School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Biology (B.A, B.S.)

The Biology Program at UT Dallas emphasizes the unifying molecular and cellular nature of organisms. At the center of the Biology undergraduate curriculum are the biochemical, genetic, and cell biology concepts and tools used to study the genes of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, to study the proteins and ribonucleic acids (RNA) encoded by these genes, and to study how the expression of these genes is regulated during the development and lifetimes of organisms. Molecular Biology represents a fusion of the four disciplines of biochemistry, biophysics, genetics, and cell biology. Modern biology requires a background in other disciplines such as chemistry, mathematics, physics, and computer sciences. Principles from these disciplines have to be merged to understand and apply new biotechnology and genetic engineering techniques. It is desirable for entering students to have a broad interest and background in the sciences.

Both B.S. and B.A. degrees are offered in Biology at UT Dallas; a B.S. degree is offered in Molecular Biology. The B.S. degrees are intended as preparation for scientific careers in biology or careers in the health professions. The B.A. degree is intended as liberal arts biology major with less emphasis on calculus and more free hours for course work in other disciplines. Each degree in Biology offers a streamlined double major with Business Administration or Crime and Justice Studies. Five-year Fast Track B.S. /M.S. Biology and Molecular Biology degree programs are available.

Minors are offered in Biology, Biomolecular Structure, Microbiology, Molecular and Cell Biology, and Neurobiology.

Faculty

Professors: Lee A. Bulla, Santosh D’Mello, Rockford K. Draper, Juan González, Steven R. Goodman, Donald M. Gray, Stephen D. Levene, Betty S. Pace, Lawrence J. Reitzer, Li Zhang, Michael Q. Zhang
Associate Professors: Gail A.M. Breen, John G. Burr, Jeff L. DeJong, Ernest M. Hannig, Dennis L. Miller
Assistant Professors: Tianbing Xia, Zhenyu Xuan
Professor Emeritus: Hans Bremer, Claud S. Rupert
Senior Lecturers: Irina Borovkov, Mehmet Candas, Vincent P. Cirillo, Wen-ju Lin, Robert C. Marsh, Ruben D. Ramirez, Scott A. Rippel, Ilya Sapozhnikov, Wen-Ho Yu,

Transfer Students

Students transferring into Biology or Molecular Biology at the junior level in either the B.S. or the B.A. programs are expected to have completed courses equivalent to:
Introductory Biology with lab, BIOL 2311, 2312, and 2281
General Chemistry with lab, CHEM 1311, 1111,1312, and 1112
Organic Chemistry with lab, CHEM 2323, 2123,2325, and 2125
Calculus, MATH 2417 and 2419 (B.S. or B.A. degree); or Applied Calculus, MATH 1325, (B.A. degree only)
Physics with lab, calculus-based PHYS 2325, 2125, 2326 and 2126 (B.S. or B.A. degree); or algebra-based PHYS 1301, 1101, 1302, 1102 (B.A. degree only).

Junior-level transfer students deficient in these lower-division requirements may satisfy the requirements with courses taken at UT Dallas; however, students deficient in the biology and chemistry requirements may be delayed in entering upper-division biology courses.

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Biology Degree Requirements (124 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours

  1. Communication (6 hours)
    3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
    3 hours Communication Elective (BIOL 4337, BIOL 4390, BIOL 4391, BIOL 4398, BIOL 4399 or NATS 4310)2
  2. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
    6 hours Government (GOVT 2301 and 2302)
    6 hours American History
    3 hours Social and Behavior Sciences Elective
  3. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
    3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
    3 hours Humanities (HUMA 1301)
  4. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
    6 hours Calculus (MATH 2413 and 2414) - BA or BS 3
    or Applied Calculus and Statistics for Life Sciences (MATH 1325 and STAT 3332) -BA only
  5. Science (9 hours)
    9 hours Chemistry (CHEM 1311/1111, 1312/1112 and 2123)

1 Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major requirements at UT Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 53 - 61 hours (53-55 for B.A.; 61 for B.S.)

Major Preparatory Courses (16-18 hours beyond Core Curriculum)

Major Core Courses (29-32 hours)

Major Related Courses (9-12 hours) 4

    9 hours upper-division BIOL electives (BA only)
    12 hours upper-division BIOL electives (BS only)

2 Biology majors may choose BIOL 4337, BIOL 4390, BIOL 4391, BIOL 4398, BIOL 4399 or NATS 4310 or another approved Biology elective to fulfill the Core Curriculum Communication Elective.
3 Six hours of Calculus are counted under Mathematics Core, and 2 hours of Calculus are counted as Major Preparatory Courses.
4 Up to 3 hours of individual instruction may be used in fulfilling this requirement.
* Indicates a prerequisite class to be completed before enrolling for upper-division classes.

III. Elective Requirements: 21 - 29 hours

Advanced Electives

All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major field of study. These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites. These may be satisfied with CHEM 2323 and 2325, counted under Major Preparatory Courses.

Free Electives (21 hours for BS; 27-29 hours for BA)

All students must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to graduate.

Biology and Business Administration (B.A., B.S.)

The Biology Program at UT Dallas emphasizes the unifying molecular and cellular nature of organisms. At the center of the Biology undergraduate curriculum are the biochemical, genetic, and cell biology concepts and tools used to study the genes of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, to study the proteins and ribonucleic acids (RNA) encoded by these genes, and to study how the expression of these genes is regulated during the development and lifetimes of organisms. Molecular Biology represents a fusion of the four disciplines of biochemistry, biophysics, genetics, and cell biology. Modern biology requires a background in other disciplines such as chemistry, mathematics, physics, and computer sciences. Principles from these disciplines have to be merged to understand and apply new biotechnology and genetic engineering techniques. It is desirable for entering students to have a broad interest and background in the sciences.

Both B.S. and B.A. degrees are offered in Biology at UT Dallas; a B.S. degree is offered in Molecular Biology. The B.S. degrees are intended as preparation for scientific careers in biology or careers in the health professions. The B.A. degree is intended as liberal arts biology major with less emphasis on calculus and more free hours for course work in other disciplines. Each degree in Biology offers a streamlined double major with Business Administration or Crime and Justice Studies. Five-year Fast Track B.S. /M.S. Biology and Molecular Biology degree programs are available.

Minors are offered in Biology, Biomolecular Structure, Microbiology, Molecular and Cell Biology, and Neurobiology.

Faculty

Professors: Lee A. Bulla, Santosh D’Mello, Rockford K. Draper, Juan González, Steven R. Goodman, Donald M. Gray, Stephen D. Levene, Betty S. Pace, Lawrence J. Reitzer, Li Zhang, Michael Q. Zhang
Associate Professors: Gail A.M. Breen, John G. Burr, Jeff L. DeJong, Ernest M. Hannig, Dennis L. Miller
Assistant Professors: Tianbing Xia, Zhenyu Xuan
Professor Emeritus: Hans Bremer, Claud S. Rupert
Senior Lecturers: Irina Borovkov, Mehmet Candas, Vincent P. Cirillo, Wen-ju Lin, Robert C. Marsh, Ruben D. Ramirez, Scott A. Rippel, Ilya Sapozhnikov, Wen-Ho Yu,

Transfer Students

Students transferring into Biology or Molecular Biology at the junior level in either the B.S. or the B.A. programs are expected to have completed courses equivalent to:
Introductory Biology with lab, BIOL 2311, 2312, and 2281
General Chemistry with lab, CHEM 1311, 1111, 1312, and 1112
Organic Chemistry with lab, CHEM 2323, 2123, 2325, and 2125
Calculus, MATH 2417 and 2419 (B.S. or B.A. degree); or Applied Calculus, MATH 1325, (B.A. degree only)
Physics with lab, calculus-based PHYS 2325, 2125, 2326 and 2126 (B.S. or B.A. degree); or algebra-based PHYS 1301, 1101, 1302, 1102 (B.A. degree only).

Junior-level transfer students deficient in these lower-division requirements may satisfy the requirements with courses taken at UT Dallas; however, students deficient in the biology and chemistry requirements may be delayed in entering upper-division biology courses.

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Biology and Business Administration
Degree Requirements (Double Major - 134-136 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours

  1. Communication (6 hours)
    3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
    3 hours Communication Elective (BA 3311)2
  2. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
    6 hours Government (GOVT 2301 and 2302)
    6 hours American History
    3 hours Social and Behavior Sciences Elective (ECON 2301)2
  3. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
    3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
    3 hours Humanities (HUMA 1301)
  4. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
    6 hours Calculus (MATH 2413 and 2414)3 - BA or BS
    or Applied Calculus (MATH 1325 and 1326) - BA only
  5. Science (9 hours)
    9 hours Chemistry (CHEM 1311/1111, CHEM 1312 /1112 and CHEM 2123

1 Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major requirements at UT Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 80-82 hours

Biology Major Preparatory Courses (15-17 hours beyond Core Curriculum)

Biology Major Core Courses (29 hours)

Business Administration Major Preparatory Courses (15 hours beyond Core Curriculum)

    AIM 2301* Introductory Financial Accounting
    AIM 2302* Introductory Management Accounting
    BA 2301* Business and Public Law
    ECON 2301* Principles of Macroeconomics2
    ECON 2302* Principles of Microeconomics
    MATH 2333* Matrices, Vectors and Their Application

Business Administration Core Courses (21 hours)

    BA 3311 Business Communications2
    BA 3341 Business Finance
    BA 3351 Introduction to Management Information Systems
    BA 3352 Production Management
    BA 3361 Organizational Behavior
    BA 3365 Principles of Marketing
    BA 4305 Strategic Management
    BA 4371 International Business
    STAT 3360 Probability and Statistics for Management and Economics
    or STAT 3332 Statistics for Life Sciences

2 A required Major course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
3 Six hours of Calculus are counted under Mathematics Core, and 2 hours of Calculus are counted as Major Preparatory Courses.
* Indicates a prerequisite class to be completed before enrolling for upper-division classes.

III. Elective Requirements: 12 hours

Advanced Electives

All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major field of study. These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites. These may be satisfied with CHEM 2323 and 2325, counted under Major Preparatory Courses.

Guided Electives (12 hours)

Business Administration (9 hours): To be selected from upper-level AIM and BA courses.
Biology (3 hours): BIOL 4380 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory must be taken for the Biology elective for the BS only. For the BA, student may select an approved upper-level Biology elective. All students must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to graduate.

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Biology and Criminology
Degree Requirements (Double Major – 122-124 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements1

  1. Communication (6 hours)
    3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
    3 hours Communication Elective (BIOL 4337, BIOL 4390, BIOL 4391, BIOL 4398, BIOL 4399, CRIM 3300, or NATS 4310)2
  2. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
    6 hours Government (GOVT 2301 and 2302)
    6 hours American History
    3 hours Social and Behavior Sciences Elective (ECON 2301 or 2302)3
  3. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
    3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
    3 hours Humanities (HUMA 1301)
  4. Mathematics and Quantitatfheive Reasoning (6 hours)
    6 hours Calculus (MATH 2413 and 2414) – BA or BS
    or Applied Calculus (MATH 1325) and either Statistics for Life Sciences (STAT 3332) or Introduction to Social Statistics with Laboratory (SOCS 3405) – BA only
  5. Science (9 hours)
    9 hours Chemistry (CHEM 1311/1111, CHEM 1312/1112 and CHEM 2123)

1 Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major requirements at UT Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 68-70 hours

Biology Major Preparatory Courses (15-17 hours beyond Core Curriculum)

    CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Laboratory I
    CHEM 1112 General Chemistry Laboratory II
    CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I
    CHEM 1312 General Chemistry II
    CHEM 2123* Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
    CHEM 2125* Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
    CHEM 2323* Introductory Organic Chemistry I
    CHEM 2325* Introductory Organic Chemistry II
    MATH 2413 Differential Calculus and 2414 Integral Calculus (BA or BS) 3

    or MATH 1325 Applied Calculus I
    and either STAT 3332 Statistics for Life Sciences
    or SOCS 3405 Introduction to Social Statistics with Lab (BA only)

    PHYS 3341/1101 Physics for BioScience I with Laboratory (BA or BS)
    or PHYS 1301/1101 College Physics I with Laboratory (BA only)

    PHYS 3342/1102 Physics for BioScience II with Recitation/Laboratory (BA or BS)

    or PHYS 1302/1102 College Physics II with Laboratory (BA only)
Biology Major Core Courses (32 hours)
BIOL 2111* Introduction to Modern Biology Workshop I
BIOL 2112* Introduction to Modern Biology Workshop II
BIOL 2281* Introductory Biology Laboratory
BIOL 2311* Introduction to Modern Biology I
BIOL 2312* Introduction to Modern Biology II
BIOL 3101 Classical and Molecular Genetics Workshop
BIOL 3102 Eukaryotic Molecular and Cell Biology Workshop
BIOL 3161 Biochemistry Workshop I
BIOL 3162 Biochemistry Workshop II
or BIOL 3335 Microbial Physiology
BIOL 3301 Classical and Molecular Genetics
BIOL 3302 Eukaryotic Molecular and Cell Biology
BIOL 3318 Forensic Biology
BIOL 3361 Biochemistry I
BIOL 3362 Biochemistry II
BIOL 3380 Biochemistry Laboratory

Crime and Justice Studies Major Preparatory Course (No hours beyond Core Curriculum)
ECON 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics
or ECON 2302 Principles of Microeconomics3

Crime and Justice Studies Core Courses (18 hours)
    CRIM 3300 Crime and Civil Liberties
    CRIM 3301 Theories of Justice
    or another Social Science course with a distributive justice emphasis such as SOC 4361 Law and Society, or ECON 4320 Public Sector Economics

    CRIM 3302 Advanced Criminology
    CRIM 3303 Advanced Criminal Justice
    CRIM 3304 Research Methods in Crime and Justice Studies
    CRIM 3319 Comparative Justice Systems
    CRIM 4305 Social Control and Criminal Sanctions
    CRIM 4321 Senior Research Seminar

2 Double majors may choose BIOL 4337, BIOL 4390, BIOL 4391, BIOL 4398, BIOL 4399, CRIM 3301, PSCI 3325, NATS 4310 or another approved Biology elective to fulfill the Core Curriculum Communication Elective.
3 A required Major course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
4 Six hours of Calculus are counted under Mathematics Core, and 2 hours of Calculus are counted as Major Preparatory Courses.
* Indicates a prerequisite class to be completed before enrolling for upper-division classes.

III. Elective Requirements: 15 hours

Advanced Electives

All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major field of study. These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites. These may be satisfied with CHEM 2323 and 2325, counted under Major Preparatory Courses.

Guided Electives (15 hours)

Biology (6 hours): BIOL 4380 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory (must be taken for one of the Biology electives in BS only).
Crime and Justice Studies and Related Electives (9 hours): All students must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to graduate.

Minor in Biology

Course Requirements: 18 hours
    BIOL 2311/2111 Introduction to Modern Biology I with Workshop
    BIOL 3301/3101 Classical and Molecular Genetics with Workshop
    BIOL 3361/3161 Biochemistry I with Workshop
    Two BIOL electives for majors
Minor in Biomolecular Structure
    Course Requirements: 18 hours
    BIOL 3336 Protein and Nucleic Acid Structure
    BIOL 4461 Biophysical Chemistry, unless taken to fulfill the Molecular Biology major requirements
    BIOL 4261 Biomolecular Modeling
    CHEM 2323 and 2325 Introductory Organic Chemistry I and II
    One to two approved BIOL, CHEM, CS, EE, MATH, or PHYS electives
Minor in Molecular and Cell Biology
    Course Requirements: 18 hours
    CHEM 2323 and 2325 Introductory Organic Chemistry I and II
    Four approved molecular and cell biology electives
Minor in Microbiology
    Course Requirements: 18 hours
    BIOL 3V20 General Microbiology with Laboratory1
    BIOL 3335 Microbial Physiology2
    BIOL 4350 Medical Microbiology
    or BIOL 4316 Parasites and Symbionts
    BIOL 4345 Immunobiology
    CHEM 2323 Introductory Organic Chemistry I
    One approved microbiology elective

1 Two hrs of BIOL 3V20 may be used to satisfy the upper-level elective requirement for Biology and Molecular Biology majors.
2 May be substituted with CHEM 2325 Introductory Chemistry II if used to satisfy the Biochemistry II core requirement for Biology and Molecular Biology majors.

Minor in Neurobiology

Fast Track Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees

UT Dallas undergraduate students with strong academic records, including at least 15 hours of upper-division Biology core courses, who intend to pursue graduate work in Biology at UT Dallas, may apply for the Fast Track which involves taking selected graduate courses as an upper-division student. After admission to the graduate program, 15 hours of graduate courses with an earned grade of B or better can be used toward completion of the B.S. and to satisfy requirements for those courses at the graduate level. Graduate courses must be approved by the graduate advisor. This program provides an opportunity to obtain the B.S. degree in Biology after 124 hours of work and an M.S. degree in Molecular and Cell Biology after an additional 21 hours of graduate course and research work. Interested students should contact the Biology undergraduate advisor well in advance of the senior year to prepare a degree plan taking maximal advantage of this 5-year Fast Track program.

Degree Planning

Upper-division biology courses taken at other institutions may be included as part of the degree plan subject to the provisions of the section on Transfer Admissions.

Major-related courses may not include more than 9 hours (B.S.) or 6 hours (B.A.) of upper-division transfer credit and not more than 3 hours (Biology major) or 6 hours (Molecular Biology major) of individual instruction (e.g., BIOL 3V90, BIOL 3V91, BIOL 3V92, BIOL 3V95, BIOL 3V96, BIOL 4302, BIOL 4390, BIOL 4391, BIOL 4398, BIOL 4399, BIOL 4V98, or BIOL 4V99).

Students planning a career in a particular allied health profession should consult the school they expect to attend to apprise themselves of the course requirements for admission.

Admission standards for medical and dental schools are set by the individual professional school, whose specific requirements should be reviewed with the help of the UT Dallas Health Professions Education Advisors. Most professional schools prefer that admission applications be channeled through the Health Professions Education Office.