2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog - R 
    
    Nov 23, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog - R

Cell and Molecular Biology: Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration (6231), B.S.


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The concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology is supported by coursework from the Department of Chemistry and Physics and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and is composed of 45 hours of courses from the Department of Biological Sciences as detailed below.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Major in Cell and Molecular Biology (6230)


The Cell and Molecular Biology Major is designed for students with career interests in medical, industry, and/or government research, academics, and/or healthcare. Students begin with foundational courses in introductory biology, math, chemistry, and physics. They proceed to advanced core lecture and lab courses in cell biology, microbiology, genetics, and molecular biology delving into details such as DNA and protein structure which are essential for understanding the complex functions of living things. This foundation prepares students for careers on the “cutting edge” of science. As a part of this major, students are encouraged to earn course credit and gain experience doing hands-on research with a faculty mentor. 

This major has four concentrations allowing students to individualize their education based on specific interests and goals. 

The completion of a minor is optional for this major. 

For more information about the Cell and Molecular Biology major, please contact: 

Department of Biological Sciences 
249 Brehm Hall 
574 University Street 
Martin, TN 38238 
biology@utm.edu  
731-881-7171 

Concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology (6231)


The Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration exists for students who want to study biological structure and function at the cellular or sub-cellular level, and who wish to work in a professional, academic, industrial, government or research setting. This curriculum serves as a platform for those planning to attend graduate programs in cell and molecular sciences, including cytotechnology, immunology, microbiology, and genetics.  The course selections are more flexible than those of the Biomedical Health Sciences Concentration. This concentration requires thirteen additional hours selected from upper-division courses offered by the Department of Biological Sciences; up to four hours of Biochemistry (BCHE) may be used to satisfy these upper-division Biology elective requirements. 

Students should work closely with their academic advisers to design their specific course of study. The completion of a minor is optional for this major. The major is composed of the following broad areas of coursework: 

General Education Requirements  38 hours
Bachelor of Science Requirements  11-14 hours
Major Core Requirements  13 hours
Concentration Core Requirements  30-31 hours
Concentration Elective Requirements  13 hours
Unrestricted Electives to reach 120 hours  11-15 hours
Minor   Optional
TOTAL  120 hours

 

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS


  

Graduation Requirements


Minimum credits required for graduation   120 credit hours
Minimum credits in upper-division courses   42 credit hours
Maximum credits in any one subject counted toward graduation   50 credit hours
General education core requirements   38 credit hours
Complete a Major    

 

General Education Core Curriculum Requirements (38 credit hours)


  

Guidance for choosing general education courses:


  • Biological and Physical Systems (8 credit hours) The department recommends that students complete the following courses to satisfy 8 hours of Biological and Physical Systems as part of their general education requirements: 
  • BIOL 130 Foundations of Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Diversity (4 credit hours) 
  • BIOL 140 Foundations of Biology: Cell and Molecular (4 credit hours) 
  • Mathematics (3 credit hours) The department recommends that students complete the following course to satisfy 3 hours of Mathematics as part of their general education requirements: 
  • Math 210 Elementary Statistics and Probability (3 credit hours) 

If a student does not take the recommended courses for satisfying the Biological and Physical Systems and Mathematics General Education requirements, she/he may need to complete additional credit hours to complete the degree. 

Bachelor of Science Requirements


  

Guidance for choosing courses to meet the B.S. Laboratory Science Requirement:


The department recommends that students complete the following courses to satisfy 8 hours of Biological and Physical Systems as required for the BS degree: 

Choose one of the following courses: 

  • CHEM 121: General Chemistry  
  • CHEM 102: Fundamentals of Chemistry (4 credit hours)  

AND take: 

  • CHEM 122: General Chemistry (4 credit hours) 

If a student does not take the recommended courses for satisfying the Laboratory Science Bachelor of Science requirements, she/he may need to complete additional credit hours to complete the degree. 

Where an honors course exists equivalent to any course listed above, that honors course will automatically substitute for the listed course. A student may use any combination of honors and regular versions of the respective courses in a given sequence.  

Major in Cell and Molecular Biology with a Concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology (56-57 credit hours)


Program-Specific Degree Requirements 

  • Minimum grade of C required in all major core requirements and concentration courses. 
  • Directed studies (BIOL 464-465) may be repeated for a maximum 2 credit hours. 
  • No more than 4 credit hours of Research Participation (BIOL 451-454) may be counted towards the major. 

BIOL 130 BIOL 140 CHEM 121 CHEM 122  are prerequisites to upper division courses needed for this degree.  The department recommends that a student uses these courses to satisfy the university-wide general education and Bachelor of Science requirements. A grade of C or better in these courses is required to fulfill prerequisites. 

Course Requirements


Required Coursework for the major: These courses are required for every concentration in the Cell and Molecular Biology major.  

The following courses are required for the Cell and Molecular Biology major, are prerequisites to upper division courses needed for this degree and may also be used to satisfy 19 hours of General Education and Bachelor of Science requirements (as recommended above): 

Major Core Requirements:


These major core courses are required for concentrations in this major except in those concentrations where complementary courses are completed at participating institutions (Pharmaceutical Science and Medical Laboratory Science): (13 credit hours) 

Concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology


Concentration Core Requirements: These concentration core courses are required for the Cell and Molecular Biology Concentration: (30-31 credit hours) 

Concentration Elective Requirements: (13 credit hours)


  • Complete a minimum of 13 additional credits from upper division courses offered by the Department of Biological Sciences, Biochemistry (BCHE) or approved courses.     

ADDITIONAL NOTES


  1.  Completion of a Minor and/or Unrestricted Electives 

Students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation. The completion of a minor is optional for this major. However, students are free to complete minors to complement their majors (such as the Neuroscience Minor) or enhance their career goals. Alternatively, unrestricted elective courses may be used to address prerequisites for graduate or professional programs (such as ZOOL 251, which is a pre-requisite for ZOOL 352), certificates, or other micro-credentials as offered by programs across the university. Students should work closely with their advisers to make sure they meet all requirements for graduation, especially the 42 upper division hour requirement. 

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