COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | |||
|
|
Biological Sciences
226 Biological Sciences, Engineering/Science Complex Phone: (915) 747-5844 E-mail: biology@utep.edu
CHAIRPERSON: Eppie D. Rael
Baccalaureate Degrees The Department of Biological Sciences offers both a BA degree and a BS degree in Biological Sciences and the BS in Microbiology. The BS in Biological Sciences degree includes the opportunity to obtain a concentration in Secondary Teacher Certification. BS in Biological Sciences The requirement to obtain the BS in Biological Sciences consists of the general College of Science requirements plus the following specific requirements: Major (a minimum of 40 semester hours including 21 semester hours of upper-division course work): BIOL 1305- BIOL 1107, BIOL 1306- BIOL 1108, BIOL 4192; and one of these options: a) MICR 2440, BIOL 3414, ZOOL 4181, and ZOOL 4380 or BIOL 4388, plus a minimum of 19 semester hours (12 or more upper-division) of elective courses in Biological Sciences. This option is suggested for students following the Biomedical concentration (described below). b) BIOL 3416, BIOL 3320, BIOL 3321, plus a minimum of 21 semester hours (10 or more upper-division) of elective courses in Biological Sciences. This option is suggested for students seeking a generalized education in biology, and for those following the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology concentration (described below). Biomedical Concentration -- Students preparing for careers in the health sciences, or for postgraduate study in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, or advanced degrees in cell or molecular biology should select the Biomedical concentration. A minor in chemistry is highly recommended. BIOL 3320 is strongly recommended as one of the upper-division electives for this track. Ecology/Evolutionary Biology Concentration -- Students preparing for careers and/or advanced degrees in such fields as ecology, evolutionary biology, systematics, zoology, plant sciences, bioarcheology, paleontology, or wildlife and fisheries should select the ecology/evolutionary biology concentration. In addition to the required courses listed above for this track, at least two of the following are strongly recommended: BOT 2410, MICR 2440, ZOOL 2406, ZOOL 2466. Minor: Acceptable minors are anthropology, chemistry, computer science, geological sciences, mathematics, physics, psychology, and secondary education. Additional Science: CHEM 1305- CHEM 1105, CHEM 1306- CHEM 1106 are required. If chemistry is the minor, the additional science requirement may be met by GEOL 1301- GEOL 1101 (or GEOL 1303), GEOL 1302- GEOL 1102 (or GEOL 1304); or PHYS 1403- PHYS 1404; or PHYS 1120, PHYS 2410, and PHYS 2411. Secondary Education Concentration --This concentration requires the following: Major (a minimum of 40 semester hours including 21 semester hours of upper-division course work): The same major as above in either concentration. It is recommended that upper-division courses be selected from BIOL 4225, 3320, 3321, 4370, 3414, 3416, 3427, BOT 3332, BOT 3341, BOT 3437, ZOOL 4476 or ZOOL 4478. Minor: This concentration requires a minor in secondary education if the Ecology/Evolutionary Biology concentration is selected, and double minor in both Secondary Education and Chemistry if the Biomedical concentration is selected. Additional Science: CHEM 1305- CHEM 1105, CHEM 1306- CHEM 1106 are required. Secondary certification requires a minimum of 12 semester hours of a directly supporting field. If chemistry is selected as this field, an additional 4 semester hours of chemistry are required and the College of Science additional science requirement may be fulfilled by GEOL 1301- GEOL 1101 (or GEOL 1303), GEOL 1302- GEOL 1102 (or GEOL 1304); or PHYS 1403- PHYS 1404; or PHYS 1120, PHYS 2410, and PHYS 2411. If chemistry is offered as the additional science, a minimum of 12 semester hours of geology, mathematics, physics, or psychology are required for the directly supporting field. BS in Microbiology The requirement to obtain the BS in Microbiology consists of the general College of Science requirements plus the following specific requirements: Major (a minimum of 42 semester hours including 30 semester hours of upper-division course work): BIOL 1305- BIOL 1107; BIOL 1306- BIOL 1108; BIOL 3414; MICR 2440; MICR 3443; MICR 3445; MICR 3449; MICR 4453; BIOL 4192; at least nine semester hours to be selected from BIOL 3330, BIOL 3318 and BIOL 3119, BIOL 4322, MICR 3328- MICR 3128, MICR 4351 and MICR 4152, MICR 4355, ZOOL 4380- ZOOL 4181, ZOOL 4384, and ZOOL 3464. Minor (19 semester hours of Chemistry course work including 11 semester hours of upper-division course work): CHEM 1305- CHEM 1105, CHEM 1306- CHEM 1106, CHEM 3324- CHEM 3124, CHEM 3325- CHEM 3125, and CHEM 4330 or CHEM 4332 are required. Under exceptional circumstances, other acceptable minors are (18 semester hours, including at least 6 semester hours of upper-division course work) in Computer Science, Geological Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. Additional Science: The additional science is restricted to PHYS 1403- PHYS 1404 (or PHYS 1120, PHYS 2410, and PHYS 2411). Other: BIOL 4390 and BIOL 4398 are highly recommended. BA in Biological Sciences See the College of Liberal Arts section of this catalog for the general requirements for the BA degree. The major requirements are the same as for the BS in Biological Science. The minor requirements follow the requirements of the College of Liberal Arts. Minor in Biology A minor in biology requires BIOL 1305- BIOL 1107, BIOL 1306- BIOL 1108, and an additional minimum of 10 semester hours, including at least 6 (9 for a BA degree) upper-division hours of organized courses in the Department of Biological Sciences. Advising/Placement Biological Sciences and Microbiology majors are required to consult with and have their enrollment approved by a departmental advisor. An entering freshman with at least one year of high school biology may take an advanced placement examination given by the University Counseling Service covering BIOL 1303, BIOL 1305, BIOL 1103, and BIOL 1107. It is recommended that students taking the placement examination have an SAT combined score of at least 1000. Departmental Honors in Biological Sciences Any UTEP student having a strong background in Biological Sciences or Microbiology, at least 90 hours of undergraduate credit, and a GPA of at least 3.3 either in Biological Sciences or Microbiology, as well as an overall GPA of at least 3.3, may apply for admission to the program. The Departmental Honors Committee retains the right to accept or not accept a qualified student, taking into consideration the number of applicants, the number of available faculty, and the competence of the individual student. The main requirements for Departmental Honors in Biological Sciences or Microbiology will be the satisfactory completion of an Honors Thesis based upon research in Biological Sciences or Microbiology, maintenance of an overall 3.3 GPA or better until graduation, and the presentation of a seminar on the thesis topic. The student will register for 2 semesters of BIOL 4398, and the research will be carried out under the direction of a member of the faculty in Biological Sciences. The satisfactory completion of the Honors Thesis will be judged by the thesis-research director and the Departmental Honors Committee. Departmental Honors may be awarded with or without other currently awarded honors. Preprofessional Advice Information about entrance requirements to professional schools may be obtained from the Preprofessional Advisor in the Office of the Dean of Science. Students should seek this advice by the time they have completed 60 hours of credit toward a degree. A degree in the Department of Biological Sciences provides excellent preparation for postgraduate study in a number of professions related to biology. While a degree in the Biological Sciences is not required for admission to professional schools and postgraduate programs, the following academic backgrounds are strongly recommended:
Biology (BIOL) 1103 Introductory Biology Methods (0-2)
1104 Human Biology Laboratory (0-2)
1107 Topics in the Study of Life (0-2)
1108 Organismal Biology (0-2)
1110 Field Biology for Teachers (0-0-1)
1303 Introductory Biology (3-0)
1304 Human Biology (3-0)
1305 General Biology (3-0)
1306 Organismal Biology (3-0)
2111 Human Anatomy/Physiology Lab I (0-2)
2113 Human Anatomy/Physiology Lab II (0-2)
2117 Methods of Population Biology (0-3)
2311 Human Anatomy/Physiology I (3-0)
2313 Human Anatomy/Physiology II (3-0)
2316 Population Ecology (3-0)
General Prerequisite: All required lower-division courses in the major should be completed with a "C" or better in order to enroll in upper-division courses in the major. Some upper-division courses may be applied toward graduate degrees; consult the Graduate Studies Catalog for the listing of these courses. 3119 Experimental Embryology (0-3)
3120 Virtual Genetics (0-3)
3318 Developmental Biology (3-0)
3320 Genetics (3-0)
3321 Evolutionary Theory (3-0)
3326 Animal Ecology (3-0)
3330 Histology (2-2)
3341 Plants in Southwest Cultures (3-0)
3414 Molecular Cell Biology (3-3)
3416 Ecology (3-3)
3427 Desert Ecology (3-3)
4192 Senior Seminar (1-0)
4195 Advanced Methods in Biology (0-3)
4198 Special Problems (0-0-2) 4298 Special Problems (0-0-4) 4398 Special Problems (0-0-6)
4223 Transmission Electron Microscopy (0-4)
4225 Field Biology (0-6) 4325 Field Biology (0-9)
4317 Plant Ecology (3-0)
4322 Biological Ultrastructure Interpretation (3-0)
4324 Animal Behavior (3-0)
4326 Bioarchaeology (2-3)
4370 History and Philosophy of Biology (3-0)
4388 Mammalian Physiology (3-0)
4390 Biological Practicum (0-0-6)
4395 Topics in Biology (3-0)
Botany (BOT) 2410 General Botany (3-3) (Common Course Number
BIOL 1411)
General Prerequisite: All required lower-division courses in the major should be completed with a "C" or better in order to enroll in upper-division courses in the major. Some upper-division courses may be applied toward graduate degrees; consult the Graduate Studies Catalog for the listing of these courses. 3330 Comparative Plant Morphology (3-0)
3332 Economic Botany (3-0)
3340 Plant Physiology (3-0)
3437 Plant Taxonomy (2-4)
Microbiology (MICR) 2330 Microorganisms and Disease (3-0)
2440 General Microbiology (3-3)
General Prerequisite: All required lower-division courses in the major should be completed with a "C" or better in order to enroll in upper-division courses in the major. Some upper-division courses may be applied toward graduate degrees; consult the Graduate Studies Catalog for the listing of these courses. 3128 Microbial Ecosystems Techniques (0-3)
3328 Microorganisms in Ecosystems (3-0)
3443 Pathogenic Microbiology (3-3)
3445 Microbial Physiology (3-3)
3449 Prokaryotic Molecular Genetics (3-3)
4152 General Virology Techniques (0-3)
4351 General Virology (3-0)
4355 Medical Mycology (3-0)
4453 Immunology (3-3)
Zoology (ZOOL) 2406 Vertebrate Zoology (3-3)
2466 Invertebrate Zoology (3-3)
3464 Medical Parasitology (3-3)
3468 Entomology (3-3)
4155 Vertebrate Paleontology Techniques (0-3)
4157 Advanced Vertebrate Paleontology Techniques (0-3)
4181 Vertebrate Physiology Methods (0-3)
4354 Paleozoic and Mesozoic Vertebrate Paleontology (3-0)
4356 Cenozoic Vertebrate Paleontology (3-0)
4380 Vertebrate Physiology (3-0) Vertebrate systemic functions emphasizing nerve action and movement, endocrinology and metabolic controls, osmoregulation, cardio-physiology, and respiration. Prerequisites: CHEM 1306- CHEM 1106- , ZOOL 4181, and (1) BIOL 3414, (2) ZOOL 2406, or (3) BIOL 1306-1108. ZOOL 4181 may be taken concurrently with ZOOL 4380. 4384 Neurobiology (3-0)
4476 Fish, Amphibians, and Reptiles (3-3)
4478 Birds and Mammals (3-3)
See the Graduate Studies Catalog for graduate programs and courses.
|
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
The University of Texas at El Paso Developed by the UTEP Web Development Team Revised: February 26, 2001 |