Program Overview

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in Biosciences and a Major Concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the BA degree with a major in Biosciences and a major concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of core concepts in biology.
2. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of cell biology and genetics.
3. 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.
4. Demonstrate the ability to apply the process of science, including designing experiments and/or building mathematical models, and collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data.
5. Demonstrate effective oral, written, and visual communication skills, including communicating science to diverse audiences.

Requirements for the BA Degree

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.

Core Requirements

• Non-Biology Courses:
  • CHEM 121: GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
  • CHEM 123: GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I
  • MATH 101: SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I
  • MATH 102: SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II
  • PHYS 125: GENERAL PHYSICS (WITH LAB) 1
  • STAT 305: INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS FOR BIOSCIENCES 2
• Core Lecture Courses:
  • BIOS 201: INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I
  • BIOS 202: INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II
• 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

Major Concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics

• Core Requirements:
  • Non-Biology Courses:
    • CHEM 122: GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
    • CHEM 124: GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
    • Select 1 from the following: CHEM 211 & CHEM 213, or CHEM 219
  • Lecture Courses:
    • BIOS 301: BIOCHEMISTRY I
    • BIOS 341: CELL BIOLOGY
    • BIOS 344: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS
  • Elective Lecture Courses:
    • Select 3 courses from the following:
      • BIOE 464: EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX
      • BIOS 300: PARADIGMS IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY
      • BIOS 302: BIOCHEMISTRY II
      • BIOS 332: ECOLOGY
      • BIOS 334: EVOLUTION
      • BIOS 340: ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY
      • BIOS 352: PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY FOR THE BIOSCIENCES
      • BIOS 353: MICROBIOLOGY: THE MOLECULAR BASIS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT
      • BIOS 363 / HIST 363: EXTRATERRESTRIAL ELSEWHERES: ASTROBIOLOGY AND IMAGINING LIFE ON OTHER WORLDS
      • BIOS 368: CONCEIVING AND MISCONCEIVING THE MONSTROUS IN FICTION AND IN ART, IN MEDICINE AND IN BIOSCIENCE
      • BIOS 372: IMMUNOLOGY
      • BIOS 385: CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF THE NEURON
      • BIOS 390: TRANSFER CREDIT IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY
      • BIOS 405: PHYSICAL BIOLOGY
      • BIOS 410: STEM CELL BIOLOGY
      • BIOS 420: MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASES
      • BIOS 424: MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND GENETICS
      • BIOS 425: PLANT MOLECULAR GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENT
      • BIOS 431: EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
      • BIOS 441: MOLECULAR MEMBRANE BIOLOGY
      • BIOS 442: MOLECULES, MEMORY AND MODEL ANIMALS: METHODS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
      • BIOS 443: DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY
      • BIOS 444: ADVANCED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS
      • BIOS 447: EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE
      • BIOS 449: ADVANCED CELL AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
      • BIOS 450: VIRUSES AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
      • BIOS 460: CANCER BIOLOGY
      • BIOS 470: COMPUTATION WITH BIOLOGICAL DATA
      • BIOS 481: MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOPHYSICS
      • EEPS 439: GEOMICROBIOLOGY
      • NEUR 380 / PSYC 380: FUNDAMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE SYSTEMS
• Core Laboratory Course:
  • BIOS 211: INTERMEDIATE EXPERIMENTAL CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
• Elective Laboratory Courses:
  • Select 3 courses from the following:
    • BIOE 342: LABORATORY IN TISSUE CULTURE
    • BIOS 310: INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FOR BIOSCIENCES UNDERGRADUATES
    • BIOS 311: EXPERIMENTAL BIOCHEMISTRY
    • BIOS 313: EXPERIMENTAL SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
    • BIOS 314: EXPERIMENTAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
    • BIOS 315: EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY
    • BIOS 318: MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY
    • BIOS 393: LABORATORY TRANSFER CREDIT IN BIOSCIENCES
    • BIOS 405: PHYSICAL BIOLOGY
    • BIOS 417: EXPERIMENTAL CELL AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
• Capstone Requirement:
  • Select 1 course from the following:
    • BIOS 405: PHYSICAL BIOLOGY
    • BIOS 410: STEM CELL BIOLOGY
    • BIOS 420: MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASES
    • BIOS 424: MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND GENETICS
    • BIOS 425: PLANT MOLECULAR GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENT
    • BIOS 441: MOLECULAR MEMBRANE BIOLOGY
    • BIOS 442: MOLECULES, MEMORY AND MODEL ANIMALS: METHODS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
    • BIOS 443: DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY
    • BIOS 444: ADVANCED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS
    • BIOS 447: EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE
    • BIOS 449: ADVANCED CELL AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
    • BIOS 450: VIRUSES AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
    • BIOS 460: CANCER BIOLOGY
    • BIOS 470: COMPUTATION WITH BIOLOGICAL DATA
    • BIOS 481: MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOPHYSICS

Policies for the BA Degree

• Advising: Rice University policies are governed primarily by the General Announcements; students are encouraged to look there first for academic policies.
• 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.

Opportunities for the BA Degree

• Academic Honors: The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate's academic history at Rice.
• 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.