Contact Us
For questions or assistance please reach out to:
School Director
Robert K. Dearth, Ph.D.
School Associate Director
Kathryn E. Perez, Ph.D.
Biology Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Tobias Weinrich, Ph.D.
Biology and Chemistry Graduate Program Coordinator
Frank Dirrigl, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Program Coordinator
Yonghong Zhang, Ph.D.
Edinburg
Julie Perez,
Administrative Assistant II
Brownsville
Daisy Garcia,
Administrative Assistant II
TRANSITION
Transition period
The School expects that the majority of our current BSc in Biology: Focus in Biological Sciences students will find it advantageous to transfer to the new BSc in Biology starting in Fall 2024.
Some students, particularly those with a Fall 24 graduation date, are expected to graduate with the current curriculum. For all other students, the percentage of degree completion and other factors (such as financial aid) will be considered by the Academic Advising Center when recommending a change of major to the new BSc in Biology curriculum or remaining in your current degree plan. You will not be forced to change degree plans and there are course options available that will allow you to complete your current degree.
To ensure a smooth transition period for all Biology Major students, the School – in coordination with the Academic Advising Center – will host Town Hall meetings and Q&A sessions for students on both the Brownsville and Edinburg campuses in February 2024. Stay tuned for updates!
During the implementation of the new degree, the School does not anticipate any impact or graduation delays for any of our current Biology majors. We will do everything we can to see that these improvements in our degrees have a positive impact on both current and future students.
We encourage all Biology Majors to discuss with their advisors about transferring to the new BSc in Biology in February/March 2024, before Fall 2024 registration opens.
Are you a new Bio Major student beginning in Fall 24? Welcome! You will be enrolled automatically in the new BSc in Biology Curriculum. Read more here.
EXPIRING OLD COURSES AND EXCITING NEW COURSES
Beginning Fall 24, some courses will no longer be offered as a result of the implementation of the new degree. The following courses will be taught for the last time:
NOTE - please read the course crosswalk section too!
Course |
Name |
Spring 24 |
Summer 24 |
BIOL 3301 |
Evolution (replaced in Fall 24 with BIOL 3301 Ecology & Evolution) |
YES |
YES |
BIOL 3310 |
Neurobiology |
NO |
NO |
BIOL 3403 |
Medical Microbiology & Immunology |
YES |
NO |
BIOL 3409 |
Ecology |
YES |
YES |
BIOL 3412 |
Cell Biology |
YES |
NO |
BIOL 3413 |
Genetics (replaced in Fall 24 with BIOL 3313 Genetics) |
YES |
YES |
BIOL 3415 |
Molecular Biology |
YES |
NO |
BIOL 4318 |
Ethnobotany |
NO |
NO |
BIOL 4400 |
Biological Communications |
YES |
YES |
With the launch of the new BSc in Biology curriculum, the School is offering a series of new courses beginning Fall 2024.
Course |
Name |
Credit Hours |
Lecture |
Laboratory |
BIOL 3201 |
Techniques in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Laboratory |
2 |
|
X |
BIOL 3215 |
Cell, Molecular, and Genetics Lab |
2 |
|
X |
BIOL 3230 |
Biology Data Analysis and Informatics |
2 |
|
X |
BIOL 3301 |
Ecology and Evolution |
3 |
X |
|
BIOL 3313 |
Genetics |
3 |
X |
|
BIOL 3315 |
Cell and Molecular Biology |
3 |
X |
|
BIOL 3325 |
Integrative Physiology |
3 |
X |
|
Please click here to view course descriptions for the new required Biology Foundation courses.
In addition, the School will offer new exciting electives on a regular basis: Immunology, Astrobiology, Cancer Biology, Veterinary Entomology, and Mammalian Disease Diagnosis and Clinical Applications among others.
COURSE CROSSWALKS
Whether you stay in the current curriculum or elect the new BSc in Biology curriculum, we have put into place automatic substitutions for equivalent courses between degree plans. These will automatically substitute for each other in DegreeWorks. NOTE: Students should pay close attention to differences in credit hours, as they must also satisfy the course credit hours requirements of their curriculum (i.e. 120 hours to graduate).
Old Course |
Old Course Name |
Credit Hours |
New Course |
Course that will Substitute |
Credit Hours |
BIOL 3301 |
Evolution |
3 |
BIOL 3301 |
Ecology and Evolution |
3 |
BIOL 3412 |
Cell Biology |
4 |
BIOL 3315 |
Cell & Molecular Biology |
3 |
BIOL 3413 |
Genetics |
4 |
BIOL 3313 |
Genetics |
3 |
BIOL 3409 |
Ecology |
4 |
BIOL 3201 |
Techniques in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Laboratory |
2 |
BIOL 4400 |
Biological Communications |
4 |
BIOL 3215 |
Cell, Molecular, and Genetics Lab |
2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the implementation of the new degree going to delay my graduation date?
I’m graduating before Fall 24 – will any of this affect me?
If you are graduating before Fall 24, you will not be affected by the implementation of the new BSc in Biology degree.
When is the new BSc in Biology curriculum implemented?
The new BSc in Biology curriculum is implemented from Fall 2024.
How and/or when will I know whether I am recommended to transfer to the new BSc in Biology curriculum?
We anticipate that in February/March 2024 – in consultation with your advisors – and before Fall 24 registration opens, you should know whether you are recommended to transfer to the new degree plan or complete your degree with the current curriculum.
/last updated Feb 2024