Biology Courses Chemistry Courses Science Education Courses
BSC 307. General Ecology. (2-2). The principles of ecology, with special reference to populations and their ecosystems, distribution, biotic communities and environmental relationships. Field trips required. Prerequisite: Two semesters of biology.
BSC 308. Invertebrate Zoology. (2-2). Explore the diversity of invertebrate types, morphologically, embryologically, and physiologically. The ecological role of invertebrates will be emphasized. Prerequisite: Two semesters of biology.
BSC 310. Genetics. (2-2). Principles of heredity and variation and their application to plants, lower animals and man. Prerequisite: Two semesters of biology.
BSC 402. Cell Biology. (2-2). A study of the morphology and physiology of the cell and cell organelles, including basic facts, concepts and problems in modern biology. Prerequisite: Two semesters of biology.
BSC 405. Vertebrate Field Biology. (6 SCH) (4-4). The study of basic field methods involved in the study of vertebrates and their populations, especially those of the Ark-La-Tex region. Prerequisite: Two semesters of biology.
BSC 406 Wildlife Ecology: Wildlife ecology, conservation biology, population biology and enhancement of wildlife populations through management. Emphasis on both game and non-game species, as well as management options that include human/wildlife interactions, habitat and wildlife populations. Prerequisite: BSC 307 and Junior standing. BSC 407 is recommended but not required.
BSC 407 Wildlife Techniques: Instruction in current wildlife techniques including habitat evaluation and manipulation, estimation of animal abundance, capture and marking, aging, radiotelemetry, necropsy and condition assessment. Prerequisite: BSC 307 and Junior standing. BSC 406 is recommended but not required.
BSC 408. Landscape Ecology and Geographic Information Systems. Landscape ecology, a relatively new field within modern ecology, emphasizes large areas and the ecological effects of spatial pattern on ecosystems. Students learn to use geographic information systems and global positioning systems to solve modern problems in landscape ecology. Lectures, laboratories, and special assignments will convey important concepts and facts in landscape ecology and the operations of GIS. Prerequisite: BSC 307.
410. Biochemistry I. (2-2). Biochemistry 410 is the first semester of a one-year course. The first semester covers the structure, function, and metabolism of amino acids and proteins and simple and complex carbohydrates. Emphasis will be on understanding biochemistry from a biological point of view and on providing information on how biochemical events are regulated in living tissues. Prerequisite: General Chemistry I and II and Organic Chemistry I and II. (Cross-listed with CHEM 410.)
BSC 411. Biochemistry II. (2-2). Biochemistry 411 is the second semester of a one-year course. The second semester covers the structure, function, and metabolism of lipids and nucleic acids. Emphasis will be on understanding biochemistry from a biological point of view and on providing information on how biochemical events are regulated in living tissues. Prerequisite: General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II, and Biochemistry I (BSC 410). (Cross-listed with CHEM 411.)
BSC 411. Biochemistry II. (2-2). Biochemistry 411 is the second semester of a one-year course. The second semester covers the structure, function, and metabolism of lipids and nucleic acids. Emphasis will be on understanding biochemistry from a biological point of view and on providing information on how biochemical events are regulated in living tissues. Prerequisite: General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II, and Biochemistry I (BSC 410). (Cross-listed with CHEM 411.)
BSC 436. Mammalogy. (2-2). The study of the vertebrate Class Mammalia, to include classical taxonomy, ecology, natural history, and diversity as well as mammalian adaptations associated with nutrition, locomotion, behavior, thermoregulation, and genetics. Emphasis will be on those species found in the southwestern United States (particularly Arkansas and Texas). Prerequisite: Two semesters of biology. Offered in Fall semester of odd numbered years.
437. Herpetology. (2-2). A survey of the vertebrate Classes Amphibia and Reptilia, including frogs and toads, caecilians, salamanders, turtles, lizards, amphibaenians, snakes, rhynchocephalans, and crocodilians. The study of classical taxonomy, ecology, natural history, and diversity as well as amphibian and reptilian adaptations associated with nutrition, locomotion, behavior, thermoregulation, and reproduction. The course will focus on the evolution of amphibian and reptilian lineages and the evolutionary ecology of the major groups. Emphasis will be on those species found in the southwestern United States (particularly the ARK-LA-TEX region). Prerequisite: Two semesters of biology.
BSC 438. Ichthyology. (2-2). The study of the vertebrate classes Agnatha, Chondrichthyes, and Osteichthyes, to include classification, phylogeny, morphology, and ecology of fishes as well as adaptations associated with nutrition, locomotion, behavior, thermoregulation, and reproduction. Emphasis will be on those freshwater species found in North America, particularly Arkansas and Texas. Prerequisite: Two semesters of biology.
BSC 449. Vertebrate Histology. (2-2). The study of the cell and fundamental tissue types to include the microscopic structure of the organ systems of representative vertebrates. Emphasis will be on the relationship between microscopic structure and function. Prerequisite: Two semesters of biology, Anatomy and Physiology.
BSC 450. Limnology. (2-2). Study of the biological, chemical, and physical characteristics of the freshwater environment. Prerequisite: Two semesters of biology.
BSC 464. Independent Research. Research in biology conducted under faculty guidance. Prerequisite: Two semesters of biology and approval of Science Program Director.
BSC 466. Evolutionary Biology. (2-2). Basic principles, mechanisms, and patterns of evolutionary biology including a historical survey of related ideas. Prerequisite: Two semesters of biology.
BSC 472. Introduction to Forensic Science. (2-2). The study of basic concepts, techniques, practices, and procedures of criminalistics, including the most current technologies in forensic analysis. Criminal investigation of actual cases will be discussed with a minimum of scientific terminology. In addition, the nature of physical evidence will be emphasized, including the use of DNA profiling. Strongly recommended for Criminal Justice majors and Pre-Allied Health track students in Biology. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing. (Cross-listed with CJ 472 and CHEM 472).)
BSC 481. Seminar in Biology. (1 SCH). Student participation in general and specific topics in biology. May be repeated in a different topic. Usually taken during last semester or last year. Prerequisite: Two semesters of biology.
BSC 489. Individual Study. Individual instruction. May be repeated when topics vary. Prerequisite: Two semesters of biology and approval of Science Program Director.
BSC 510. Darwin and the Origin of Species. This course will focus on Darwin's hypotheses and compare his ideas with modern developments in the study of biological evolution. This is a web course.
CHEM 405. Environmental Chemistry. (2-2). This course will explore the nature of soil, air, water, and the impact of man on these systems. Included will be studies of local industries and municipalities with respect to their environ-mental monitoring and assessment programs. The laboratory will involve basic water, air, and soil sampling, and analytical techniques. Prerequisite: Two semesters of science including Chemistry.
CHEM 410. Biochemistry I. (2-2). Biochemistry 410 is the first semester of a one-year course. The first semester covers the structure, function, and metabolism of amino acids and proteins and simple and complex carbohydrates. Emphasis will be on understanding biochemistry from a biological point of view and on providing information on how biochemical events are regulated in living tissues. Prerequisite: General Chemistry I and II and Organic Chemistry I and II. (Cross-listed with BSC 410.)
CHEM 411. Biochemistry II. (2-2). Biochemistry 411 is the second semester of a one-year course. The second semester covers the structure, function, and metabolism of lipids and nucleic acids. Emphasis will be on understanding biochemistry from a biological point of view and on providing information on how biochemical events are regulated in living tissues. Prerequisite: General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II, and Biochemistry I (BSC 410). (Cross-listed with BSC 411.)
CHEM 472. Introduction to Forensic Science. (2-2). The study of basic concepts, techniques, practices, and procedures of criminalistics, including the most current technologies in forensic analysis. Criminal investigation of actual cases will be discussed with a minimum of scientific terminology. In addition, the nature of physical evidence will be emphasized, including the use of DNA profiling. Strongly recommended for Criminal Justice majors and Pre-Allied Health track students in Biology. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing. (Cross-listed with CJ 472 and BSC 472).)
Graduate Science Education Courses at TAMU-T
SCED 503. Strategies for Teaching Science. Diagnosis and remediation of instructional strategies in problem areas in elementary and secondary school science. Also included are problems related to curricula design, instructional materials, and child development.
SCED 504. Guiding Student Research in Science. This course is designed to train teachers in content and assessment procedures that address the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) objectives for all learners. The scientific thinking processes will be emphasized in all aspects of the course. Topic areas covered include basic science concepts and basic methodology for guiding students in doing research and science projects.
SCED 505. Teaching Environmental Science. This course will concentrate on the basic principles of environmental education using a hands-on approach. Basic environmental principles and how to teach them will be stressed.
SCED 506. Earth System Science for K-4 Teachers. This course is built around the study of “spheres”—the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. Students will learn about the major concepts important to each of these spheres and how to teach them to K-4 students. Students will also learn to use internet resources and to interact with others in a virtual community of teachers and learners to focus on content, pedagogy and technology integration.
SCED 507. Earth System Science for Grades 5-8 Teachers. Students will explain Earth sphere and event interactions in relation to specific events; perform analyses of consequences to the spheres and to specific events; create collaborative, inquire-based classroom applications; and, use technology as a learning and teaching tool for grades 5-8 students. This course is build around the study of the Brazilian deforestation, the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, the Larsen Ice Shelf disintegration, and Hurricane Dennis. Students will also learn to use internet resources and to interact with others in a virtual community of teachers and learners to focus on content, pedagogy and technology integration.
SCED 508. Earth System Science for Grades 9-12 Teachers. The focus of this course is on the student developing Earth system science knowledge using the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Model. The student will then apply what is learned about Earth system science and Problem-Based Learning to their own grades 9-12 student classrooms and school curriculum. The course is built around the study of the coral reefs, tropical rain forest, ozone, and global climate change. Students will also learn to use internet resources and to interact with others in a virtual community of teachers and learners to focus on content, pedagogy and technology integration.
SCED 529. Workshop in Science Education. (6 SCH) May be repeated when topics vary. A course designed to provide in-service elementary science teachers with content knowledge and pedagogical techniques for teaching science to elementary school children. Topic areas covered include content in life, earth and physical sciences. The course will utilize hands-on/minds-on methods for teaching science.
