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 2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog (#140). This listing is for informational use only.

FRESHMAN YEAR

SOPHOMORE YEAR

JUNIOR YEAR

SENIOR YEAR

Description of Electives

1. Core Electives: (15 hours) Take ENGL 104 (3 hours), COMM 203, 205 or 243 (3 hours), a 200-400 level Language, Philosophy and Culture CORE course (3 hours), 3 hours of a Creative Arts CORE course. For a list of the acceptable Language, Philosophy and Culture and Creative Arts courses, please see your catalog at Undergraduate Catalog Listings. 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 catalog or the Mathematics Department's List of International and Cultural Diversity Requirements.

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 catalog.

5. Math electives: At least one course should be a W or a C course. Note: Maximum of 3 hours of MATH 411 or STAT 414 may be used in this degree program.

6. Free electives: (3 hours) 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 List of ineligible free 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 21^st 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 20^th 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.