Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 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 1411 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 1412 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 2323 & CHEM 2123 | Organic Chemistry I: Lecture and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| MATH 1420 | Calculus I | 4 |
| 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 1411 | General Botany | 4 |
| BIOL 1413 | General Zoology | 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 | ||
| BIOL advanced electives (Select five 3000-4000 level courses) 1 | 15-20 | |
| Minor (required) | ||
| Recommended minor is CHEM or MATH 2 | 10 | |
| Advanced General Electives | ||
| Any advanced 3000-4000 level courses from any department needed to meet 120 hour and SHSU advanced hour requirements 3, 4 | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 120-126 | |
| 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. |
| 4 | Students who are not Chemistry minors should use the Advanced General Electives to satisfy their minor requirements. |
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 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 | Component Area IV | 3 | Component Area V | 3 |
| CHEM 1411 | 4 | BIOL 1411 or 14131 | 4 | ||
| ENGL 13012 | 3 | CHEM 1412 | 4 | ||
| MATH 14203 | 4 | ENGL 13022 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 14 | 3 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| BIOL 2440 | 4 | Component Area IX | 3 | General Electives (advanced) | 4 |
| CHEM 2323 & CHEM 2123 | 4 | BIOL 2110 | 1 | ||
| HIST 13014 | 3 | BIOL 3409, 3450, or 3470 | 4 | ||
| MATH 1430, 3379, or STAT 3379 | 3-4 | HIST 13024 | 3 | ||
| POLS 23055 | 3 | ||||
| 14-15 | 14 | 4 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| BIOL 3409, 3450, or 3470 | 4 | Component Area VIII | 3 | ||
| PHYS 1301 & PHYS 1101 | 4 | BIOL 3409, 3450, or 3470 | 4 | ||
| POLS 23065 | 3 | Biology Elective (advanced) | 4 | ||
| Minor Course | 4 | PHYS 1302 & PHYS 1102 | 4 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| BIOL 4110 | 1 | Biology Electives (advanced) | 3-8 | ||
| BIOL 4361 | 3 | General Electives (advanced) | 5 | ||
| Biology Electives (advanced) | 8 | Minor Course (advanced) | 3 | ||
| Minor Course (advanced) | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 11-16 | ||||
| Total Hours: 120-126 | |||||
| 1 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Science). |
| 2 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communications) |
| 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). |
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.
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.
