Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Integrative Biology
Program Learning Outcomes for the BS Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Integrative Biology
Upon completing the BS degree with a major in Biosciences and a major concentration in Integrative Biology, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a broad knowledge of core concepts in biology.
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of at least two of the following: biochemistry, cell biology and genetics, ecology and evolutionary biology.
- 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 through original research, 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 BS Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Integrative Biology
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BS degree with a major in Biosciences and a major concentration in Integrative Biology must complete:
- A minimum of 69 credit hours to satisfy major requirements.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 31 credit hours taken at the 300-level or above.
- Core courses common to all major concentrations.
- The requirements for the major concentration in Biochemistry. 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 BS degree emphasizes broad foundational knowledge of biology with in-depth exposure to two or more of the subfields of biochemistry, cell biology and genetics, or ecology and evolutionary biology.
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 Integrative Biology | Minimum of 69 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BS Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Integrative Biology | 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 at the 200-level or above 3 | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Concentration in Integrative Biology | ||
| 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 332 | ECOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOS 334 | EVOLUTION | 3 |
| BIOS 341 | CELL BIOLOGY | 3 |
| Elective Lecture Course in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| ANIMAL BEHAVIOR | ||
| INSECT BIOLOGY | ||
| ANIMAL DIVERSITY | ||
| PLANT DIVERSITY | ||
| ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL DATA | ||
| CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS | ||
| GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY | ||
| CONSERVATION BIOLOGY | ||
| EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES | ||
| Elective Lecture Course in Biochemistry and Cell Biology | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| SYSTEMS PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX | ||
| PARADIGMS IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY | ||
| BIOCHEMISTRY II | ||
| INTEGRATIVE ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS | ||
| PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY FOR THE BIOSCIENCES | ||
| MOLECULAR BASIS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE | ||
| 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 | ||
| MOLECULAR MEMBRANE BIOLOGY | ||
| MOLECULES, MEMORY AND MODEL ANIMALS: METHODS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY | ||
| 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 | ||
| STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY | ||
| GEOMICROBIOLOGY | ||
| FUNDAMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE SYSTEMS | ||
| Core Laboratory Courses | ||
| BIOS 211 | INTERMEDIATE EXPERIMENTAL CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES | 2 |
| BIOS 213 | INTRODUCTORY LAB IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION | 2 |
| Elective Laboratory Course | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 1-2 | |
| EXPERIMENTAL BIOCHEMISTRY | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| LAB MODULE IN ECOLOGY | ||
| LAB MODULE IN BEHAVIOR | ||
| MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | ||
| TROPICAL FIELD BIOLOGY | ||
| ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF BRAZILIAN WETLANDS LABORATORY | ||
| CONSERVATION BIOLOGY LAB | ||
| BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY | ||
| INSECT BIOLOGY LAB | ||
| FIELD BIRD BIOLOGY LAB | ||
| PLANT DIVERSITY LAB | ||
| LABORATORY TRANSFER CREDIT IN BIOSCIENCES | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL CELL AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE | ||
| Independent Research 4 | ||
| Select a minimum of 9 credit hours from the following: | 9 or 13 | |
| INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FOR BIOSCIENCES UNDERGRADUATES (taken for at least 3 credit hours per semester) 4 | ||
| INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FOR BIOSCIENCES UNDERGRADUATES and UNDERGRADUATE HONORS RESEARCH and UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SEMINAR and UNDERGRADUATE HONORS RESEARCH and UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SEMINAR 4 | ||
| Capstone Requirement 5 | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| PHYSICAL BIOLOGY | ||
| STEM CELL BIOLOGY | ||
| MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASES | ||
| CONSERVATION BIOLOGY | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY | ||
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Biosciences and Major Concentration in Integrative Biology | Minimum of 69 | |
| Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements * | 20 | |
| 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 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 include the following subject codes: ASTR, BIOE, BIOS, CEVE, CHBE, CHEM, CMOR, COMP, DSCI, EEPS, ELEC, ENGI, GLHT, HEAL, KINE, MATH, MECH, MSNE, NEUR, NSCI, PHYS, RCEL, and STAT. |
| 4 | In order to fulfill the Independent Research requirement, a minimum of 9 credit hours is required either through the course BIOS 310 (taken for at least 3 credit hours per semester), or a minimum of 13 credit hours is required through the courses BIOS 310 (taken for at least 3 credit hours) and BIOS 401, BIOS 411, BIOS 402, and BIOS 412. Please note:
|
| 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 BS Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Integrative Biology
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 BS Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Integrative Biology 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 BS Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Integrative Biology may not additionally pursue the BA 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 Integrative Biology may not additionally declare the minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology.
- Students pursuing the major in Biosciences and a major concentration in Integrative Biology may not additionally declare the minor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. 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 their academic program’s transfer credit advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the major in Biosciences should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guidelines:
- Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director (and/or the program’s official transfer credit advisor) on an individual case-by-case basis.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the BioSciences website: https://biosciences.rice.edu/
Opportunities for the BS Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Integrative Biology
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/