Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology

This is an archived copy of the 2017-2018 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit catalog.shsu.edu.

Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology
Core Curriculum
Component Area I (Communication)6
Component Area II (Mathematics)3
Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) (Courses for Science Majors)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 1411General Chemistry I4
CHEM 1412General Chemistry II4
CHEM 2323
CHEM 2123
Organic Chemistry I: Lecture
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
4
MATH 1420Calculus I4
Select one of the following:3-4
Calculus II
Statistical Mthods In Practice
Statistical Methds In Practice
PHYS 1301
PHYS 1101
General Phy-Mechanics & Heat
and General Physics Laboratory I
4
PHYS 1302
PHYS 1102
Gen Phy-Snd,Lght, Elec, & Mag
and General Physics Laboratory II
4
Major Core
BIOL 1411General Botany4
BIOL 1413General Zoology4
BIOL 2440Introductory Cell Biology4
BIOL 3409General Ecology4
BIOL 3450Introductory Genetics4
BIOL 3470General Microbiology4
BIOL 4110Undergraduate Seminar1
BIOL 4111Undergraduate Seminar1
BIOL 4361Introductory Evolutionary Bio3
Major
BIOL advanced electives (Select five 3000-4000 level courses) 115-20
Minor (required)
Recommended minor is CHEM or MATH 210
Advanced General Electives
Any advanced 3000-4000 level courses from any department needed to meet 120 hour and SHSU advanced hour requirements 39
Total Hours120-126
1

Students who are not Chemistry minors may substitute CHEM 2325 for one of these advanced BIOL electives. 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.

2

Students choosing CHEM as their minor cannot substitute CHEM 2325 for an advanced BIOL elective.

3

Students should use the elective and/or minor hours to meet the 42-advanced hour requirement for graduation.

Note

This total reflects MATH 1420 satisfying Component Area II and one hour of Component Area IX, and BIOL 1411 and BIOL 1413 satisfying Component Area III.

Teacher Certification in the Life Sciences

Biology & Biomedical Sciences Majors

Students may receive teacher certification in the Life Sciences for grades 8-12 by pairing a major in Biology (BS only as outlined above) with a Secondary Teacher Certification from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Students pursuing this degree combination should include BIOL 3492 as one of their advanced biology electives.

For students seeking a Secondary Teacher Certification in the Life Sciences, no grade below C in the science coursework in BIOL is accepted. The required education courses are:

Course Requirements
CISE 3384The Teaching Profession3
CISE 4364Mth Tch Secondary Schools3
CISE 4378Content Literacy3
CISE 4380Respon Of Pro Educator3
CISE 4394Creatng Env For Lrng-Secondary3
CISE 4396Std Tch Secondary Classroom3
CISE 4397Std Tch Secondary Classroom3
Total Hours21
First Year
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
Component Area IV3BIOL 1411 or 141314Component Area V3
BIOL 1411 or 141314CHEM 14124 
CHEM 14114ENGL 130223 
ENGL 130123MATH 142034 
 14 15 3
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
BIOL 24404Component Area IX3General Electives4
CHEM 2323
CHEM 2123
4BIOL 3409, 3450, or 34704 
HIST 130143HIST 130243 
MATH 1430, 3379, or STAT 33793-4POLS 230553 
 14-15 13 4
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
BIOL 3409, 3450, or 34704Component Area VIII3 
PHYS 1301
PHYS 1101
4BIOL 3409, 3450, or 34704 
POLS 230653Biology Elective4 
Minor Course4PHYS 1302
PHYS 1102
4 
 15 15 
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
BIOL 41101BIOL 41111 
BIOL 43613Biology Electives4-8 
Biology Electives8General Electives5 
Minor Course3Minor Course3 
 15 13-17 
Total Hours: 121-126
1

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communications)

2

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Science).

3

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics) and one semester credit hour of Component Area IX (Component Area Option).

4

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History).

5

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VII (Political Science/Government).