Biology, Biochemistry (BSA)
Total Hours Required: 120
Plan of Study
The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| BIO 311C | Introductory Biology I | 3 |
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| M 408S | Integral Calculus for Science | 4 |
| BIO 311D | Introductory Biology II | 3 |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| CH 204 | Introduction to Chemical Practice | 2 |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| CH 320M | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| BIO 325 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIO 206L | Introductory Laboratory Experiments in Biology | 2 |
| Language, Arts, and Culture | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| INB 370 | Evolution | 3 |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Minor/Certificate course | 3 | |
| Visual and Performing Arts (050) | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| PHY 302K | General Physics Technical Course: Mechanics, Heat, and Sound | 3 |
| PHY 105M | Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | 1 |
| MBS 230L | Virology Laboratory | 2 |
| Language, Arts, and Culture | 3 | |
| Minor/Certificate course | 3 | |
| Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| PHY 302L | General Physics Technical Course: Electricity and Magnetism, Light, Atomic and Nuclear Physics | 3 |
| PHY 105N | Laboratory For Physics 302L, 303L, and 317L | 1 |
| BCH 219L | Introduction to Biochemical Laboratory Practices and Skills | 2 |
| SDS 320E | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| Language, Arts, and Culture | 3 | |
| Minor/Certificate course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| MBS 320 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BCH 339F | Foundations of Biochemistry | 3 |
| MBS 344 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| Minor/Certificate course | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BCH 339M | Structure and Function of Molecular Machines | 3 |
| NSC 371 | Capstone Thesis Seminar | 3 |
| Minor/Certificate course | 3 | |
| Language, Arts, and Culture | 3 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration | ||
| BCH 219L | Introduction to Biochemical Laboratory Practices and Skills | 2 |
| CH 320M | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| BCH 339F | Foundations of Biochemistry | 3 |
| MBS 344 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Structure and Function of Molecular Machines | ||
| Chemical and Synthetic Biology | ||
| Physical Methods of Biochemistry | ||
| Medical Biochemistry | ||
| Subtotal | 14 | |
| Major (see details below) | 43 | |
| Subtotal | 43 | |
| Degree (see details below) | 27 | |
| Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 27 | |
| General Education | ||
| Remaining Core Curriculum (42 hours total) | 36 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | ||
| Subtotal | 36 | |
| College Requirements - Natural Sciences | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Major - Biology (BSA)
Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| or M 408R | Differential and Integral Calculus for the Sciences | |
| or M 408N | Differential Calculus for Science | |
| M 408S | Integral Calculus for Science | 4 |
| SDS 320E | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| Primary Science | ||
| BIO 206L | Introductory Laboratory Experiments in Biology | 2 |
| BIO 311C | Introductory Biology I | 3 |
| BIO 311D | Introductory Biology II | 3 |
| Choose a sequence below: | 3 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Advanced Introduction to Genetics: Honors | ||
| Genetics: Honors | ||
| INB 370 | Evolution | 3 |
| MBS 320 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| INB 373 | Ecology | 3 |
| Secondary Science | ||
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| or CH 301C | Foundations of Chemistry I | |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| or CH 302C | Foundations of Chemistry II | |
| Choose a sequence below: | 2 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Introduction to Chemical Practice | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Introduction to Chemical Practice I | ||
| Introduction to Chemical Practice II | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | 4 | |
| Sequence 1: (recommended) | ||
| General Physics Technical Course: Mechanics, Heat, and Sound (recommended) | ||
| Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| General Physics I | ||
or PHY 303K | Engineering Physics I | |
| Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | ||
| Sequence 3: | ||
| Mechanics | ||
| Laboratory for Physics 301 | ||
| Total Hours | 43 | |
Degree-Bachelor of Science and Arts (BSA)
The requirements for the Bachelor of Science and Arts are designed to give each student flexibility in the selection of courses to meet individual needs.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Language, Arts, and Culture | ||
| Hours selected from at least two of the following four areas: | 12 | |
Fine arts: courses chosen from design, ensemble, fine arts, music, studio art, performance, visual art studies, art history, and theatre and dance | ||
Humanities: courses chosen from American studies, ancient history and classical civilization, classical civilization, comparative literature, creative writing, English, humanities, philosophy, religious studies, and rhetoric and writing | ||
Social and behavioral sciences: courses chosen from anthropology, economics, geography, government, history, linguistics, psychology, and sociology | ||
Foreign language and culture: foreign language courses or culture courses chosen from an approved list available in the college advising centers. Students who elect to pursue a foreign language must complete a beginning level competency. Students who complete intermediate or advanced level foreign language courses rather than courses equivalent to beginning level competency may count only one intermediate or advanced course toward the language, arts, and culture requirement (a maximum of six hours earned through credit by examination may count toward the language arts and culture requirment) | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Completion of one of the following: | 15 | |
| Transcript-recognized minor or certificate (minor outside the College of Pharmacy, Cockrell School of Engineering, Jackson School of Geosciences, and School of Nursing) | ||
Fifteen hours in a single field of study (outside the College of Natural Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Cockrell School of Engineering, Jackson School of Geosciences, and School of Nursing) | ||
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Additional Requirements and Policies
- Students may not use a course counting toward one area of prescribed work to fulfill the requirements of another area of prescribed work unless expressly permitted as follows:
- Courses counting toward the university core curriculum may also count toward the major requirements, the additional requirement, and electives.
- Per university policy, a minimum of nine hours of the transcript-recognized minor may not be also used to satisfy the major.
- Per university policy, a minimum of one course taken in a transcript-recognized certificate to satisfy the additional requirement may not also count toward the major.
- Students who seek a transcript-recognized minor or transcript-recognized certificate must meet the minimum grade requirements and grade point average requirements of the program.
- Students must earn a University grade point average of at least 2.00 in all courses taken at the University (including credit by examination, correspondence, and extension), a grade of at least C- in each mathematics and science course counted toward the major, and a grade point average of at least 2.00 in the courses fulfilling the major.
- Students must complete a minimum of 60 hours in residence at the University, including at least 18 hours of the major. The 18 hours of the major in residence must include at least nine hours of advanced coursework.