Apr 18, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
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2017-2018 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions

How to Read Catalog Course Descriptions

Texas Tech offers nearly 5,000 courses as part of its curriculum. These courses are listed alphabetically by subject prefix within each college and departmental section of this catalog. The courses appear in numerical order, moving from beginning freshman or developmental level courses to graduate, research, and professional courses.

Not all courses listed in this catalog are offered every year. An online class schedule published before each registration period indicates courses that will be available during the upcoming term or semester and when each class will meet. The class schedule can be found at (www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/class_schedule/index.php). The university reserves the right to cancel any scheduled course or withdraw any program from the list of offerings when the best interests of the institution require such action.

Courses are designated by a subject prefix and number along with a descriptive title. Learn more  about interpreting the course descriptions found throughout the catalog.
 

BIOL - Biology (Undergraduate Courses)
  

  • BIOL 1110 - Basic Lab in Biology

    1 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Laboratory topics not included in other courses. Content may differ each time offered. May be repeated up to 3 credit hours.
  

  • BIOL 1113 - Environmental Problems Laboratory

    1 Semester Credit Hours
    TCCNS: [ENVR 1101] Prerequisite: BIOL 1305  (or concurrent enrollment) or permission of instructor. Laboratory and field studies of environmental problems. Not for major credit. Partially fulfills core Life and Physical Sciences requirement.
  

  • BIOL 1301 - Basic Topics in Biology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Areas of interest not included in other courses. Content is normally different each time offered. May repeat for credit three times with different content.
  

  • BIOL 1305 - Ecology and Environmental Problems

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    TCCNS: [BIOL 2306, 2406, ENVR 1301, 1401] An introduction to ecological principles and the analysis of environmental problems. Not for major credit. BIOL 1401 , BIOL 1402 , 1305, and BIOL 1306  may be taken in any sequence or simultaneously. Partially fulfills core Life and Physical Sciences requirement.
  

  • BIOL 1306 - Biology of Sex

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    An introduction to the diversity of reproductive modes in organisms and issues such as human reproduction, the evolution of sex, and mating systems. BIOL 1401 , BIOL 1402 , BIOL 1305 , and 1306 may be taken in any sequence or simultaneously.
  

  • BIOL 1401 - Biology of Plants

    4 Semester Credit Hours
    TCCNS: [BIOL 1311+1111, 1411] An introductory coverage of plant-environment interactions and plant structure and function as they relate to our understanding of the plant world. Expressly designed for students not majoring in a biological science. BIOL 1401 and BIOL 1402  may be taken in any sequence or simultaneously. Includes a lab. Partially fulfills core Life and Physical Sciences requirement.
  

  • BIOL 1402 - Biology of Animals

    4 Semester Credit Hours
    TCCNS: [BIOL 1313+1113, 1413] An introductory coverage of animal-environment interactions and animal structure, function, and behavior as they relate to our understanding of the animal world. Expressly designed for students not majoring in a biological science. BIOL 1401  and 1402 may be taken in any sequence or simultaneously. Includes a lab. Partially fulfills core Life and Physical Sciences requirement.
  

  • BIOL 1403 - Biology I

    4 Semester Credit Hours
    TCCNS: [BIOL 1306+1106, 1406] Enrollment as a freshman is only recommended with a minimum composite SAT reading plus math total of 1100, or a minimum composite ACT score of 24, or a minimum AP Biology score of 3. Students on probation cannot take BIOL 1403. Fundamentals of molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, and evolutionary theory. First semester of an integrated course recommended for students majoring in biological sciences or related disciplines. Includes a lab. (CL)
  

  • BIOL 1404 - Biology II

    4 Semester Credit Hours
    TCCNS: [BIOL 1307+1107, 1407] Prerequisite: BIOL 1403 . Fundamentals of organismal biology, population biology, and biological diversity. Second semester of an integrated course recommended for majors in biological and related sciences. Includes a lab. (CL)
  

  • BIOL 2120 - Introductory Cell and Molecular Biology

    1 Semester Credit Hours
    An introduction to current areas of research and to recent technological advances in the field of cellular and molecular biology.
  

  • BIOL 2202 - Interdisciplinary Science Issues

    2 Semester Credit Hours
    Online interdisciplinary science laboratory course emphasizing the impact of science to contemporary human activities. Intended for non-major transfer students needing laboratory credit towards graduation requirements.
  

  • BIOL 3109 - Principles of Ecology Laboratory

    1 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite or corequisite: BIOL 3309 . Explores ecology through laboratory and field exercises that enhance understanding of ecological processes spanning multiple levels from individuals to ecosystems.
  

  • BIOL 3120 - Cell Biology Laboratory

    1 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite or corequisite: BIOL 3320 . A survey of the experimental techniques used to study cells and cellular processes.
  

  • BIOL 3301 - Field Ecology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Teaches students how to design, conduct, analyze, and report on the results of field studies in aquatic and terrestrial environments.
  

  • BIOL 3302 - Developmental Biology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: BIOL 3416 . A synthesis of animal and plant development, stressing the basic principles of molecular, cellular, and organismic development.
  

  • BIOL 3303 - Tropical Marine Biology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Introduces students to the ecology and diversity of tropical marine communities. (CL)
  

  • BIOL 3304 - Human Genetics

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: BIOL 3416 . A study of the frequency and transmission of human genetics and chromosomal mutations and the application of this information to individual cases.
  

  • BIOL 3305 - Organic Evolution

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisites: BIOL 1403 , BIOL 1404 . The principles and processes of evolution, and how they relate to the ecology, physiology, behavior, morphology, and systematic classification of organisms.
  

  • BIOL 3306 - Principles of Plant Biology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    A survey of plant structure and function relationships, plant evolution and the issues of plant reproduction, and plant responses to the environment.
  

  • BIOL 3307 - Population Biology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: BIOL 3309 . Introduction to population biology theory with emphasis on interaction between genetics and ecology.
  

  • BIOL 3309 - Principles of Ecology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: BIOL 1305 , or BIOL 1401 , BIOL 1402 , or BIOL 1404 . An examination of ecological systems emphasizing populations, communities, and ecosystems.
  

  • BIOL 3320 - Cell Biology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisites: BIOL 1403 , BIOL 1404 , BIOL 3416 , and junior standing. An integrated study of the basic principles of cell structure and function.
  

  • BIOL 3405 - Plant Ecology

    4 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisites: BIOL 1401  or BIOL 1404 . The ecology of plants including plant-environment relations, plant life histories, plant-animal interactions, and current global issues in plant ecology. Includes a lab. (CL)
  

  • BIOL 3410 - Experimental Molecular Biology

    4 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: BIOL 3320  or consent of instructor. Introduction to modern molecular biology research techniques used to study eukaryotic cells. Includes a lab. (CL) Offered odd years only.
  

  • BIOL 3416 - Genetics

    4 Semester Credit Hours
     Prerequisite: C or better in BIOL 1401 , BIOL 1402 , or BIOL 1403 . Genetic principles with emphasis on mechanisms and problem solving. Includes a lab. Includes a lab. (CL)
  

  • BIOL 4100 - Undergraduate Research in Biology

    1 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Selected research problems according to the needs of the students. May be repeated or taken parallel for credit in another field or with new materials in the same field.
  

  • BIOL 4101 - Biology Seminar

    1 Semester Credit Hours
    Senior standing in biology, botany, or zoology. Critical reviews of classical and recent literature and reports of original investigations. May be repeated once for credit. (CL)
  

  • BIOL 4110 - Topics in Biology

    1 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Special areas of current interest not commonly included in other courses. Content normally different each time offered. May be repeated for credit up to 3 hours.
  

  • BIOL 4300 - Undergraduate Research in Biology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Selected research problems according to the needs of the students. May be repeated or taken parallel for credit in another field or with new materials in the same field. No more than 6 hours can be applied to degree requirements.
  

  • BIOL 4301 - Topics in Biology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Special areas of current interest not commonly included in other courses. Content normally differs with section number. May be repeated for credit with different course content. (Neurobiology is CL)
  

  • BIOL 4303 - Population Genetics

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: BIOL 3416  or equivalent course in genetics; MATH 1320  or equivalent course in algebra recommended. The origin, maintenance, and significance of genetic variation in natural and artificial populations.
  

  • BIOL 4307 - Cancer Biology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: C or better in BIOL 3320 ; ZOOL 4304  is recommended. Presents a comprehensive overview covering the history of cancer biology to the most recent developments in the field. Molecular and cellular biology as well as clinical topics will be covered. (CL)
  

  • BIOL 4310 - Community Ecology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: BIOL 3309  or consent of instructor. An investigation of theoretical and experimental approaches to understanding the composition, diversity, and structure of plant, animal, and microbial communities.
  

  • BIOL 4311 - Applied Virology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisites: C or better in MBIO 4310 . BIOL 3320 , BIOL 3416 , and MBIO 4402  are highly recommended Covers in detail aspects of infectious diseases caused by human viruses and the applicability of virology to other fields in biology.
  

  • BIOL 4320 - Molecular Biology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: C or better in BIOL 3320  or instructor consent. Includes the study of molecular processes involved in cellular functioning of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and viruses together with recent technological advances in molecular biology research. (CL)
  

  • BIOL 4330 - Landscape Ecology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: BIOL 1404  or BIOL 3309 . An examination of how we quantify patterns and effects of spatial heterogeneity on organisms and ecological processes.
  

  • BIOL 4350 - Physiological Plant Ecology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisite: BOT 3401 . Investigation of the physiological processes of plants that contribute to understanding the ecological distribution and evolutionary success of plants in their physical environment.
  

  • BIOL 4392 - Marine Biology

    3 Semester Credit Hours
    Prerequisites: BIOL 1403  and BIOL 1404 . Introduction to the study of marine organisms and their environments.