Sep 16, 2025

2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

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2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

Biological Sciences, M.S.

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The graduate plan in Biological Sciences leads to the Master of Science degree. Applicants for candidacy should have a bachelor’s degree in Biology, although applicants with other degrees may apply if their degrees or preparation include a significant number of plan core courses in the Biological Sciences, as well as appropriate chemistry, physics and mathematics courses.

Requirements

Students should have completed the basic requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at UHCL or the following courses (including prerequisites or equivalents) before applying for admission:

Courses

BIOL 3341 - Molecular Genetics Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4341 - Biochemistry I Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 2323 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 2123 - Laboratory for Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 2325 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 2125 - Laboratory for Organic Chemistry II Credit Hours: 1
MATH 2413 - Calculus I Credit Hours: 4
PHYS 1301 - College Physics I Credit Hours: 3
PHYS 1101 - Laboratory for College Physics I Credit Hours: 1
PHYS 1302 - College Physics II Credit Hours: 3
PHYS 1102 - Laboratory for College Physics II Credit Hours: 1
STAT 3308 - Computational Statistics Credit Hours: 3

Students should have completed one of the following courses or its equivalent:

BIOL 4344 - Comparative Animal Physiology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4345 - Human Physiology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4343 - Plant Physiology Credit Hours: 3

Students should also have completed coursework in at least two of the following areas:

BIOL 2321 - Microbiology for Science Majors Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4311 - Ecology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4347 - Cellular Physiology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4351 - Molecular Biology Credit Hours: 3

Additional Information

Biological Science M.S. Specializations (36 hours)

Pre-Health Specialization

Biological Science Core coursework (28 hours)

BIOL 4342 - Biochemistry II Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5132 - Cell Signaling Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5332 - Toxicology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5417 - Lab for Human Gross Anatomy Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 5432 - Principles of Pharmacology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5435 - Advanced Immunology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5437 - Human Gross Anatomy Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5635 - Neuroscience Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5736 - Bioethics Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5436 - Physiological Basis of Disease Credit Hours: 3

Designated electives (6 hours)

BIOL 4332 - Histology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4347 - Cellular Physiology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4348 - Developmental Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4351 - Molecular Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5131 - Membrane Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5433 - Enzymology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5731 - Advanced Cancer Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5734 - Oncogenes Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5939 - Independent Study in Biological Science Credit Hours: 3

Cell/Molecular Specialization

Cellular Molecular specialization Courses

BIOL 5131 - Membrane Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5132 - Cell Signaling Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5433 - Enzymology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5435 - Advanced Immunology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5634 - Apoptosis Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5731 - Advanced Cancer Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5732 - Advances in Molecular Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5733 - Epigenetics and Nuclear Organization Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5734 - Oncogenes Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5738 - Gene Therapy Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5931 - Research Topics in Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5939 - Independent Study in Biological Science Credit Hours: 3

Ecology/Microbiology/Aquatic and Marine Biology Specialization

Course work (select 33 hours)

BIOL 5235 - Ichthyology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5215 - Laboratory for Ichthyology Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 5233 - Ecotoxicology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5234 - Population and Community Dynamics Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5332 - Toxicology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5334 - Microbial Ecology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5517 - Limnology and Aquatic Biology Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 5531 - Aquatic Toxicity Testing Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5532 - Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5512 - Laboratory for Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 5533 - Ecological Methods Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5534 - Conservation Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5535 - Neotropical Rainforest Ecology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5537 - Limnology and Aquatic Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5931 - Research Topics in Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5939 - Independent Study in Biological Science Credit Hours: 3
ENSC 5331 - Wetlands Credit Hours: 3

Additional Information

BIOL 5235 - Ichthyology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5215 - Laboratory for Ichthyology Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 5532 - Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5512 - Laboratory for Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 5537 - Limnology and Aquatic Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5517 - Limnology and Aquatic Biology Credit Hours: 1

Plant Biology Specialization

Core coursework (select 33 hours)

BIOL 5131 - Membrane Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5132 - Cell Signaling Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5433 - Enzymology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5533 - Ecological Methods Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5534 - Conservation Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5732 - Advances in Molecular Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5931 - Research Topics in Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 5939 - Independent Study in Biological Science Credit Hours: 3
BIOT 5031 - Applied Biotechnology Credit Hours: 3

Additional Information

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