, 270, 370, Biology 448L or Marine Science 354, Biology 364 or Marine Science 354E. Six hours of this coursework must be completed at the Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas.
13. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 126 semester hours.

5. Mathematics 408C and 408D, or 408N and 408S.
6. An eight-semester-hour sequence of coursework in physics chosen from the following: Physics 301, 101L, 316, and 116L; 317K, 117M, 317L, and 117N; 303K, 103M, 303L, and 103N; 302K, 102M, 302L, and 102N.
7. Chemistry 301 or 301H, 302 or 302H, 204, and an organic chemistry/biochemistry series chosen from the following:  Chemistry 220C, 320M, 320N, and 369; or 320M, 320N, 339K and 339L.
8. Biology 311C, 311D, and 325 or Biology 315H and 325H. These courses must be completed before the student progresses to other upper-division biology courses.
9. Biology 206L.
10. Two upper division biology laboratory courses, one of which must be chosen from Biology 230L, 160L, and 361L. Biology 377/379H may be used for the second course if approved in advance by the microbiology faculty adviser. Biology 226L may not be counted toward requirement 10.
11. In fulfilling requirement 3 above, the student must complete the following courses: Biology 226L, 326R or 326M, 328M, 330, 339, 360K, 366, 370, and 320 or 332 or 344.
12. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 126 semester hours.

5. Mathematics 408C and 408D, or 408N and 408S.
6. An eight-semester-hour sequence of coursework in physics chosen from the following: Physics 301, 101L, 316, and 116L; 317K, 117M, 317L, and 117N; 303K, 103M, 303L, and 103N.
7. Chemistry 301 or 301H, 302 or 302H, 204, 220C, 320M, 320N, and either 339K and 339L or 369 and 353M.
8. Either Biology 311C, 311D, and 325 or Biology 315H and 325H. These courses must be completed before the student progresses to other upper-division biology courses.
9. At least four laboratory courses in biology. Three of these courses must be upper-division.
10. In fulfilling requirement 3 above, the student must complete the following courses.
    
    1. Biology 320 and 344.
    2. Biology 226L, 326R, 349, 370, and one of the following: 320L, 331L, 349L.
    3. Biology 328, 365R, or 365S.
    4. At least six semester hours chosen from the following: Biology 328M, 323L, 325L, 329, 129L, 330, 230L, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337J, 339, 339M, 343M, 345, 347, 349L, 350M, 360K, 160L, 360M, 365D, 365L, 365N, 365T, 365W, 366, 366R.
11. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 126 semester hours.

5. Mathematics 408C and 408D, or 408N and 408S.
6. An eight-semester-hour sequence of coursework in physics chosen from the following: Physics 301, 101L, 316, and 116L; 317K, 117M, 317L, and 117N; 303K, 103M, 303L, and 103N; 302K, 102M, 302L, and 102N.
7. Chemistry 301 or 301H, 302 or 302H, 204, 220C, 320M, and 320N.
8. Either Biology 311C, 311D, and 325 or Biology 315H and 325H. These courses must be completed before the student progresses to other upper-division biology courses.
9. At least four laboratory courses in biology. The student must complete Biology 206L, and at least nine semester hours chosen from the following courses: Biology 320L, 325L, 331L, 365L, 366L, 366P, 366S, 371L, 478L, Electrical Engineering 374L.
10. In fulfilling requirement 3 above, the student must complete the following courses.
    
    1. Biology 320, 344, 349, 370, and 365R.
    2. Six semester hours chosen from the following courses: Biology 359K, 365D, 365N, 365T, 365W, 366C, 366D, 366F, Psychology 353K.
    3. Six semester hours chosen from the following courses: Biology 328M, 321G, 337J, 465M, Chemistry 353 or 353M, 354, 369 or both 339K and 339L, 370, Computer Science 313E, 323E, 324E, 326E, 327E, Electrical Engineering 411, 313, 325, 438, 338K, 351K, 374K.
    4. Three additional semester hours chosen from the following courses: Computer Science 303E, Psychology 308, 332, 353K.
11. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 126 semester hours.

5. Mathematics 408C and 408D, or 408N and 408S.
6. An eight-semester-hour sequence of coursework in physics chosen from the following: Physics 301, 101L, 316, and 116L; 317K, 117M, 317L, and 117N; 303K, 103M, 303L, and 103N; Physics 302K, 102M, 302L, and 102N.
7. Chemistry 301 or 301H, 302 or 302H, 204, 220C, 320M, and 320N.
8. Either Biology 311C, 311D, and 325 or Biology 315H and 325H. These courses must be completed before the student progresses to other upper-division biology courses.
9. At least four laboratory courses in biology. Three of these courses must be upper-division. The student must complete Biology 206L or 208L. Biology 177, 277, or 377 may be counted only once toward the laboratory requirement.
10. In fulfilling requirement 3 above, the student must complete at least twenty-four hours of coursework chosen from the following: Biology 320, 320L, 322 and 122L, 323L, 324 and 124L, 327 and 127L, 328, 128L, 331L, 343M, 350M, 351, 262 and 262L, 363, 370, 472L, 373, 373L, 374 and 174L, 375.
11. Eleven additional semester hours of upper-division coursework in the College of Natural Sciences or the Jackson School of Geosciences. A course may not be counted toward this requirement if it does not fulfill major requirements in the department that offers it.
12. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 126 semester hours.

This option is designed to fulfill the course requirements for certification as a middle grades or secondary school science teacher in Texas; the student chooses either composite science certification with biology as the primary teaching field or life science certification. However, completion of the course requirements does not guarantee the student’s certification. Information about additional certification requirements is available from the UTeach-Natural Sciences academic adviser.

5. Mathematics 408C and 408D, or 408N and 408S.
6. An eight-semester-hour sequence of coursework in physics chosen from the following: Physics 301, 101L, 316, and 116L; 317K, 117M, 317L, and 117N; 303K, 103M, 303L, and 103N; 302K, 102M, 302L, and 102N.
7. Chemistry 301 or 301H, 302 or 302H, 204, and either Chemistry 320M, 320N, and 220C or 320M and 369.
8. Either Biology 311C, 311D, and 325 or Biology 315H and 325H. These courses must be completed before the student progresses to other upper-division biology courses.
9. At least four laboratory courses in biology. Three of these courses must be upper-division. The student must complete Biology 206L or 208L.
10. In fulfilling requirement 3 above, the student must complete the following courses:
    
    1. Biology 320, 226L, 326R, 370, and either 324 and 124L or 322 and 122L.
    2. At least three semester hours chosen from the following courses in physiology, neurobiology, and behavior: Biology 322, 122L, 328, 328D, 128L, 329, 129L, 438L, 339, 345, 359J, 359K, 359R, 360K, 160L, 361, 361L, 361T, 365L, 465M, 365N, 365R, 365S, 371L.
    3. One of the following courses with a substantial field component: Biology 321L, 340L, 342L, 453L, 455L, 456L, 373L, Marine Science 352D, 354, 354C. 
11. One of the following research methods courses: Biology 328D, 337 (Topic 2: Research Methods: UTeach), Chemistry 368 (Topic 1: Research Methods: UTeach), Physics 341 (Topic 7: Research Methods: UTeach). 
12. History 329U or Philosophy 329U.
13. One of the following:
    
    1. For composite science certification: Six semester hours of coursework in geological sciences. Courses intended for nonscience majors may not be counted toward this requirement. The remaining composite certification content requirements are met by the chemistry and physics courses used to fulfill requirements 6 and 7.
    2. For life science certification: Biology 373, and three additional semester hours of biology chosen from the courses listed in requirement 10b. 
14. Eighteen semester hours of professional development coursework consisting of:
    
    1. Curriculum and Instruction 650S.
    2. Curriculum and Instruction 365C or UTeach-Natural Sciences 350.
    3. Curriculum and Instruction 365D or UTeach-Natural Sciences 355.
    4. Curriculum and Instruction 365E or UTeach-Natural Sciences 360.
    5. UTeach-Natural Sciences 101, 110, and 170.
15. Students seeking middle grades certification must complete the following courses:  Educational Psychology 363M (Topic 3: Adolescent Development), or Psychology 301 and 304; and  Curriculum and Instruction 339E. 
16. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 126 semester hours.

5. Breadth requirement: An honors mathematics course; Biology 315H and 325H; Chemistry 301H and 302H; and one of the following: a three-hour honors-designated computer science course; a three-hour honors-designated statistics course; Physics 301 and 101L; Physics 315 and 115L; or Physics 316 and 116L. Credit earned by examination may not be counted toward this requirement.
6. An eight-semester-hour sequence of coursework in physics chosen from the following: Physics 301, 101L, 316, and 116L; 317K, 117M, 317L, and 117N; 303K, 103M, 303L, and 103N. Courses used to satisfy this requirement may also be counted toward requirement 5.
7. Chemistry 204, 128K, 128L, 328M, and 328N.
8. In fulfilling requirement 3 above, the student must complete Biology 320 or 344, 349, 365R, 370, and at least twelve additional semester hours of upper-division coursework in biology chosen from a list available in the student’s advising office. Six semester hours of thesis coursework may be counted toward the twelve semester hours of upper-division biology.
9. Three upper-division laboratory courses in biology. Biology 377 or 379H may be used as only one of the three required upper-division laboratory courses. Courses used to fulfill this requirement may also be counted toward requirement 8.
10. A section of Undergraduate Studies 302 or 303 that is approved by the departmental honors adviser.
11. A section of Rhetoric and Writing 309S that is restricted to Dean’s Scholars.
12. Two semesters of Biology 379H.
13. Fifteen additional semester hours of coursework approved by the departmental honors adviser.
14. Six semester hours of coursework in the College of Liberal Arts or the College of Fine Arts.
15. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 120 semester hours.

5. Mathematics 408C and 408D, or 408N, 408S, and 408M; Statistics and Scientific Computation 329C or Mathematics 340L or 341; Mathematics 362K; and Mathematics 358K or 378K or Statistics and Scientific Computation 321 or 325H or 328M, or Biology 328M.
6. Computer Science 303E; Computer Science 313E or Statistics and Scientific Computation 222; and one of the following courses: Computer Science 323E, 323H, 324E, 327E, 329E, 337, 367, Statistics and Scientific Computation 329D, 335, 374D, 374E, Mathematics 348, 372K, 376C.
7. An eight-semester-hour sequence of coursework in physics chosen from the following: Physics 301, 101L, 316, and 116L; 317K, 117M, 317L, and 117N; 303K, 103M, 303L, and 103N.
8. Chemistry 301 or 301H, 302 or 302H, and 204.
9. Either Biology 311C, 311D, and 325 or Biology 315H and 325H. These courses must be completed before the student progresses to other upper-division biology courses.
10. In fulfilling requirement 3 above, the student must complete Biology 321G, 370, and six additional hours of upper-division coursework in biology.
11. At least four laboratory courses in biology. Three of these courses must be upper-division. Biology 321G fulfills one of these upper-division requirements.
12. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 126 semester hours.

To graduate and be recommended for certification, students who follow the teaching option must have a University grade point average of at least 2.50. They must earn a grade of at least C- in the supporting course in requirement 12, and in each of the professional development courses listed in requirement 14 and must pass the final teaching portfolio review; those seeking middle grades certification must also earn a grade of at least C- in each of the courses listed in requirement 15. For information about the portfolio review and additional teacher certification requirements, students should consult the UTeach-Natural Sciences academic adviser.

To graduate under the honors option, students must remain in good standing in the Dean’s Scholars Honors Program, must submit an honors thesis approved by the departmental honors adviser, and must present their research in an approved public forum, such as the college’s annual Undergraduate Research Forum.