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) | 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 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Biostatistics | ||
| Statistical Mthods in Practice | ||
| Statistical Methds in Practice | ||
| CHEM 1411 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 1412 | General Chemistry II | 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 2 | 3 |
| WOLC 2312 | Intermed Foreign Language II (same field) 2 | 3 |
| Major Core | ||
| BIOL 1411 | General Botany 3 | 4 |
| BIOL 1413 | General Zoology 3 | 4 |
| BIOL 2110 | Being a Professional Biologist | 1 |
| BIOL 2440 | Introductory Cell Biology | 4 |
| 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 four 3000-4000 level courses) 4 | 14 | |
| 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 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
| 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 I V (Language, Philosophy, and Culture). |
| 3 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) and the major. |
| 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. |
Teacher Certification in the Life Sciences
Biology 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:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course Requirements | ||
| CISE 3384 | The Teaching Profession | 3 |
| CISE 4364 | Mth Tch Secondary Schools | 3 |
| CISE 4378 | Content Literacy | 3 |
| CISE 4380 | Respon Of Pro Educator | 3 |
| CISE 4394 | Creatng Env For Lrng-Secondary | 3 |
| CISE 4396 | Std Tch Secondary Classroom | 3 |
| CISE 4397 | Std Tch Secondary Classroom | 3 |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| BIOL 1411 or 14131 | 4 | BIOL 1413 or 14111 | 4 | Component Area V | 3 |
| ENGL 13012 | 3 | ENGL 13022 | 3 | ||
| CHEM 1411 | 4 | CHEM 1412 | 4 | ||
| WOLC 1411 | 4 | WOLC 1412 | 4 | ||
| 15 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| BIOL 2440 | 4 | BIOL 2110 | 1 | General Elective (Advanced) | 3 |
| 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 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| BIOL 3409, 3450, or 3470 | 4 | Component Area VIII | 3 | General Elective (Advanced) | 3 |
| BIOL 4374, MATH 3379, or STAT 3379 | 3 | BIOL 3409, 3450, or 3470 | 4 | ||
| Minor Course | 3 | Biology Elective (Advanced)8 | 3 | ||
| POLS 23066 | 3 | Minor Course | 3 | ||
| 13 | 13 | 3 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| BIOL 4110 | 1 | Biology Electives (Advanced)8 | 8 | ||
| BIOL 4361 | 3 | Minor Courses (Advanced) | 6 | ||
| Biology Elective (Advanced)8 | 3 | ||||
| Minor Courses | 6 | ||||
| 13 | 14 | ||||
| Total Hours: 120 | |||||
| 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.
