College of Arts and Sciences
Biological and Environmental Sciences
Professor Charles Nelson, Head
The Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences offers three majors: a B.S. in biology, a B.S. in medical technology and a B.S. in Environmental Science. The course requirements are listed below.
Students are urged to consider attendance at the institution affiliated with UTC’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences that offers field course experience in the life sciences: Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, Mississippi, offering courses in marine biology.
Preprofessional programs in dentistry, medical technology, medicine, cytotechnology, dental hygiene, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine are described in the Preprofessional Programs section of the catalog.
Biology (B.S.)
- General Education (see for list of approved courses)
- Rhetoric and Composition: English 121, 122 (6 hours)
- Mathematics: One approved mathematics course (3 hours)
- Statistics: Biology 216* (4 hours) or Mathematics 210 (3 hours)
- Natural Sciences: Two approved natural science courses, at least one including a laboratory component (7-8 hours)
- Humanities and Fine Arts: Two approved humanities and fine arts courses, one from fine arts and one from either (6 hours)
- Cultures and Civilizations: Option A: Western Humanities I and II and Non-Western Cultures and Civilizations OR Option B: World Civilization I, II, III (9 hours total)
- Behavioral and Social Sciences: Two approved behavioral or social science courses in two different disciplines (6 hours)
Major and Related Courses
- English 278 or Biology 495
- Foreign Language through first college year in one foreign language
- Mathematics 131 and 136; OR 144, 145 and 151/152 (Initial course in Mathematics sequence is dependent upon UTC Math Placement.)
- Chemistry 121/123, 122/124, 351/353, 352/354.
- Biology - 38 hours including 121, 122 (a grade of C or better must be earned in 122 in order to take courses beyond the 100 level for which 122 is a prerequisite), 325 (326 required for the molecular concentration but is an elective for all other concentrations), four laboratory courses above the 100 level, 3 hours of a single, formal lecture or laboratory course at the 400 level.
- No more than 4 hours of 497r and/or 498r may be counted as part of the 38 hours of biology. All senior level students must take a major field achievement test in biology prior to graduation.
- 2.0 average in all biology courses.
- Minimum of 39 hours of 300 and 400 level courses.
- Electives to complete 120 hours.
- Additional requirements.
*Also satisfies requirement in the major.
Each biology major must also complete the requirements for one of the following concentrations.
2126 - General Biology
Physics 103/183, 104/184 or Geology 111/181, 112/182 (Physics 103/183, 104/184 recommended for prospective graduate students)
Biology courses:
- Botany (select 1 course) - 207, 351, 352
- Zoology (select 1 course) - 312, 313, 320, 330, 340, 342, 403, 408, 456, 457, 458 (Courses offered in Botany and Zoology at Gulf Coast Research Laboratory may be substituted. Approval of the department head required)
- Ecology and Evolution (select 1 course) - 306/307, 315, 416, 440, 450, ESC 406
- Cell and Physiology (select 1 course) - 304, 311, 323, 412, 420, 428, 460, 463
- Recommended electives: Chemistry 341, 466
2127 - Preprofessional (Premedical, Predental)
- Chemistry 466, Physics 103/183 and Physics 104/184
- Biology courses:
- Botany (select 1 course) - 207, 351, 352.
- Zoology ( select 1 courses) - 313, 330, 403
- Ecology and Evolution (select 1 course) - 306, 315, 416, 450
- Cell and Physiology (select 2 courses) - 311, 323, 428
- One additional course to be chosen from
- Zoology - 312, 313, 320, 330, 340, 342, 403, 408, 456, 457, 458
OR
- Cell and Physiology - 304, 323, 412, 420, 460, 463
- Recommended elective - Classics 300
2128 - Ecology
Physics 103/183, 104/184 or Geology 111/181, 112/182 (Physics 103/183, 104/184 recommended for prospective graduate students)
Biology courses:
- Botany (select 1 course) - 207, 351, 352
- Zoology (select 1 course) - 312, 313, 320, 330, 340, 342, 403, 408, 456, 457, 458 (Courses offered in Botany and Zoology at Gulf Coast Research Laboratory may be substituted. Approval of the department head required.)
- Ecology and Evolution (select 3 courses) - 306/307 (required), 315, 416, 440, 450, ESC 406
- Cell and Physiology (select 1 course) - 304, 311, 323, 428, 460, 463
- Recommended electives: Geography 221, Geology 123
2129 - Organismal Biology
Mathematics: 144, 145 and 151/152 recommended for prospective graduate students.
Physics: 103/183, 104/184 or Geology 111/181,112/182 (Physics 103/183, 104/184 recommended for prospective graduate students)
Biology courses:
- Botany and Zoology (select 4 courses) - 207, 312, 313, 320, 340, 342, 351, 352, 403, 408, 456, 457, 458 (A minimum of one botany and one zoology course must be taken. Courses offered in Botany and Zoology at Gulf Coast Research Laboratory may be substituted. Approval of the department head required.)
- Ecology and Evolution (select 2 courses) - 306/307, 315, 416, 440, 450, ESC 406
- Cell and Physiology (select 1 course) - 304, 323, 460
- Recommended elective: Chemistry 466
2130 - Molecular
Mathematics 144, 145 and 151/152 recommended for prospective graduate students.
Chemistry 466, Physics 103/183 and Physics 104/184
Biology courses:
- Botany (select 1 course) - 207, 351, 352
- Zoology (select 1 course) - 312, 313, 320, 330, 340, 342, 403, 408, 456, 457, 458
- Ecology and Evolution (select 1 course) - 306, 315, 416, 450, ESC 406
- Cell and Physiology - 311, 326, 412, 420, 428
- Recommended elective: Chemistry 341
4520 - BIOLOGY MINOR
The Biology Department offers a minor requiring 20 hours of biology including Biology 121, 122 and eight hours at the 300 level or above.
Minimum 2.0 average in the minor.
2774 - Medical Technology (B.S.)
- General Education (see for list of approved courses)
- Rhetoric and Composition: English 121, 122 (6 hours)
- Mathematics: One approved mathematics course (3 hours); related course noted below will apply
- Statistics: Biology 216 (4 hours) or Mathematics 210
- Natural Sciences: Two approved natural science courses, at least one including a laboratory component (7-8 hours)
- Humanities and Fine Arts: Two approved humanities and fine arts courses, one from fine arts and one from either (6 hours)
- Cultures and Civilizations: Option A: Western Humanities I and II and Non-Western Cultures and Civilizations OR Option B: World Civilization I, II, III (9 hours total)
- Behavioral and Social Sciences: Two approved behavioral or social science courses (6 hours)
Major and Related Courses
- English 278 or Biology 495
- Mathematics 131 and 136 OR 144, 145 and 151/152. Initial course in Mathematics sequence is dependent upon UTC Math Placement. Math 144, 145 and 151/152 is recommended for prospective graduate students.
- Physics 103/183 and 104/184, and 16 hours of chemistry including 121/123, 122/124, 351/353, either 354 or 341
- Biology courses including 121, 122, 208, 209, 311, 412; one course from 315, 325, 403, 425; and one course from 306-307 or 408
- 30 hours from approved school of medical technology
- Recommended Electives: Foreign Language through 102 (first year college)
- 2.0 average in all biology courses.
- Minimum of 39 hours of 300 and 400 level courses.
- Electives to complete 120 hours.
- Additional requirements.
Environmental Science (B.S.)
The environmental science major consists of two parts: 1) a core curriculum required of all majors and 2) a concentration of study in one of the following areas: biology, chemistry, engineering, geology, geography, mathematics, physics, or sociology/anthropology. Environmental science courses are described below; all other required courses are described in the listings of other departments named.
