The BS-MS accelerated degree program allows undergraduate students in the Biology program to begin coursework towards the non-thesis option of the Master of Science in Biology program during their senior year at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Students can earn a B.S. and M.S. degree in five years upon completion of degree requirements for both degrees. For this accelerated program, 6 credits of graduate coursework can be applied to the undergraduate degree. To be admitted to the BS/MS Accelerated program in Biology, the candidate must be a Biology major with an overall Undergraduate GPA of 3.25. Students must apply for the accelerated program during the semester they will earn 90 semester hours or more towards their bachelors program. Once admitted, the BS/MS candidate must maintain a 3.25 Undergraduate GPA.
| Core Curriculum Courses | ||
| See the Core Curriculum Requirements | 42 | |
| Required courses in the major | 30 | |
| BSC 1406 | Introductory Biology I | 4 |
| BSC 1407 | Introductory Biology II | 4 |
| BSC 303 | Cell Biology | 4 |
| BSC 304 | Genetics | 4 |
| BSC 305 | General Physiology | 4 |
| BSC 306 | Applied Microbiology | 4 |
| BSC 307 | Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 401 | Research Literature and Seminar | 3 |
| Required support courses | 26 | |
| General and Quantitative Chemistry I * | ||
| CHEM 1111 | General and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry Tutorial I | 1 |
| General and Quantitative Chemistry II * | ||
| CHEM 1112 | General and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry Tutorial II | 1 |
| CHEM 2323 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 2123 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CHEM 2325 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 2125 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| PHYS 1401 | College Physics I | 4 |
| or PHYS 2425 | University Physics I | |
| PHYS 1402 | College Physics II | 4 |
| or PHYS 2426 | University Physics II | |
| Introduction to Sociology * | ||
| Plus 6 sequential sh from: | ||
| College Algebra * | ||
| Pre-Calculus * | ||
| Calculus I * | ||
| MATH 2414 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Plus one course from: | ||
| Nutrition * | ||
or PSY 2301 | Introduction to Psychology | |
| Plus one course from: | ||
| Advanced Biostatistics | ||
| Advanced Courses Required | 22 | |
| Advanced Cell Biology | ||
| Plus 19 sh from 300 or 400 upper level BSC courses other than the required courses in the major. | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
The BS-MS accelerated degree program allows undergraduate students in the Biological Sciences program to begin coursework towards the thesis option of the Master of Science in Biological Sciences program during their senior year at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Students can earn a B.S. and M.S. degree in five years upon completion of degree requirements for both degrees. For this accelerated program, 12 credits of graduate coursework may be taken as an undergraduate student (graduate courses cannot be applied to the undergraduate degree). Once admitted, the BS/MS candidate must maintain a 3.25 Undergraduate GPA. In the final semester of the student’s undergraduate program, a new online Apply Texas Application for the master’s Accelerated program must be submitted to gain admission and continue taking classes to complete the master’s program. The Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences with thesis option is available only on campus.
| Thesis (6 semester hours required) | ||
| BSC 518 | Thesis | 3-6 |
| Required Courses (6 semester hours) | ||
| BSC 504 | Advanced Biostatistics | 3 |
| BSC 515 | Advanced Cell Biology | 3 |
| Core courses (9 semester hours) | ||
| To satisfy core requirements choose one course (3 semester hours) from each topic, the second course taken from a topic will be counted towards the general electives: | ||
| Topic 1. Genetics | ||
| BSC 512 | Advanced Ecological Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 513 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| Topic 2. Ecology | ||
| BSC 510 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 560 | Advanced Landscape Ecology | 3 |
| Topic 3. Physiology | ||
| BSC 552 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 550 | Microbial Physiology | 3 |
| Electives (9 semester hours) | ||
| BSC 509 | Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 510 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 511 | Avian Biology | 3 |
| BSC 512 | Advanced Ecological Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 513 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 514 | Advanced Pharmacology - Principles and Practice | 3 |
| BSC 516 | Medical Microbiology | 3 |
| BSC 517 | Stem Cell Biology | 3 |
| BSC 519 | Advanced Gene Regulation | 3 |
| BSC 520 | Advanced Immunology | 3 |
| BSC 521 | Epigenetics | 3 |
| BSC 522 | Reproductive Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 523 | The Plant Microbiome | 3 |
| BSC 524 | Advanced Soil and Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| BSC 525 | Advanced Neuroscience | 3 |
| BSC 526 | Advanced Developmental Biology | 3 |
| BSC 527 | Advanced Human Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 530 | Advanced Virology | 3 |
| BSC 531 | Biogeography | 3 |
| BSC 532 | Behavioral Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 533 | Invertebrate Zoology | 3 |
| BSC 534 | Vertebrate Zoology | 3 |
| BSC 535 | Evolution | 3 |
| BSC 537 | Behavior and Conservation | 3 |
| BSC 539 | Herpetology | 3 |
| BSC 540 | Animal Behavior | 3 |
| BSC 541 | Genetic Engineering | 3 |
| BSC 550 | Microbial Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 552 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 560 | Advanced Landscape Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 561 | Bioremediation | 3 |
| BSC 562 | Ecotoxicology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
The BS-MS accelerated degree program allows undergraduate students in the Biological Science program to begin coursework towards the non-thesis option of the Master of Science in Biological Sciences program during their senior year at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Students can earn a B.S. and M.S. degree in five years upon completion of degree requirements for both degrees. For this accelerated program, 6 credits of graduate coursework can be applied to both the BS and MS degrees. Once admitted, the BS/MS candidate must maintain a 3.25 Undergraduate GPA. In the final semester of the student’s undergraduate program, a new online Apply Texas Application for the master’s Accelerated program must be submitted to gain admission and continue taking classes to complete the master’s program. The Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences with non-thesis option is offered on-campus or fully online
| Research (3 semester hours) | ||
| BSC 595 | Research Literature and Techniques | 3 |
| 15 semester hours of required core courses plus one elective course must be successfully completed before approval to register for BSC 595 can be given (18 hrs total) | ||
| Required Courses (6 semester hours) | ||
| BSC 504A | Advanced Biostatistics * | 3 |
| BSC 515A | Advanced Cell Biology * | 3 |
| Required Core Courses (9 semester hours) | ||
| To satisfy core requirements choose one course (3 semester hours) from each topic, the second course taken from a topic will be counted towards the general electives: | ||
| Topic 1. Genetics | ||
| BSC 512 | Advanced Ecological Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 513 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| Topic 2. Ecology | ||
| BSC 510 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 560 | Advanced Landscape Ecology | 3 |
| Topic 3. Physiology | ||
| BSC 552 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 550 | Microbial Physiology | 3 |
| Electives (18 semester hours) | ||
| BSC 509 | Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 510 | Community Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 511 | Avian Biology | 3 |
| BSC 512 | Advanced Ecological Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 513 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| BSC 514 | Advanced Pharmacology - Principles and Practice | 3 |
| BSC 516 | Medical Microbiology | 3 |
| BSC 517 | Stem Cell Biology | 3 |
| BSC 519 | Advanced Gene Regulation | 3 |
| BSC 520 | Advanced Immunology | 3 |
| BSC 521 | Epigenetics | 3 |
| BSC 522 | Reproductive Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 523 | The Plant Microbiome | 3 |
| BSC 525 | Advanced Neuroscience | 3 |
| BSC 526 | Advanced Developmental Biology | 3 |
| BSC 527 | Advanced Human Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 530 | Advanced Virology | 3 |
| BSC 531 | Biogeography | 3 |
| BSC 532 | Behavioral Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 533 | Invertebrate Zoology | 3 |
| BSC 537 | Behavior and Conservation | 3 |
| BSC 539 | Herpetology | 3 |
| BSC 540 | Animal Behavior | 3 |
| BSC 541 | Genetic Engineering | 3 |
| BSC 550 | Microbial Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 552 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BSC 560 | Advanced Landscape Ecology | 3 |
| BSC 561 | Bioremediation | 3 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Courses shared with BS
Note: Successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam is required of all students.
