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Texas A&M University
Mathematics

Bachelor of Science
Applied Mathematics/Biological Sciences Area of Emphasis

Below are the requirements for the B.S. degree in Applied Mathematics (Biological Sciences Area of Emphasis) as listed in the 2011-2012 Undergraduate Catalog (#134). This listing is for informational use only.

FRESHMAN YEAR

First Semester

Cr

Second Semester

Cr

MATH 171

4

MATH 172

4

[1]BIOL 1XX (QBS)

1

BIOL 1XX (QBS)

1

BIOL 111

4

CHEM 101/111 or 107

4

ENGL 104

3

BIOL 112

4

CSCE 110, 206, 111, or 121

4

HIST/POLS

3

KINE 198

1

TOTAL

16

TOTAL

17

SOPHOMORE YEAR

Third Semester

Cr

Fourth Semester

Cr

MATH 221

4

MATH 323

3

[2]MATH 220B

3

MATH 308

3

HIST/POLS

3

BIOL 1XX (QBS)

1

STAT 211

3

BIOL 214

3

BIOL 213

3

CHEM 222

3

BIOL 1XX (QBS)

1

CHEM 242

1





KINE 199

1

TOTAL

17

TOTAL

15

JUNIOR YEAR

Fifth Semester

Cr

Sixth Semester

Cr

MATH 409

3

MATH 410

3

MATH elective

3

MATH elective

3

[3]MATH 469

3

STAT 212

3

HIST/POLS

3

ENGL 241, 301 or 2311 at jr. coll.

3

ENGL lit

3

MATH 442

3

BIOL 1XX (QBS)

1

BIOL 1XX (QBS)

1

TOTAL

16

TOTAL

16

SENIOR YEAR

Seventh Semester

Cr

Eighth Semester

Cr

MATH 415 or 433

3

MATH elective

3

MATH 417

4

MATH elective

3

HIST/POLS

3

ECON 202/203

3

CORE elective

3

FREE elective

1

TOTAL

13

TOTAL

10

Description of Electives

1. Core Electives: (15 hours) Take ENGL 104 (3 hours), ENGL lit. (3 hours), ENGL 241 or 301 or 2311 at jr. coll. (3 hours), 3 hours of a Visual and Performing Arts CORE course. For a list of the acceptable ENGL literature, and Visual/Performing Arts courses, please see your catalogue at Undergraduate Catalog Listings. The English Literature elective must be chosen from the list of Humanities electives. In addition, 6 hours of International and Cultural Diversity are required. You MUST take ICD courses that satisfy other degree requirements. For a list of these courses, please see your catalogue or the Mathematics Department's webpage at International and Cultural Diversity Requirement.

4. HIST/POLS: (12 hours) POLS 206 and 207 are required. For the HIST requirement, 6 hours of American History are required. Most students satisfy this requirement by taking HIST 105 and 106. For other options, see your catalogue.

5. Free electives: (1 hour) Almost every course offered at TAMU will count as a free elective. However, there are some exceptions. Please see an advisor or the Mathematics Department's Undergraduate Web link List of ineligible electives for a list of unacceptable courses. Math 170 counts as free elective hours.

Career Options with an APMS/Biological Sciences Emphasis

Students graduating with an Applied Mathematics Degree with an Emphasis in the Biological Sciences have chosen a degree that is suited to a career in applications of mathematics to the life sciences. The 21st century has been dubbed the Century of the Life Sciences. The life sciences are poised for revolutionary advances in this century as was seen in physics during the 20th century. Mathematics will be a key player in all facets of these coming revolutionary advances in the life science. Among the many areas of the life sciences in which mathematics makes enabling contributions are: genomics (e.g. mapping the human genome), computational neuroscience, modeling human and animal physiology, epidemiology (modeling the emergence, spread and treatment of diseases such as AIDS, cancer, SARS, influenza, malaria, etc.), ecology (e.g. modeling the effects of global climate change and human land use upon local or global ecosystems), pharmacology, (e.g. modeling the development and delivery (pharmacokinetics) of pharmaceuticals), to name but a few. Breakthroughs in these fields will be made by interdisciplinary teams of scientists, statisticians and mathematicians working in commercial (industrial) laboratories, governmental laboratories (such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Sandia National Laboratory), privately or publically funded research centers, and universities. Information on career opportunities in mathematics applied to the life sciences can be found at the websites of the Society for Mathematical Biology (http://www.smb.org/) and the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics (http://www.siam.org/).

A minor in biology or some other area of the biological sciences is well suited to this degree plan. This degree plan will prepare you for graduate work in mathematics or statistics especially with an emphasis in applications to the biological sciences.

People interested in teaching as one of several possible options should consider Post Bac Certification or Emergency Certification. If you are interested in this option, there are specific math courses that should be chosen for your math elective courses.


[1] QBS----Quantitative Biology Seminar

[2] MATH 220B-Discrete Math for Biology

[3] MATH 469---Introduction to Mathematical Biology