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Texas A&M University
Mathematics

BS in APMS (Biological Science Option - 120 hrs, Catalog 140)

Hours
Math Core 171, 172, 220, 221, 323, 308, 409, 415 or 433, 417 or 437 31
Math Core
(continued)
442, 410 or 446, 469 9
BIOL/CHEM Core BIOL 213, BIOL 214, CHEM 101/111 or 107/117, CHEM 222/242 14
Quan. Biology Seminar
MATH/BIOL 285 (1 hr), MATH/BIOL 285(1 hr), MATH/BIOL 285 (1 hr), MATH/BIOL 285 (1 hr), MATH/BIOL 285 (1 hr), MATH/BIOL 285 (1 hr) 6
STAT/CSCE
STAT 211, STAT 212, CSCE 110, 111, 206, or 121 10
Math Elec.
(see note 4)
4xx 12
Core Elec.
(see note 1)
ENGL 104, COMM 203, 205, or 243, ECON 202 or 203, Lang., Phil. and Cult., Creative Arts, ICD 15
Science Core BIOL 111, BIOL 112 8
HIST/POLS Elec.
(see note 2)
HIST 105, HIST 106, POLS 206, POLS 207 12
Free Elec.
(see note 3)
3

NOTES:

  1. Core Electives: (15-21 hours) Take ENGL 104 (3 hours), COMM 203, 205, or 243 (3 hours), ECON 202 or 203 (3 hours), a 200-400 level Language, Philosophy and Culture CORE course (3 hours), and 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 select 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Math electives: (12 hours) 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.

Career Options with an APMS Degree

Students graduating with an APMS 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. Among the many areas of the life sciences in which mathematics makes enabling contributions are: genomics, computational neuroscience, modeling human and animal physiology, epidemiology, ecology, and pharmacology. Breakthroughs in these fields will be made by interdisciplinary teams of scientists, statisticians and mathematicians working in commercial (industrial) laboratories, governmental laboratories, 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 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.