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Biology, BS

The department of Biology offers the Biology BS with an emphasis on the following:

·       Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (EEEB)

·       Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biotechnology (MCB)

 The requirements for each emphasis area are outlined below.

 Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (EEEB) Emphasis

Requirements

The program of study requires a minimum of 51 hours, on a 120-hour degree, consisting of:

Minimum of 36 hours of biology

A. Required courses (12 hours):

course

The Unity of Life: Molecules to Cells

3

course

The Diversity of Life: Organisms to Ecosystems

3

course

Introduction to Biological Investigation

3

course

Ecology and the Environment

3

course

Senior Assessment

0

course cannot be transferred to TCU from elsewhere; course, course, and course cannot be taken elsewhere and transferred to TCU after matriculation.

B. A minimum of 24 upper-division hours in biology as selected from the areas below, two of which must have laboratories and one of which must be a literature-intensive course:

a. 1 hour of:

course

Current Research in Biology Seminar

1

b. Minimum of 15 hours in EEEB coursework selected from:

course

Invertebrate Biology

4

course

Microbiology

4

course

Introduction to Marine Science

4

course

Human Parasitology

3

course

Natural History

3

course

Genetics

3

course

Conservation Genetics

3

course

Avian Biology

3

course

Developmental Biology

4

course

Mammalogy

3

course

Genomics

3

course

Wildlife Ecology and Management

3

course

Principles of Toxicology

3

course

Vertebrate Endocrinology

3

course

Biostatistics

3

course

Evolution

3

course

Advanced Biology

4

c. Additional advanced (upper-division) hours in biology as needed, with restrictions as noted:

A maximum of 6 hours in research courses is permitted within the 24 upper-division hours:

course

Introduction to Independent Research in Biology

1-3

course

Advanced Independent Research in Biology

1-3

course

Biological Research and Writing

3

course

Senior Honors Research in Biology

3

A maximum of 6 hours in teaching of biology courses is permitted within the 24 upper-division hours:

course

Teaching of Introductory-Level Biology

1-4

course

Teaching of Advanced Biology

1-4

C. Associated requirements (15-16 hours):

a. 8-9 hours general chemistry

course

General Chemistry I

3

course

General Chemistry II

3

course

General Chemistry II Laboratory

2

OR

course

Quantitative Analysis

3

Note: CHEM 10213 and 10225 do NOT count towards the Biology BS degree associated requirements.

 

b. 4 hours organic chemistry or physics 

course

Organic Chemistry I

3

AND

course

Organic Chemistry I Laboratory

1

OR

course

General Physics I with Laboratory

4

Note: Many graduate and professional programs may also require Organic Chemistry II with Laboratory and/or General Physics II with Laboratory

c. 3 hours statistics

course

Elementary Statistics

3

Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biotechnology (MCB) Emphasis

Requirements for the BS portion of the BS/MS degree

The program of study requires a minimum of 51 hours, on a 120-hour degree, consisting of:

Minimum of 36 hours of Biology

A. Required courses (12 hours):

course

The Unity of Life: Molecules to Cells

3

course

The Diversity of Life: Organisms to Ecosystems

3

course

Introduction to Biological Investigation

3

course

Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology

3

course

Senior Assessment

0

BIOL10503 cannot be transferred to TCU from elsewhere; BIOL10513, BIOL10523, and BIOL30603 cannot be taken elsewhere and transferred to TCU after matriculation.

 B. A minimum of 24 upper-division hours in biology as selected from the areas below, two of which must have laboratories and one of which must be a literature-intensive course:

 a. 1 hour selected from:

course

Topics in Medicine

0.5

course

Current Research in Biology Seminar

1

b. Minimum of 15 hours in MCB coursework selected from:

course

Microbiology

4

course

Human Anatomy

4

course

Introductory Neuroscience

3

course

Human Parasitology

3

course

Genetics

4

course

Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory Techniques

1

course

Molecular Basis of Human Disease

3

course

Examining Eugenics, Race, and Modern Biology

3

course

Histology

3

course

Developmental Biology

4

course

Immunology

4

course

Genomics

3

course

Human Physiology

3

course

Principles of Toxicology

3

course

Vertebrate Endocrinology

3

course

Fundamentals of Biochemistry

3

course

Structural Biology of Drug Design

3

course

Virology

3

course

Global Perspectives in Health

3

course

Biostatistics

3

course

Biochemistry I

3

course

Biochemistry II

3

course

Functional Neuroanatomy

3

course

Biochemistry Laboratory

2

A maximum of 4 hours and one laboratory will be granted within the 15 hours of MCB coursework  for completion of both Anatomy and Physiology courses:

course

Anatomy & Physiology I

4

course

Anatomy & Physiology II

4

c. Additional advanced (upper-division) hours in biology as needed, with restrictions as noted:

 

A maximum of 6 hours in research courses is permitted within the 24 upper-division hours:

course

Introduction to Independent Research in Biology

1-3

course

Advanced Independent Research in Biology

1-3

course

Biological Research and Writing

3

course

Senior Honors Research in Biology

3

A maximum of 6 hours in teaching of biology courses is permitted within the 24 upper-division hours:

course

Teaching of Introductory-Level Biology

1-4

course

Teaching of Advanced Biology

1-4

C. Associated requirements (15-16 hours):

a. 8-9 hours general chemistry

course

General Chemistry I

3

course

General Chemistry II

3

course

General Chemistry II Laboratory

2

OR

course

Quantitative Analysis

3

Note: CHEM 10213 and 10225 do NOT count towards the Biology BS degree associated requirements.

b. 4 hours organic chemistry or physics

course

Organic Chemistry I

3

AND

course

Organic Chemistry I Laboratory

1

OR

course

General Physics I with Laboratory

4

Note: Many graduate and professional programs may also require Organic Chemistry II with Laboratory and/or General Physics II with Laboratory

c. 3 hours statistics

course

Elementary Statistics

3