Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics
Program Learning Outcomes for the BA Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics
Upon completing the BA degree with a major in Biosciences and a major concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a broad knowledge of core concepts in biology.
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of cell biology and genetics.
- Demonstrate the ability to access scientific literature in the biological sciences and to use critical thinking skills to evaluate primary and secondary sources of biological research.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply the process of science, including designing experiments and/or building mathematical models, and collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data.
- Demonstrate effective oral, written, and visual communication skills, including communicating science to diverse audiences.
Requirements for the BA Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BA degree with a major in Biosciences and a major concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics must complete:
- A minimum of 60 credit hours to satisfy major requirements.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 24 credit hours taken at the 300-level or above.
- Core courses common to all major concentrations.
- The requirements for the major concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics. When students declare the major in Biosciences, students must additionally identify and declare one of the four major concentrations, either in:
Because of the common core requirements, it is possible for students to change their major concentration at any time, even after initially declaring the major. To do so, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
The BA degree emphasizes broad foundational knowledge of biology with in depth exposure to the subfield of cell biology and genetics. Biosciences majors are strongly encouraged to pursue their research interests through independent research experiences. The BA degree program offers greater flexibility than the BS due to fewer required independent research courses as detailed below.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor or, where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics | Minimum of 60 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BA Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics | 120 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| Non-Biology Courses | ||
| CHEM 121 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | 3 |
| or CHEM 111 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | |
| CHEM 123 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I | 1 |
| or CHEM 113 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY LAB I | |
| MATH 101 | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I | 3 |
| or MATH 105 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS I | |
| MATH 102 | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II | 3 |
| or MATH 106 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS II | |
| PHYS 125 | GENERAL PHYSICS (WITH LAB) 1 | 4 |
| STAT 305 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS FOR BIOSCIENCES 2 | 4 |
| or STAT 315 / DSCI 301 | PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS FOR DATA SCIENCE | |
| Core Lecture Courses | ||
| BIOS 201 | INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I | 3 |
| BIOS 202 | INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II | 3 |
| Elective Lecture Course | ||
| Select 1 elective course from lecture courses offered by the Wiess School of Natural Sciences or the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing at the 200-level or above 3 | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics | ||
| Core Requirements | ||
| Non-Biology Courses | ||
| CHEM 122 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | 3 |
| or CHEM 112 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | |
| CHEM 124 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II | 1 |
| or CHEM 114 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY LAB II | |
| CHEM 211 & CHEM 213 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY DISCUSSION I | 3 |
| Lecture Courses | ||
| BIOS 301 | BIOCHEMISTRY I | 3 |
| BIOS 341 | CELL BIOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOS 344 | MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS | 3 |
| Elective Lecture Courses | ||
| Select 3 courses from the following: | 9 | |
| EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX | ||
| PARADIGMS IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY | ||
| BIOCHEMISTRY II | ||
| EVOLUTION | ||
| ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY FOR THE BIOSCIENCES | ||
| MICROBIOLOGY: THE MOLECULAR BASIS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT | ||
| CONCEIVING AND MISCONCEIVING THE MONSTROUS IN FICTION AND IN ART, IN MEDICINE AND IN BIOSCIENCE | ||
| IMMUNOLOGY | ||
| CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF THE NEURON | ||
| TRANSFER CREDIT IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY | ||
| PHYSICAL BIOLOGY | ||
| STEM CELL BIOLOGY | ||
| MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASES | ||
| MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND GENETICS | ||
| PLANT MOLECULAR GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENT | ||
| EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES | ||
| MOLECULAR MEMBRANE BIOLOGY | ||
| MOLECULES, MEMORY AND MODEL ANIMALS: METHODS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY | ||
| ADVANCED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE | ||
| ADVANCED CELL AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE | ||
| VIRUSES AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES | ||
| CANCER BIOLOGY | ||
| COMPUTATION WITH BIOLOGICAL DATA | ||
| MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOPHYSICS | ||
| GEOMICROBIOLOGY | ||
| FUNDAMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE SYSTEMS | ||
| Core Laboratory Course | ||
| BIOS 211 | INTERMEDIATE EXPERIMENTAL CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES | 2 |
| Elective Laboratory Courses | ||
| Select 3 courses from the following: | 3-6 | |
| LABORATORY IN TISSUE CULTURE | ||
| INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FOR BIOSCIENCES UNDERGRADUATES 4 | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL BIOCHEMISTRY | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | ||
| LABORATORY TRANSFER CREDIT IN BIOSCIENCES | ||
| PHYSICAL BIOLOGY | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL CELL AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE | ||
| Capstone Requirement 5 | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| PHYSICAL BIOLOGY | ||
| STEM CELL BIOLOGY | ||
| MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASES | ||
| MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND GENETICS | ||
| PLANT MOLECULAR GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENT | ||
| MOLECULAR MEMBRANE BIOLOGY | ||
| MOLECULES, MEMORY AND MODEL ANIMALS: METHODS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY | ||
| ADVANCED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE | ||
| ADVANCED CELL AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE | ||
| VIRUSES AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES | ||
| CANCER BIOLOGY | ||
| COMPUTATION WITH BIOLOGICAL DATA | ||
| MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOPHYSICS | ||
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Biosciences and Major Concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics | Minimum of 60 | |
| Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements * | 29 | |
| University Graduation Requirements * | 31 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| * | Note: University Graduation Requirements include 31 credit hours, comprised of Distribution Requirements (Groups I, II, and III), FWIS, and LPAP coursework. In some instances, courses satisfying FWIS or distribution requirements may additionally meet other requirements, such as the Analyzing Diversity (AD) requirement, or some of the student’s declared major, minor, or certificate requirements. Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements include general electives, coursework completed as upper-level, residency (hours taken at Rice), and/or any other additional academic program requirements. |
| 1 | PHYS 101 and PHYS 103 or PHYS 111 may be substituted for PHYS 125. The BioSciences department has determined that credit awarded for PHYS 141 CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS I is not eligible for meeting the requirements of the Biosciences major. |
| 2 | In certain instances, and with appropriate approvals, the lower-level courses STAT 280 or STAT 180 may be substituted for STAT 305 (or STAT 315/DSCI 301). |
| 3 | Students must select 1 elective course (3 credit hours) from courses offered by the Wiess School of Natural Sciences or the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing at the 200-level or above, designated as a lecture course. Courses offered by the Wiess School of Natural Sciences or the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing include the following subject codes: ASTR, BIOE, BIOS, CEVE, CHBE, CHEM, CMOR, COMP, DSCI, EDES, EEPS, ELEC, ENGI, GLHT, HEAL, KINE, MATH, MECH, MSNE, NEUR, NSCI, PHYS, RCEL, and STAT. |
| 4 | BIOS 310 must be taken for at least 3 credit hours to fulfill an Elective Laboratory Requirement. BIOS 310 can only fulfill Elective Laboratory Requirements once for the BA. |
| 5 | The Capstone Requirement is in addition to the other lecture course requirements. The same course may not be used to satisfy more than one requirement for this major and/or major concentration. |
Policies for the BA Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics
Advising
Rice University policies are governed primarily by the General Announcements; students are encouraged to look there first for academic policies. Advising information specific to the Department of BioSciences can be found by clicking on the Undergraduate Program tab on the department website.
Program Restrictions and Exclusions
Students pursuing the BA Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics should be aware of the following program restrictions:
- As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates, under Declaring Majors, Minors and Certificates, students may not obtain both a BA and a BS in the same major. Students pursuing the BA Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics may not additionally pursue the BS Degree with a Major in Biosciences.
- Students pursuing the major in Biosciences may pursue only one major concentration within the major.
- Students pursuing the major in Biosciences and a major concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics may not additionally declare the minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the designated transfer credit advisor for the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content). The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with the applicable transfer credit advisor as well as their academic program director when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the BioSciences website: https://biosciences.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the BA Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Departmental Honors
Instructions on applying for the Distinction in Research and Creative Work award from the Department of BioSciences can be found by clicking on the Undergraduate Program tab on the department website.
Research in the BioSciences
Research is highly encouraged for all biosciences majors, and there are many opportunities for independent research at Rice. Information about research for credit and research internships specific to the Department of BioSciences can be found by clicking on the Research tab on the department website.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the BioSciences website: https://biosciences.rice.edu/.