Biological Sciences
Undergraduate Degrees:
–
Fast Track Programs:
Graduate Certificate Programs:
Graduate Certificate in Biology
Graduate Programs:
MS Biology
PhD Pathobiology
PhD Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
BA in Biology:
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Biological Sciences is designed to provide a flexible degree option for students who wish to combine their interests in the biological sciences with those in other specialty areas such as the arts, the liberal arts, business, or biomedical engineering. This degree is appropriate for students on the pre-medical track, as well as multiple other career tracks.
Compared to the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biological Sciences, the BA has both a language and a Minor-track coursework requirement, both completed in programs outside of the College of Science. The degree also has fewer specific courses required for the major. Students in the BA program may thus avail themselves of additional major coursework or choose to pursue additional interdisciplinary instruction outside of the biological sciences.
BS Biology:
Most entering full-time students who have declared an intent to major in Biological Sciences, and who are taking a balanced course load of science/math and general education courses, will find a great deal of congruency within the degree paths for the different concentrations. By the middle of the second year of study, however, the specific requirements for the concentration in Biomedicine (and the B.S. degree in Microbiology and in Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry) versus the Ecology/Evolution and Secondary Education concentrations diverge rapidly.
Biomedical Science Concentration:
Students preparing for careers in the health sciences or for postgraduate study in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, or advanced degrees in physiology, neurobiology, cell or molecular biology should (in consultation with their Advisor) consider the Biomedical Science option. That consultation should include a discussion of the alternatives provided by other departmental degrees (Microbiology, Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry) in the context of the student's post-baccalaureate plans.
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Concentration:
Students preparing for careers and/or advanced degrees in such fields as ecology, evolutionary biology, systematics, zoology, plant science, conservation biology, or wildlife management should select the Ecology/Evolutionary Biology option. The 24 semester hours allocated to Field of Study requirements provide an opportunity for the student to enhance their lower and upper division coursework opportunities across a large span of biological disciplines.
Secondary Education Concentration with 7-12 Life Science Certification and 7-12 Science Certification:
The two Secondary Education Concentrations are for —Biological Sciences majors wishing to achieve secondary education certification as they complete the BS degree. These options require a minor in Secondary Education that follows certification tracks for either Science or Life Science for grades 8-12. The major and minor requirements for these tracks are the same, but the additional science requirements are different for the Science versus Life Science certification. Adequate scores on state-administered examinations after completion of all coursework are also required for teacher certification.
BS Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry:
Students in this program will interact closely with faculty members from the Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, and will enjoy a training oriented toward the development of problem solving skills and critical thinking, tightly intertwined with the development of practical laboratory skills. Students graduating from this program will have a thorough education in basic biology and chemistry, and an in depth knowledge of molecular biology, cellular biology, and cellular and molecular biochemistry. At the practical level, students graduating from this program will have extensive knowledge of basic laboratory techniques, including preparation of reagents, solutions, and media for bacterial, cellular, and biochemical analyses, and will be competent in the most-extensively used techniques in the cellular, molecular, and biochemical laboratory environments, including protein and DNA purification and analysis methods, tissue culture, and recombinant DNA technologies. A degree in Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry will provide a sound preparation for graduate studies in biochemistry, molecular biology, cellular biology, cancer, infectious diseases, medicine, and other health-related fields, and provide the student with the technical and intellectual skills to pursue employment in areas related to biotechnology and biomedical research in the academic, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries.
BS Microbiology:
The BS in Microbiology is a specialized implementation of the Biomedical Science Concentration within the Department of Biological Sciences that is modeled on the degree recommendations of the American Society of Microbiology. The Microbiology curriculum stresses the sciences of chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics essential to the study of microbiology providing a strong foundation for medical and graduate school biomedical studies in infectious disease and immunology, and for advanced studies in environmental and industrial microbiology. The stringency of the program and the extensive laboratory training also prepares graduates for entry level positions in medical and industrial microbiology.
and has sufficient flexibility to allow preparation for graduate study or for employment in microbiological and allied fields.
Fast Track from Biology to MS in Biology:
This program allows students who are within 30 hours of graduating and have a GPA of at least 3.3 to complete 9 hours of graduate courses and have them count toward their undergraduate degree and toward their master’s degree if they plan to pursue a master’s degree.
Fast Track from Biology (Biomedical Science Concentration) to MBA:
The College of Science and the College of Business Administration are partnering to offer a joint degree program for undergraduate students pursuing a BS in Biological Sciences – Biomedical Science Concentration who are also interested in pursuing a Master of Business Administration Degree. BS in Biological Sciences – Biomedical Science Concentration students are required to have a 3.3 cumulative GPA and 90 credit hours toward their major in order to apply for admission to the UTEP MBA program. Once admitted to the MBA MBA, BS/MBA fast-track students will be allowed to take 12 credit hours of MBA core coursework which will count dually toward the BS elective requirements and the MBA core requirements.
Fast Track from Biology to PSM in Bioinformatics:
Students within 30 hours of graduating with BS in Biology with at least 3.3 cumulative GPA are allowed to complete up to 15 hours of graduate courses and have them count toward their undergraduate degree and toward their Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree in Bioinformatics. As part of the national effort in developing PSM degrees to train science professionals, this fast-track program is designed specifically for individuals with strong biological backgrounds to acquire bioinformatics techniques and develop professional skills with communication training. Bioinformaticians will be able to function as professionals in many different private, academic, and government sectors, with careers requiring skills for biomedical informatics and genomic data analyses related to agricultural and human health issues.
Fast Track from Biology (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Concentration) to MBA:
The College of Science and the College of Business Administration are partnering to offer a joint degree program for undergraduate students pursuing a BS in Biological Sciences – Biomedical Science Concentration who are also interested in pursuing a Master of Business Administration Degree. BS in Biological Sciences – Biomedical Science Concentration students are required to have a 3.3 cumulative GPA and 90 credit hours toward their major in order to apply for admission to the UTEP MBA program. Once admitted to the MBA MBA, BS/MBA fast-track students will be allowed to take 12 credit hours of MBA core coursework which will count dually toward the BS elective requirements and the MBA core requirements.
Fast Track from Microbiology to MBA:
The College of Science and the College of Business Administration are partnering to offer a joint degree program for undergraduate students pursuing a BS in Biological Sciences – Biomedical Science Concentration who are also interested in pursuing a Master of Business Administration Degree. BS in Biological Sciences – Biomedical Science Concentration students are required to have a 3.3 cumulative GPA and 90 credit hours toward their major in order to apply for admission to the UTEP MBA program. Once admitted to the MBA MBA, BS/MBA fast-track students will be allowed to take 12 credit hours of MBA core coursework which will count dually toward the BS elective requirements and the MBA core requirements.
Graduate Certificate in Biological Sciences:
The aim of the Graduate Certificate Program in Biological Sciences is to provide students with training in advanced concepts in Biological Sciences at the graduate level. This certificate will accommodate students interested in further training in Biological Sciences but not wanting to pursue a thesis-based graduate program. It is appropriate for students who have completed upper-division coursework in Biological Sciences or Biology-related fields, for example Animal Behavior, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Ecology, Environmental Studies, Forensic Science, Human Genetics, Genetic Counseling, Health Education, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Marine Biology, Neuroscience, Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Secondary STEM Education, Wildlife Science, and Zoology. This Program may be particularly appealing to graduates planning to pursue careers in secondary education or in health-related fields.
MS in Biology
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PhD in Pathobiology
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PhD in Ecology and Environmental Biology
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