Requirements for the major

I. A minimum of 32 credit hours of biology distributed as follows:

A. Area A: BIOL-1311, BIOL-1111, BIOL-2312, BIOL-2112, BIOL-3313, and BIOL-3113

B. Area B: Courses listed as Area C Biology offerings (such as Independent Study, Internships, Senior Seminar and Conservation Biology) in the Courses of Study Bulletin may not substitute for the courses listed immediately below. Students complete one of the following concentrations. 

  1. Ecology and Evolution. BIOL-3301 and three courses from the following list: BIOL-3420, BIOL-3426, BIOL-3427, BIOL-3434, BIOL-3435, BIOL-3436 or BIOL-3440.
  2. Cellular and Molecular Biology. BIOL-3302 and three courses from the following list: BIOL-3436BIOL-3450, BIOL-3457, BIOL-3458, BIOL-3459, BIOL-3462, BIOL-3463, BIOL-3464, BIOL-3466, or BIOL-3474
  3. Integrative Biology. BIOL-3301 or BIOL-3302 and three additional courses selected in consultation with the student's advisor from the lists in 1 or 2. 

C.  3 additional hours in biology at the 2000 level or higher. 

D. BIOL-4201 or BIOL-4399 

 

II. All the following courses:

A. CHEM-1112, CHEM-1311, CHEM-1312, CHEM-2319 and CHEM-2119; MATH-1311 and MATH-1320 or PSYC-2401.

 

III. One of the following options:

A. CHEM-2320 and CHEM-2120 and one of the following: CHEM-3330, CHEM-3334, or ENGR-2311

B. PHYS-1309, PHYS-1111, PHYS-1310, and PHYS-1112.

C. CSCI-1320, MATH-1312 or MATH-2308, and an upper division MATH or CSCI course approved by the student’s advisor.

D. GEOS-2400 and one course from GEOS-2402GEOS-3402, GEOS-3310.
 

IV. University requirements

Completion of all other required elements of the Pathways curriculum and at least 120 credit hours. 


Teacher Certification in Biology

Students majoring in biology can receive certification to teach biology in grades 4-8 and grades 8-12. In order to receive certification, students major in biology, complete 11-14 undergraduate hours of education coursework, and complete the Master of Arts in Teaching graduate program at Trinity. After this course of study, students would have a B.S. in Biology, a master’s in teaching, and teacher certification in Texas. For more information and specific requirements, see the Education Department’s program description in the course catalogue.

Guidelines for Acceptance of Majors


Full acceptance in the major is granted if the following requirements are met at the time of application:

  1. Completion of BIOL-1311, BIOL-1111, BIOL-2312, and BIOL-2112 with grades of C- or better in each class.
  2. Completion of CHEM-1311, CHEM-1312, and CHEM-1112 with grades of C- or better in each class.
  3. An overall grade point average of at least 2.0.

Students who do not meet the above criteria may be granted provisional acceptance if it is judged that there is a reasonable expectation they can complete the degree program.

A student may not earn a major in Biology and another major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology or in Neuroscience.

Honors in Biology 


Biology majors are eligible to enroll in the Honors Program if they satisfy the University requirements that are described elsewhere in this bulletin. During their junior year, honors candidates should identify a faculty mentor and meet with the Department Chair. Completion of the Honors Program includes six hours of research courses (BIOL-4398 and BIOL-4399). Honors candidates must submit to the Department Chair a written proposal to graduate with Honors in Biology prior to starting BIOL-4398. The decision to confer or not to confer honors will be made by the departmental faculty and will be based on the quality of the written thesis and the oral presentation of that thesis.

Contact Us


 Department Website


  James (Jim) Shinkle, Ph.D. (Chair — Summer and Fall '23)

  Frank Healy, Ph.D. (Chair — Spring '24)


 

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