Departmental Mission Statement
Tenure and Promotion Expectations
Department of Biology
Course Offerings
Undergraduate Courses
| Course Number |
Course Name and description |
|
| 1101 | Supplemental Laboratory | 1:1:0 |
| This course allows a transfer student to make up one laboratory deficiency at the introductory level. | ||
| Departmental approval is required to enroll. | ||
| 1102 | Medical Terminology | 1:1:0 |
| An entry level class which provides the basic vocabulary needed to function in the medical environment. Course content stresses prefix and suffix usage derived from Greek and Latin as applied to Biology. This course is not a substitute for Biological Literature. | ||
| 1408 | Introductory Biology | 4:3:2 |
| A human-centered, nonchemically based course for non-science majors. Includes function and problems of the human circulation, respiration, digestion, reproductive and sensory systems. | ||
| 1409 | Introductory Biology | 4:3:2 |
| A companion course to Biology 1408, which is not a pre-requisite. Includes human heredity and a consideration of the diversity and impact of the plant kingdom on human life and history as food and medicine as well as their aesthetic value. | ||
| 1406 | General Biology | 4:3:2 |
| A survey of molecules, cells, tissues, photosynthesis, genetics. and the diversity of organisms. | ||
| 1407 | General Biology | 4:3:2 |
| Vertebrate structure and function, development, reproduction, and ecology. | ||
| Pre-requisite: Biol 1406 | ||
| 2401 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4:3:2 |
| Structure and function of cells, tissues, and muscle, skeletal and nervous systems. | ||
| Pre-requisite: Passing scores on all sections of TAKS test or be TAKS exempt. May not be used as a Biology major course. | ||
| 2402 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4:3:2 |
| Structure and function of the circulatory, digestive, excretory and reproductive systems. | ||
| Pre-requisites: Biol 2401. May not be used as a Biology major course. | ||
| 2420 | Microbiology | 4:3:2 |
| Micro-organisms with emphasis on those of medical significance and problems of personal and community health. | ||
| Pre-requisite: Credit for Biol 1406, 1407 or Biol 2401, 2402. | ||
| 3420 | Developmental Biology | 4:3:3 |
| Comparative study of meiosis, fertilization, cleavage and early embryology as it relates to development of vertebrates. | ||
| Pre-requisites: Biol 1406, 1407 | ||
| 3428 | Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates | 4:3:3 |
| Comparative anatomy presented from the systematic viewpoint. | ||
| Pre-requisites: Biol 1406, 1407 | ||
| 3440 | Advanced Physiology | 4:3:3 |
| General physiology; nerve muscle relations; digestive, circulatory, respiratory, excretory, nervous and endocrine systems. (Offered Fall semester) | ||
| Pre-requisites: Biol 1406, 1407 and Chem 1411, 1412. (Recommended Chem 3411, 3412) | ||
| 3450 | General Botany | 4:3:3 |
| Introduction to plant structure and function with an emphasis on seed plants. | ||
| Pre-requisites: Biol 1406, 1407 | ||
| 3460 | Invertebrate Zoology | 4:3:3 |
| Classification, natural history, phylogenetic relationships and economic importance of the invertebrate phyla. (Offered Fall semester) | ||
| Pre-requisites: Biol 1406, 1407 | ||
| 3470 | Genetics | 4:3:3 |
| General principles of heredity, including human inheritance. | ||
| Pre-requisites: Biol 1406, 1407 (Recommended: Statistics) | ||
| 4101, 4401 | Special Topics in Biology | 1-4:A:0 |
| Physiological, anatomical, taxonomic and ecological biology. Library and/or laboratory work and conferences with a faculty member. May be repeated for credit when area of study differs. | ||
|
Ornithology Biology, natural history, and ecology of birds. Covers systematics, flight, migration, mating systems, communication, reproduction, general ecology, general anatomy and physiology of birds. Lab emphasis is on identification, focused primarily on the bird fauna of Texas using study skins in lab and field observation including mist-netting and banding birds. Field trips required. |
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| Herpetology | ||
| Ichthyology Mammalogy Desert Field Mammalogy Entomology Medical Entomology Aquatic Entomology |
||
| Field Parasitology It consists mostly of field and laboratory work. Parasitic organisms infect nearly all species of animal. We use a variety of techniques to collect several host species and inspect them for parasites. We also cover lab techniques for preserving and identifying the parasites. Lecture material covers introductions to the main parasitic groups and basic parasite ecology. Prerequisites: Biol 1406, 1407
|
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| Field Botany Sight recognition and use of dichotomous keys in identifying seed plants. Evolution of reproductive features with emphasis on pollination mechanisms in flowering plants. Vegetation assemblages of southeast Texas and environmental and historical influences that affect plant associations. Medicinal, edible, and poisonous characteristics of plants. Prerequisites BIOL 1406, 1407
|
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| Marine Invertebrate Zoology A survey of the major invertebrate phyla occurring in marine and estuarine environments. Minor phyla will be discussed as time allows and they are collected. Course includes a week long field trip along the southern coast of Texas collecting and identifying specimens from various habitats. Prerequisites: Biol 1406, 1407. |
||
| 4160 | Classical Biological Literature | 1:1:0 |
| A survey of major written works in biology. | ||
| Pre-requite: A senior standing in biology. | ||
| 4170 | Current Biological Literature | 1:1:0 |
| A survey of modern biological works published in recent journals. | ||
| Pre-requite: A senior standing in biology. | ||
| 4300 | Undergraduate Problems | 3:0:6 |
| Individual investigation of a research problem in biology. Formal report to be approved by faculty members. | ||
| Pre-requisite: Prior approval of faculty member, upperclass standing in biology. | ||
| 4305 | Systematic and Evolutionary Biology | 3:3:0 |
| A survey of the evolutionary mechanisms
from molecular to population levels. Consideration of speciation,
adaptation and historical geology.
|
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| 4405 | Immunology | 4:3:3 |
| Organs, tissues, cells and molecules of the immune response and their interactions. | ||
| Pre-requisite: Biol 2420 | ||
| 4410 | Parasitology | 4:3:3 |
| A study of the morphology, life history and host-parasite relationships of man and other animals. (Offered Fall semester) | ||
| Pre-requisites: Biol 1406, 1407 | ||
| 4430 | Limnology | 4:3:3 |
| Fauna, flora, ecology and productivity of fresh water. (Offered Spring semester) | ||
| Pre-requisites: Biol 1406, 1407 | ||
| 4440 | Vertebrate Natural History | 4:3:3 |
| Collection, identification and natural history of area fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. (Offered Spring semester) | ||
| Pre-requisites: Biol 1406, 1407 | ||
| 4450 | Marine Biology | 4:3:3 |
| Habitats and community relationships of marine plants and animals. (Offered Spring semester) | ||
| Pre-requisites: Biol 1406, 1407 | ||
| 4460 | Ecology | 4:3:3 |
| Quantitative approach to both field and experimental studies. Interrelationships of organisms and their environment. (Offered Fall semester) | ||
| Pre-requisites: Biol 1406, 1407 | ||
| 4470 | Cell Biology | 4:3:3 |
| Structural and physiological functions of cells at the biochemical and molecular level. (Offered Spring semester). | ||
| Pre-requisites: Biol 1406, 1407, Chem 3411 (Recommended 4411) |