Bachelor of Arts, Major in Biology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts, Major in Biology | ||
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 | |
| Component Area II (Mathematics) 1 | 3 | |
| Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) (Courses for Science Majors) 2 | 8 | |
| Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) 3 | 3 | |
| Component Area V (Creative Arts) | 3 | |
| Component Area VI (U.S. History) | 6 | |
| Component Area VII (Political Science/Government) | 6 | |
| Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) | 3 | |
| Component Area IX (Component Area Option) | 4 | |
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Biostatistics | ||
| Statistical Mthods in Practice | ||
| Statistical Methds in Practice | ||
| CHEM 1411 | General Chemistry I 2 | 4 |
| CHEM 1412 | General Chemistry II 2 | 4 |
| MATH 1410 | Elementary Functions 1 | 4 |
| WOLC 1411 | Beginning Foreign Language I | 4 |
| WOLC 1412 | Beginning Foreign Language II (same field) | 4 |
| WOLC 2311 | Intermediate Foreign Language 3 | 3 |
| WOLC 2312 | Intermed Foreign Language II (same field) 3 | 3 |
| Major Core | ||
| BIOL 1406 | General Biology I | 4 |
| BIOL 1407 | General Biology II | 4 |
| BIOL 2110 | Being a Professional Biologist | 1 |
| BIOL 3409 | General Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 3450 | Introductory Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 3470 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 4110 | Undergraduate Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 4361 | Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| Major | ||
| Advanced BIOL electives (Select five 3000-4000 level courses) 4 | 18-20 | |
| Minor: Required | ||
| Select any minor | 18 | |
| Advanced General Electives | ||
| Any advanced (3000-4000 level) courses from any department needed to meet 120 hour and SHSU advanced hour requirements 5 | 6-8 | |
| Total Hours | 120-124 | |
| 1 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics) and one hour of the Component Area IX (Component Area Option). |
| 2 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) and the major. |
| 3 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I V (Language, Philosophy, and Culture). |
| 4 | Advanced Biology Electives should be selected according to specific areas of study as determined by the student and their academic advisor. Students who take BIOL 4080, BIOL 4394, or BIOL 4095 are allowed to apply only one of these courses to their Advanced Biology Electives requirement. |
| 5 | Students should use the elective and/or minor hours to meet the 42-advanced hour requirement for graduation. |
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| BIOL 1406 or 1407 | 4 | BIOL 1407 or 1406 | 4 | Component Area V | 3 |
| CHEM 14111 | 4 | CHEM 14121 | 4 | ||
| ENGL 13012 | 3 | ENGL 13022 | 3 | ||
| WOLC 1411 | 4 | WOLC 1412 | 4 | ||
| 15 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| BIOL 3450, 3409, or 3470 | 4 | BIOL 2110 | 1 | Advanced General Elective | 3-4 |
| HIST 13013 | 3 | BIOL 3409, 3450, or 3470 | 4 | ||
| MATH 14104 | 4 | HIST 13023 | 3 | ||
| WOLC 23115 | 3 | POLS 23056 | 3 | ||
| WOLC 23127 | 3 | ||||
| 14 | 14 | 3-4 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| Advanced BIOL Elective | 4 | Component Area VIII | 3 | Advanced General Elective | 3-4 |
| BIOL 4374, MATH 3379, or STAT 3379 | 3 | Advanced Biology Elective 8 | 3-4 | ||
| Minor Course | 3 | BIOL 3409, 3450, or 3470 | 4 | ||
| POLS 23066 | 3 | Minor Course | 3 | ||
| 13 | 13-14 | 3-4 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| Advanced BIOL Elective 8 | 3-4 | Advanced BIOL Electives8 | 8 | ||
| BIOL 4110 | 1 | Minor Courses (Advanced) | 6 | ||
| BIOL 4361 | 3 | ||||
| Minor Courses | 6 | ||||
| 13-14 | 14 | ||||
| Total Hours: 120-124 | |||||
| 1 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) |
| 2 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communication) |
| 3 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History). |
| 4 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics) and one hour of Component Area IX (Component Area Option). |
| 5 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture). |
| 6 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VII (Political Science/Government). |
| 7 | Satisfies three semester credit hours of the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX (Component Area Option). |
| 8 | Advanced Biology Electives should be selected according to specific areas of study as determined by the student and their academic advisor. Students who take BIOL 4080, BIOL 4394, or BIOL 4095 are allowed to apply only one of these courses to their Advanced Biology Electives requirement. |
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers. Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.
The BA in Biology is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:
- Master the depth of knowledge required for a degree in biological sciences.
- Demonstrate critical thinking.
- Communicate effectively.
- Work collaboratively.
