Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology
Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology | ||
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communications) | 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 | |
| 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 | ||
| CHEM 1411 | General Chemistry I 2 | 4 |
| CHEM 1412 | General Chemistry II 2 | 4 |
| CHEM 2323 & CHEM 2123 | Organic Chemistry I: Lecture and Organic Chemistry I: Lab | 4 |
| MATH 1420 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| MATH 1430 | Calculus II | 3-4 |
| or MATH 3379 | Statistical Methods in Practice | |
| or STAT 3379 | Statistical Methods in Practice | |
| PHYS 1301 & PHYS 1101 | General Physics-Mechanics and Heat and General Physics Laboratory I | 4 |
| PHYS 1302 & PHYS 1102 | General Physics-Sound, Light, Electricity, and Magnetism and General Physics Laboratory II | 4 |
| Major: Foundation | ||
| BIOL 1406 | General Biology I | 4 |
| BIOL 1407 | General Biology II | 4 |
| BIOL 2110 | Being a Professional Biologist | 1 |
| BIOL 2440 | Introductory Cell Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 3450 | Introductory Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 4110 | Undergraduate Seminar | 1 |
| or BIOL 4111 | Undergraduate Seminar | |
| BIOL 4361 | Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| Major: Prescribed Electives | ||
| BIOL Advanced Electives (3000-4000 level courses) | 6 | |
| Major: Concentration 3 | 36-47 | |
| Minor: Not Required 4,5 | ||
| Total Hours | 120-132 | |
- 1
MATH 1420 fulfills the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics) and satisfies the prerequisite requirement for MATH 1430. If MATH 1420 not taken, additional hours may be needed to fulfill degree program requirements.
- 2
CHEM 1411 and CHEM 1412 satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science).
- 3
See Concentration course listings below.
- 4
A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so additional semester credits hours may be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours.
- 5
All minors can be paired with this degree program.
Notes
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major: Concentration (Integrative Biology) 3 | ||
| BIOL 3409 | General Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 3470 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| Select from the following: | 28-29 | |
| General Botany | ||
| General Zoology | ||
| Forensic Biology Concepts | ||
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Human Biology | ||
| Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| General Physiology | ||
| Pathophysiology | ||
| Wildlife Biology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Histology | ||
| Plant Morphology | ||
| Field and Experiential Biology | ||
| Undergraduate Research Topics in Biology | ||
| Special Topics In Undergraduate Biology | ||
| Philosophy Of Biology | ||
| Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Aquatic Biology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Genetic Analysis of Human Disease | ||
| Paleobiology | ||
| Genomics and Bioinformatics | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Medical Microbiology | ||
| Advanced Molecular Biology | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Physiological Ecology | ||
| Biological Sciences Internship | ||
| General Entomology | ||
| Vertebrate Natural History | ||
| Parasitology | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Organic Chemistry II: Lecture | ||
| Total Hours | 36-37 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major: Concentration (Cell and Molecular) 3 | ||
| BIOL 3470 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 4480 | Molecular Genetics | 4 |
| or BIOL 4490 | Cell Biology | |
| CHEM 2125 | Organic Chemistry II: Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 2325 | Organic Chemistry II: Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 3339 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 3438 | Biochemistry I | 4 |
| Select five courses from the following (3 must be 4-credit courses): | 18-20 | |
| Pathophysiology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Histology | ||
| Undergraduate Research Topics in Biology | ||
| Special Topics In Undergraduate Biology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Genetic Analysis of Human Disease | ||
| Genomics and Bioinformatics | ||
| Medical Microbiology | ||
| Advanced Molecular Biology | ||
| Biological Sciences Internship | ||
| Parasitology | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
or BIOL 4490 | Cell Biology | |
| Endocrinology | ||
| Select two from the following: | 6-8 | |
| General Botany | ||
| General Zoology | ||
| General Ecology | ||
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| Human Biology | ||
| Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| General Physiology | ||
| Wildlife Biology | ||
| Plant Morphology | ||
| Field and Experiential Biology | ||
| Philosophy Of Biology | ||
| Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Aquatic Biology | ||
| Paleobiology | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| General Entomology | ||
| Vertebrate Natural History | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Total Hours | 43-47 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major: Concentration (Environmental, Evolutionary, and Organismal Biology) 3 | ||
| BIOL 3409 | General Ecology | 4 |
| Select eight from the following (5 must be 4-credit hour courses): | 29 | |
| General Botany | ||
| General Zoology | ||
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| Human Biology | ||
| Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Wildlife Biology | ||
| Plant Morphology | ||
| Field and Experiential Biology | ||
| Undergraduate Research Topics in Biology | ||
| Special Topics In Undergraduate Biology | ||
| Philosophy Of Biology | ||
| Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Aquatic Biology | ||
| Paleobiology | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Biological Sciences Internship | ||
| General Entomology | ||
| Vertebrate Natural History | ||
| Parasitology | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Physiological Ecology | ||
| Select two from the following: | 6-8 | |
| General Physiology | ||
| Pathophysiology | ||
| General Microbiology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Histology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Genetic Analysis of Human Disease | ||
| Genomics and Bioinformatics | ||
| Medical Microbiology | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Total Hours: | 39-44 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major: Concentration (Forensic Biology) 3 | ||
| BIOL 2441 | Forensic Biology Concepts | 4 |
| BIOL 3470 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 4410 | General Entomology | 4 |
| CHEM 2325 | Organic Chemistry II: Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 3438 | Biochemistry I | 4 |
| FORS 3366 | Forensic Science | 3 |
| FORS 4317 | Applied Statistics for Forensic Science | 3 |
| FORS 4320 | Fundamentals of Forensic Biology | 3 |
| FORS 4380 | Ethics and Professional Practice | 3 |
| Select one from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Human Biology | ||
| General Physiology | ||
| Undergraduate Research Topics in Biology | ||
| Special Topics In Undergraduate Biology | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Medical Microbiology | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Biochemistry II | ||
| Select two from the following: | 6-8 | |
| General Botany | ||
| General Zoology | ||
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Pathophysiology | ||
| Wildlife Biology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Histology | ||
| Plant Morphology | ||
| Field and Experiential Biology | ||
| Philosophy Of Biology | ||
| Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Aquatic Biology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Genetic Analysis of Human Disease | ||
| Paleobiology | ||
| Genomics and Bioinformatics | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Advanced Molecular Biology | ||
| Biological Sciences Internship | ||
| Vertebrate Natural History | ||
| Parasitology | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Physiological Ecology | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Total Hours | 40-43 | |
Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Component Area II1 | 3 | Component Area IV | 3 |
| BIOL 1406 or 1407 | 4 | BIOL 1407 or 1406 | 4 |
| CHEM 14112 | 4 | CHEM 14122 | 4 |
| ENGL 13013 | 3 | ENGL 13023 | 3 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 2440 | 4 | Component Area V | 3 |
| CHEM 2323 & CHEM 2123 | 4 | Component Area IX | 3 |
| HIST 13014 | 3 | BIOL 2110 | 1 |
| MATH 1430, 3379, or STAT 3379 | 3-4 | BIOL 3450 | 4 |
| PHYS 1301 & PHYS 1101 | 4 | HIST 13024 | 3 |
| POLS 23055 | 3 | ||
| 18-19 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Component Area IX | 1 | Component Area VIII | 3 |
| Concentration6 | 9-10 | Concentration6 | 3-6 |
| BIOL 4361 | 3 | BIOL 4110 | 1 |
| POLS 23065 | 3 | BIOL Advanced Electives (3000-4000 level courses) | 3 |
| PHYS 1302 & PHYS 1102 | 4 | ||
| 16-17 | 14-17 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Concentration6 | 14-17 | Concentration6 | 13-17 |
| 14-17 | 13-17 | ||
| Total Hours: 120-132 | |||
- 1
MATH 1420 fulfills the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics) and satisfies the prerequisite requirement for MATH 1430. If MATH 1420 not taken, additional hours may be needed to fulfill degree program requirements.
- 2
CHEM 1411 and CHEM 1412 satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science).
- 3
Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communications).
- 4
Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History).
- 5
Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VII (Political Science/Government).
- 6
See Concentration course listings below.
Notes
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.
A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so additional semester credits hours may be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours.
All minors can be paired with this degree program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major: Concentration (Integrative Biology) 6 | ||
| BIOL 3409 | General Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 3470 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| Select from the following: | 28-29 | |
| General Botany | ||
| General Zoology | ||
| Forensic Biology Concepts | ||
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| Human Biology | ||
| Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| General Physiology | ||
| Pathophysiology | ||
| Wildlife Biology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Histology | ||
| Plant Morphology | ||
| Field and Experiential Biology | ||
| Undergraduate Research Topics in Biology | ||
| Special Topics In Undergraduate Biology | ||
| Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Aquatic Biology | ||
| Genetic Analysis of Human Disease | ||
| Paleobiology | ||
| Genomics and Bioinformatics | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Medical Microbiology | ||
| Biological Sciences Internship | ||
| General Entomology | ||
| Vertebrate Natural History | ||
| Parasitology | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Organic Chemistry II: Lecture | ||
| Total Hours | 36-37 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major: Concentration (Cell and Molecular) 6 | ||
| BIOL 3470 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 4480 | Molecular Genetics | 4 |
| or BIOL 4490 | Cell Biology | |
| CHEM 2125 | Organic Chemistry II: Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 2325 | Organic Chemistry II: Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 3339 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 3438 | Biochemistry I | 4 |
| Select 5 courses from the following (3 must be 4-credit hour courses): | 18-20 | |
| General Physiology | ||
| Pathophysiology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Histology | ||
| Undergraduate Research Topics in Biology | ||
| Special Topics In Undergraduate Biology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Genetic Analysis of Human Disease | ||
| Genomics and Bioinformatics | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Medical Microbiology | ||
| Biological Sciences Internship | ||
| Parasitology | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
or BIOL 4490 | Cell Biology | |
| Endocrinology | ||
| Select two from the following: | 6-8 | |
| General Botany | ||
| General Zoology | ||
| General Ecology | ||
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| Human Biology | ||
| Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Wildlife Biology | ||
| Plant Morphology | ||
| Field and Experiential Biology | ||
| Philosophy Of Biology | ||
| Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Aquatic Biology | ||
| Paleobiology | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| General Entomology | ||
| Vertebrate Natural History | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Total Hours | 43-47 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major: Concentration (Environmental, Evolutionary, and Organismal Biology) 6 | ||
| BIOL 3409 | General Ecology | 4 |
| Select eight from the following (5 must be 4-credit hour courses): | 29 | |
| General Botany | ||
| General Zoology | ||
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| Human Biology | ||
| Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Wildlife Biology | ||
| Plant Morphology | ||
| Field and Experiential Biology | ||
| Undergraduate Research Topics in Biology | ||
| Special Topics In Undergraduate Biology | ||
| Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Aquatic Biology | ||
| Paleobiology | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Biological Sciences Internship | ||
| General Entomology | ||
| Vertebrate Natural History | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Parasitology | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Select two from the following: | 6-8 | |
| General Physiology | ||
| Pathophysiology | ||
| General Microbiology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Histology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Genetic Analysis of Human Disease | ||
| Medical Microbiology | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Total Hours: | 39-44 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major: Concentration (Forensic Biology) 6 | ||
| BIOL 2441 | Forensic Biology Concepts | 4 |
| BIOL 3470 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 4110 | Undergraduate Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 4380 | Medical Microbiology | 3 |
| CHEM 2325 | Organic Chemistry II: Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 3438 | Biochemistry I | 4 |
| FORS 3366 | Forensic Science | 3 |
| FORS 4317 | Applied Statistics for Forensic Science | 3 |
| FORS 4320 | Fundamentals of Forensic Biology | 3 |
| FORS 4380 | Ethics and Professional Practice | 3 |
| Select one from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Human Biology | ||
| General Physiology | ||
| Undergraduate Research Topics in Biology | ||
| Special Topics In Undergraduate Biology | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Biochemistry II | ||
| Select two from the following: | 6-8 | |
| General Botany | ||
| General Zoology | ||
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | ||
| Plant Physiology | ||
| Pathophysiology | ||
| Wildlife Biology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Histology | ||
| Plant Morphology | ||
| Field and Experiential Biology | ||
| Philosophy Of Biology | ||
| Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Aquatic Biology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Genetic Analysis of Human Disease | ||
| Paleobiology | ||
| Genomics and Bioinformatics | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Biological Sciences Internship | ||
| Vertebrate Natural History | ||
| Parasitology | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Total Hours | 40-43 | |
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 BS in Biology is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:
- Master the depth of knowledge required for a degree in the biological sciences.
- Demonstrate critical thinking.
- Communicate effectively.
- Work collaboratively.
