School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
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.
Molecular Biology (BS)
A BS degree is offered in Molecular Biology. The BS degrees are intended as preparation for scientific careers in biology or careers in the health professions. Biology offers a streamlined double major with Business Administration or Criminology. Fast Track BS / MS Biology and Molecular Biology degree programs are available.
Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)1
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professors: Rockford K. Draper, Juan E. González, Lawrence J. Reitzer, Stephen Spiro, Li Zhang, Michael Qiwei Zhang
Associate Professors: John G. Burr, Zachary Campbell, Jeff L. DeJong, Nikki Delk, Heng Du, Tae Hoon Kim, Faruck Morcos, Kelli Palmer, Duane D. Winkler, Zhenyu Xuan
Assistant Professors: Nicole De Nisco, Jyoti Misra
Professors Emeriti: Hans Bremer, Lee A. Bulla, Donald M. Gray
Associate Professors Emeriti: Gail A. M. Breen, Dennis L. Miller
Clinical Professor: David Murchison
Research Assistant Professors: Lan Guo, Li Liu
Professors of Instruction: Scott A. Rippel, Uma Srikanth
Associate Professors of Instruction: Mehmet Candas, Wen-Ju Lin, Elizabeth Pickett, Ilya Sapozhnikov, Michelle Wilson
Assistant Professors of Instruction: Ida Klang, Meenakshi Maitra, Caitlin Maynard, Iti Mehta, Jing Pan, Ruben D. Ramirez, Eva Sadat, Subha Sarcar, Zhuoru Wu
Senior Lecturer: Wen-Ho Yu
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours2
Communication: 6 semester credit hours
COMM 1311 Survey of Oral and Technology-based Communication
RHET 1302 Rhetoric
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)
Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses (see advisor)
Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours
CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I3
or CHEM 1315 Honors Freshman Chemistry I3
CHEM 1312 General Chemistry II3
or CHEM 1316 Honors Freshman Chemistry II3
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences Core courses (see advisor)
Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses (see advisor)
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts Core courses (see advisor)
American History: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from American History Core courses (see advisor)
Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours
GOVT 2305 American National Government
GOVT 2306 State and Local Government
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses (see advisor)
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences Core courses (see advisor)
Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours
BIOL 2311 Introduction to Modern Biology I3
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area Option Core courses (see advisor)
II. Major Requirements: 69-70 semester credit hours
Major Preparatory Courses: 24-25 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum
CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Laboratory I
or CHEM 1115 Honors Freshman Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 1112 General Chemistry Laboratory II
or CHEM 1116 Honors Freshman Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I3
or CHEM 1315 Honors Freshman Chemistry I3
CHEM 1312 General Chemistry II3
or CHEM 1316 Honors Freshman Chemistry II3
CHEM 2123 Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory I6
CHEM 2125 Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory II6
CHEM 2323 Introductory Organic Chemistry I6
CHEM 2325 Introductory Organic Chemistry II6
MATH 2418 Linear Algebra
PHYS 2325 Mechanics and PHYS 2125 Physics Laboratory I
or PHYS 2421 Honors Physics I - Mechanics and Heat7
PHYS 2326 Electromagnetism and Waves
or PHYS 2422 Honors Physics II - Electromagnetism and Waves
PHYS 2126 Physics Laboratory II
Major Core Courses: 33 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum
BIOL 2111 Introduction to Modern Biology Workshop I6
BIOL 2112 Introduction to Modern Biology Workshop II6
BIOL 2281 Introductory Biology Laboratory6
BIOL 2311 Introduction to Modern Biology I3, 6
BIOL 2312 Introduction to Modern Biology II6
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
BIOL 3301 Classical and Molecular Genetics
BIOL 3302 Eukaryotic Molecular and Cell Biology
BIOL 3361 Biochemistry I
BIOL 3362 Biochemistry II
or BIOL 3335 Microbial Physiology
BIOL 3380 Biochemistry Laboratory
BIOL 4380 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory8
or BIOL 3V96 Undergraduate Research in Molecular and Cell Biology8 (3 semester credit hours)
or BIOL 4399 Senior Honors Research for Thesis in Molecular and Cell Biology8
or BIOL 4391 Senior Research in Molecular and Cell Biology8
BIOL 4461 Biophysical Chemistry
Major Related Courses: 12 semester credit hours9
12 semester credit hours upper-division approved molecular biology-related BIOL or CHEM electives
III. Elective Requirements: 8-9 semester credit hours
Free Electives: 8-9 semester credit hours
All students must complete at least 51 semester credit hours of upper-division courses to graduate.
Fast Track Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees
UT Dallas undergraduate students with strong academic records, including at least 15 semester credit 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 Fast Track admission to the graduate program, 15 semester credit hours of graduate courses with an earned grade of B or better can be used toward completion of the BS 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 BS degree in Biology after 120 semester credit hours of work and an MS degree in Molecular and Cell Biology after an additional 21 semester credit 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 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 semester credit hours (BS) or 6 semester credit hours (BA) of upper-division transfer credit and not more than 3 semester credit hours (Biology major) or 6 semester credit hours (Molecular Biology major) of individual instruction (e.g., BIOL 3V90, BIOL 3V91, BIOL 3V96, BIOL 4302, BIOL 4390, BIOL 4391, BIOL 4399, 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 Advising Center (HPAC). Most professional schools prefer that admission applications be channeled through the HPAC.
1. Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of UNIV 1010 and the corresponding school-related freshman seminar course. Students, including transfer students, who complete their core curriculum at UT Dallas must take UNIV 2020.
2. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
3. A required Major course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Semester credit hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
4. Six semester credit hours of Calculus are counted under Mathematics Core and Component Area Option and 2 semester credit hours of Calculus are counted as Major Preparatory Courses.
5. Students may choose one of the following calculus sequences: (a) MATH 2413, MATH 2414, and MATH 2415; or (b) MATH 2417 and MATH 2419.
6. Indicates a prerequisite class to be completed before enrolling for upper-division classes.
7. Students who complete PHYS 2421 do not need to complete PHYS 2125.
8. These substitutes for BIOL 4380 require permission of the Biology Undergraduate Faculty Advisor to ensure equivalent training in recombinant DNA analysis.
9. Up to 6 semester credit hours of research may be used in fulfilling the major related course requirement.