Main Departmental Office
Biological Sciences Building, 233
P.O. Box 305220
Denton, TX 76203-5220
(940) 565-2011
Undergraduate Advising Office
Biological Sciences Building, 234
(940) 565-3627
Fax: (940) 565-3821
Professors Beitinger, Dickson, Donahue, Fitzpatrick, Goven, Gross, Lott, Masaracchia, Norton, O'Donovan, Saleh, Schafer, Stewart, Vela, Waller, Zimmerman. Associate Professors Atkinson, Benjamin, Fuchs, Kennedy, Kunz, Pirtle, Schwark, Shanley, Sinclair, Smith. Assistant Professors Chapman, Crawford, Farinha, Root, Tam. Lecturer White.
Modern biology encompasses the study of all aspects of living systems from the molecular basis of genetic inheritance to the interactions between organisms and the environment.
The Department of Biological Sciences offers a diversified selection of research and instructional opportunities in contemporary and challenging fields. Studies in cell biology, microbiology, neurophysiology, biochemistry, genetic engineering, immunology and ecology, for example, prepare students for careers in medicine, dentistry, biotechnology, medical technology, resource management, environmental sciences, education and the allied health professions.
See "Preprofessional Programs " in the College of Arts and Sciences section of this catalog.
The department offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the following areas:
Recommended four-year undergraduate courses of study are listed in this catalog. Additional copies are available in the Undergraduate Advising Office, Room 234 of the Biological Sciences Building.
Students seeking teacher certification in secondary education should consult with advisers in both the College of Education and the Department of Biological Sciences. A 2.5 cumulative grade point average is required in the teaching field to enter the certification program. The use of the term "advanced" as applied to courses means any upper division (3000- or 4000-level) course.
Total of 129 semester hours required, of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree as specified in the College of Arts and Sciences section of this catalog.
BA with a Major in Biology (HTML)
Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Biology must meet the following requirements.
1. Hours Required for the Degree: Completion of a minimum of 131 total semester hours; 42 must be advanced.
2. General University Requirements: See "General Degree Requirements " in the Academics section of this catalog.
3. College of Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum: Minimum 61 hours (includes requirements of University Core Curriculum ). See "Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum " in the College of Arts and Sciences section of this catalog for specific core requirements and list of approved courses. See specific degree plan for exact hours.
Students may complete either of two options to satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences foreign language requirement:
Option I: Complete two semesters of foreign language at the 2000 level or pass appropriate proficiency exam(s) as specified by the College of Arts and Sciences.
Option II: Complete four math or science classes (a minimum of 12 hours). A student who wishes to fulfill the foreign language requirement by Option II must first be counseled by an undergraduate advisor of the Department of Biological Sciences and must obtain written approval of Option II for inclusion in the student's degree plan. This approval must include a specific listing of each course to be taken to fulfill the option. All courses approved must contribute in a logical and significant fashion to the student's academic preparation for a stated professional school or career goal. No course substitutions from an approved Option II plan will be allowed without prior written approval from the department.
All courses must be appropriate for majors within the department that offers them. Normal limitations for undergraduate enrollment in graduate classes will still apply. Other requirements are specified below:
4. Major Requirements: A major of 43 hours in the biological sciences, of which 28 must be advanced. See Supplemental Information below for requirements.
5. Minor Requirements: A minor in chemistry of at least 20 hours, of which a minimum of 6 hours must be advanced.
6. Electives: See four-year plan.
7. Other Course Requirements: CHEM 1410 or 1413/1430, 1420 or 1423/1440, 2370/3210 and 2380/3220; PHYS 1410/1430 and 1420/1440; MATH 1650, 1710 or equivalent.
8. Other Requirements: A minimum of 76 hours in the sciences, of which 34 must be advanced. A minimum 2.5 grade point average must be maintained on all advanced courses in the sciences.
DRED (Traffic Safety) courses may not be used to satisfy any portion of a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Students who expect to teach biology in secondary schools must complete the requirements of the state of Texas for teacher certification as listed by the Department of Teacher Education and Administration in the College of Education.
Biological sciences majors interested in teacher certification should consult advisers in both the College of Education and the Department of Biological Sciences.
The Department of Biological Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science with a major in cytotechnology in affiliation with the Dallas Pathology Associates Laboratories in Dallas, Mayo School of Health-Related Sciences in Rochester, Minnesota, University Hospital School of Cytotechnology in San Antonio, and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, which are approved by the American Medical Association.
Students complete a minimum of 95 semester hours at UNT (prior to entering clinical training) and a minimum of 12 months of clinical training (for a minimum of 39 semester hours) at any American Medical Association-approved school of cytotechnology to complete the degree.
Upon graduation, students are eligible to take national examinations given by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). The ASCP examination is given annually in August at multiple testing centers. Upon passing the registry examination, the student is considered a certified cytotechnologist. The awarding of the degree is not contingent upon students' passing the national board examination.
The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in cytotechnology requires a minimum of 134 semester hours, 42 of which must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree as specified in the College of Arts and Sciences section of this catalog.
BS with a Major in Cytotechnology (HTML)
The Department of Biological Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology in affiliation with the following schools of clinical laboratory science (medical technology) that are approved by the American Medical Association: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi; Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, Waco; Scott and White in Temple; Tarleton State University at All Saints Hospital, Fort Worth; The Methodist Hospital, Houston; The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston; Wadley Regional Medical Center, Texarkana; and Wichita General Hospital, Wichita Falls.
Students complete a minimum of 99 semester hours at UNT (prior to entering clinical training) and a minimum of 12 months of clinical training (for a minimum of 39 semester hours) at any American Medical Association-approved school of medical technology to complete the degree.
Upon graduation, students are eligible to take national examinations given by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) and the National Certification Agency (NCA) for Medical Laboratory Personnel. The ASCP examination is administered by computer several times a year, and the NCA examination is in January and July. Upon passing the registry examination(s), the student is considered a certified medical technologist or a certified laboratory scientist. The awarding of the degree is not contingent upon students passing national board examinations. Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs) with an Associates Degree and who have completed MLT training in a Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation Program may reduce the time required in clinical training by being accepted into a Medical Laboratory Technicians Articulation Program at one of UNT's clinical affiliates.
Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology must meet the following requirements.
1. Hours Required for the Degree: Completion of a minimum of 138 total semester hours; 42 must be advanced.
2. General University Requirements: See "General Degree Requirements " in the Academics section of this catalog.
3. University Core Curriculum : Minimum 44 hours. See specific degree plan for exact hours.
4. Major Requirements: Completion of 12 months of clinical training (for a minimum of 39 semester hours) at any American Medical Association approved school of medical technology to complete the degree. See "Supplemental Information " below.
5. Electives: See degree plan.
6. Other Course Requirements: BIOL 1710/1730, 2040, 3380, 3800/3810 and 4200, plus three courses to be selected from BIOL 3450, 3510/3520, 3600 or 4090; CHEM 1410 or 1413/1430, 1420 or 1423/1440, 3600 and 3610; BIOC 3620; MATH 1100 and 1680 (Students who have taken MATH 1100 or equivalent should take PSYC 1630); MGMT 3820.
7. Other Requirements: A minimum 2.5 grade point average for upper-division courses in the sciences. See "Supplemental Information" below for additional requirements.
DRED (Traffic Safety) courses may not be used to satisfy any portion of a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences.
BS in Medical Technology (HTML)
A minor in the biological sciences can be satisfied by completing the BA core, BIOL 1710/1730, 1720/1740 and 2040, plus 8 hours of upper division laboratory courses (excluding BIOL 3600, 4300 and 4900) selected in consultation with an adviser in the Department of Biological Sciences.
The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in biochemistry allows a less structured curriculum with more elective options than the Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Further, it serves as an excellent degree program for those who wish to teach sciences at the high school level in the areas of biochemistry, chemistry and biology. Additionally, the program serves well those who wish to go into medicine, dentistry or other biologically-related professional programs of study.
The Bachelor of Arts degree requires a minimum of 128 semester hours, 42 of which must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree as specified in the College of Arts and Sciences section of this catalog.
BA with a Major in Biochemistry (HTML)
This professional degree is designed for students planning careers in biochemistry, medicine, clinical chemistry or other health-related areas of chemistry.
Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry must meet the following requirements.
1. Hours Required for the Degree: Completion of a minimum of 135 total semester hours; 42 must be advanced.
2. General University Requirements: See "General Degree Requirements " in the Academics section of this catalog.
3. College of Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum: Minimum 61 hours (includes requirements of University Core Curriculum ). See "Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum " in the College of Arts and Sciences section of this catalog for specific core requirements and list of approved courses. See degree plan for exact hours.
Students may complete either of two options to satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences foreign language requirement:
Option I: Complete two semesters of foreign language at the 2000 level or pass appropriate proficiency exam(s) as specified by the College of Arts and Sciences.
Option II: Complete four math or science classes (a minimum of 12 hours). A student who wishes to fulfill the foreign language requirement by Option II must first be counseled by an undergraduate biochemistry advisor of the Department of Biological Sciences and must obtain written approval of Option II for inclusion in the student's degree plan. This approval must include a specific listing of each course to be taken to fulfill the option. All courses approved must contribute in a logical and significant fashion to the student's academic preparation for a stated professional school or career goal. No course substitutions from an approved Option II plan will be allowed without prior written approval from the department.
All courses must be appropriate for majors within the department that offers them. Normal limitations for undergraduate enrollment in graduate classes will still apply. Other requirements are specified below:
4. Major Requirements: A major of at least 40 hours in chemistry/biochemistry, of which 24 semester hours must be advanced, including CHEM 1410 or 1413/1430, 1420 or 1423/1440, 2370/3210, 2380/3220, 3450, 3510 and 3520; BIOC 2000, 4540, 4550, 4560, 4570 and 4580.
5. Minor Requirements: A minor of 20 hours in biology, including BIOL 3450 and 3510/3520, plus 4 advanced hours.
6. Electives: See four year plan.
7. Other Course Requirements: Total of 84 hours in the sciences, of which 40 must be advanced, including MATH 1710 and 1720; PHYS 1410/1430, 1420/1440, or 1710/1730, 2220/2240.
8. Other Requirements: GPA of 2.5 on all advanced courses attempted in the division of sciences.
DRED (Traffic Safety) courses may not be used to satisfy any portion of a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The department offers degree programs leading to the Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) with a major in biology; Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy with a major in biochemistry; and Master of Arts and Master of Science with a major in molecular biology. A PhD in molecular biology is offered through the Federation of North Texas Area Universities, of which UNT is a member.
An MS with a major in biology (career interest in human genetic counseling) also is available and includes a clinical genetics internship.
Students also may work on graduate degrees in biological sciences under the supervision of biomedical science faculty members at the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth.
Students who intend to proceed with graduate study should take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) during their senior year. For specific information on graduate degree programs, consult the Graduate Catalog.
Main Office
General Academic Building, 470
P.O. Box 310559
Denton, TX 76203-0559
(940) 565-2694
Fax: (940) 565-4297
Professors Dickson, Saleh, Waller. Associate Professors Acevedo, Atkinson, Ferring, Kennedy.
The Institute of Applied Sciences (IAS) develops research and educational programs that address the natural and human resource issues facing Texas, the nation and the world. With an emphasis on water, land, people and communities, IAS seeks to explore resources for the future. As an organizational unit of the University of North Texas, IAS sponsors and coordinates interdisciplinary efforts in instruction, research and community service.
To carry out its goals, IAS is organized presently into seven thematic areas: aquatic toxicology, biosensing, ecological risk assessment, environmental archaeology, environmental chemistry, environmental modeling, and remote sensing and geographic information systems. Through these study areas, the institute coordinates educational programs for students seeking training in environmental science and other applied science areas. It also offers to the public continuing education programs, such as workshops, minicourses, seminars and symposia.
The primary role of the institute is to carry out basic and applied studies in a variety of fields in the sciences, including methods development for the analysis of trace organic and inorganic compounds in air, water, food, fuels, waste products and biological samples; toxicological and environmental quality; spatial analysis through remote sensing; archaeological reconnaissance and salvage; and water resources management. The institute is particularly active in the coordination and execution of joint research projects with industry and governmental agencies in these areas.
The Institute of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the departments of biological sciences and geography offers graduate work in environmental science. The program is flexible in scope and is designed to accommodate individuals with backgrounds in the natural and physical sciences, geography or other related disciplines who desire to pursue careers related to the management and assessment of environmental resources. For additional information, see the Graduate Catalog.
UNT Undergraduate Catalog College of Arts and Sciences Table of Contents
UNT Graduate Catalog College of Arts and Sciences Table of Contents
UNT Undergraduate Catalog Table of Contents
UNT Graduate Catalog Table of Contents
UNT Undergraduate Catalog Course and Subject Guide
UNT Graduate Catalog Course and Subject Guide