Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Biology/Professional Science Master's in Biotechnology (P.S.M.)

The purpose of this program is to provide exceptional undergraduate students in Biology a path toward accelerated completion of a Professional Science Master's (P.S.M.) degree in Biotechnology. Students in the program will complete 12 graduate hours during their final 30 hours of undergraduate coursework that will count toward both their B.S. in Biology and P.S.M. in Biotechnology degrees.

This is a competitive program, and students must submit an application and meet eligibility requirements during their junior year to be admitted to the program.  Upon graduating with the B.S. in Biology, a student in the accelerated program must submit a formal application for admission to the P.S.M. in Biotechnology program and meet all admissions requirements.

The Professional Science Master’s in Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary degree that combines the study of biology and business with an internship in the biotech sector to prepare students for a professional career in industry. Biotechnology and life sciences is one of the top 5 growth sectors in the state, creating a demand for biotechnology professionals in Texas. Providing students an accelerated path to the P.S.M. degree with a growing industry of career opportunities will encourage increased enrollment and make us more competitive to top students across Texas.  Please see the Graduate Catalog for a complete list of degree requirements for the P.S.M. in Biotechnology program.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

  1. Effectively articulate ideas on biological concepts via written communications and oral presentations.

  2. Demonstrate critical thinking by using logic and reasoning to interpret scientific results.

  3. Ability to design and conduct properly controlled experiments using modern scientific instruments and methods.

  4. Effectively propose potential technical solutions to modern biological problems or human health challenges.

  5. Integrate scientific knowledge and professional business concepts, principles, and ethics in the biotechnology sector.

  6. Work collaboratively as part of a team to perform, analyze, and present scientific results and/or research outcomes.

  7. Ability to understand research regulations and comply with all laboratory safety guidelines.

Admissions

It is recommended that students interested in this path speak with their undergraduate advisor as early as their freshman year of study. Once admitted to the accelerated program, students must meet with their undergraduate advisor each semester prior to registering for courses. During the final semester of undergraduate coursework, students should seek advising from the P.S.M. graduate advisor to discuss a graduate degree plan.

Program Coordinator

Stephanie A. Pierce, PhD
940-898-2797
spierce9@twu.edu

Application Deadlines

  • Fall - June 1st
  • Spring - October 1st
  • No summer admissions

Admissions Requirements

To apply to the Accelerated B.S. in Biology/P.S.M. in Biotechnology program, students must:

  • Be currently enrolled in the B.S. in Biology program at TWU.
  • Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 at the time of application.
  • Have successfully completed a minimum of 72 semester credit hours of coursework toward the B.S. in Biology.
  • Have a minimum of 12 semester credit hours (SCH) of electives remaining toward the B.S. Biology degree. Three SCH must be an upper-level general elective. The remaining nine credit hours can be upper-level general or biology electives.

How to Apply to the Accelerated Program

Students interested in applying to the Accelerated B.S. in Biology / P.S.M. in Biotechnology program are encouraged to contact the P.S.M. Program Coordinator prior to applying. Preference will be given to students who have started or intend to complete the Certified Quality Science Professional (CQSP) micro-credential program.

To apply, students must:

  1. Complete the Accelerated B.S. in Biology / P.S.M. in Biotechnology online application.
  2. Submit a statement of purpose and resume as PDF documents to the Program Coordinator.  Send the documents in one email and include the student’s name and TWU I.D. number with “BS/PSM documents” in the subject line of the email.
  3. Request letters of recommendation from 2 academic references. Letters should be sent as PDFs on institutional letterhead directly to the Program Coordinator.
  4. Once admitted to the Accelerated Program students must apply to the graduate P.S.M. Program. Students cannot enroll in graduate-level coursework until accepted by the Graduate School.

Accelerated Undergraduate-Graduate Program Policy Guidelines

Students may apply to an approved accelerated degree program once they have completed at least 60 undergraduate semester credit hours. Upon admission to an accelerated program, students may enroll in graduate courses for credit once they have attained at least 72 undergraduate semester credit hours. Approved courses will apply to both an undergraduate and a graduate degree.

Conditions

  • Up to 12 SCH of designated graduate courses may apply to both the Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree program comprised of 45 or fewer SCH; and up to 15 graduate SCH may apply toward both an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree program comprised of more than 45 SCH (Master’s, Specialist or Doctoral degree.)
  • Undergraduate students may enroll in no more than 6 SCH of graduate coursework in each semester or term.
  • No undergraduate-level course may count toward a graduate degree.
  • Minimal criteria for admission will include a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. Academic components may set higher requirements for their program.
  • Once admitted to an accelerated program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the remainder of their baccalaureate degree, or their admission to the accelerated graduate program may be revoked. Academic components may set additional requirements for their programs.
  • Prior to applying to an accelerated degree program, students must have completed a minimum of 15 semester credit hours at Texas Woman's University.

Graduate Application Process

All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.

This academic program may have additional graduate admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the graduate program's website.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 121

Major: 45 SCH;  Minor: 18 SCH

Program Code: BIOLOGY.BS.ACCPSM   CIP Code:  26.0101.00

Lecture and lab must be taken concurrently.  A minimum grade of C is mandatory in all required courses for Biology majors. 

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I3
ENG 1023Composition II3
Mathematics3
Life & Physical Sciences6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture3
Creative Arts3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-18653
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government3
POLS 2023Texas Government3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
CAO: Women's Studies3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics3
Total SCHs42

Courses Required for Major

BIOL 2113
BIOL 2111
Plant Biology
and Plant Biology Laboratory
4
BACT 3113
BACT 3111
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
4
ZOOL 4243
ZOOL 4241
Medical Physiology
and Medical Physiology Laboratory
4
BIOL 4813
BIOL 4811
Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression Laboratory
4
BIOL 4823
BIOL 4821
Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance Laboratory
4
BIOL 4681Biology Seminar1
Biology Undergraduate Electives from BACT, BIOL, or ZOOL4
Biology Elective hours must include coursework appropriate for science majors. The following courses are not acceptable electives: BACT 1003/BACT 1001, BIOL 1013, BIOL 1023, BIOL 1033, BIOL 1223, ZOOL 2013/ZOOL 2011, and ZOOL 2023/ZOOL 2021.
Graduate Requirements in the Fourth Year12
Advanced Scientific Communication
Advanced Genome Editing and Medical Ethics
Special Topics
Research Methods
Foundations in Business
Total SCHs37

Departmental Requirements

BIOL 1113
BIOL 1111
Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory
4
BIOL 1123
BIOL 1121
Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology II Laboratory
4
Choose one of the following:4
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
Principles of Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I
Choose one of the following:4
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 2213
CHEM 2211
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
4
CHEM 3223
CHEM 3221
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
4
MATH 1303College Algebra3-4
or MATH 2014 Calculus I
MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I3
Choose one of the following:4
Principles of Physics I
and Principles of Physics Laboratory I
General Physics I
and General Physics Laboratory I
Choose one of the following:4
Principles of Physics II
and Principles of Physics Laboratory II
General Physics II
and General Physics Laboratory II
Electives/Minor18
Total SCHs56-57

Degree requirements listed here are for completion of the undergraduate portion of the accelerated B.S. in Biology/P.S.M. in Biotechnology program.  In the final semester of the B.S. in Biology, students must apply for formal admission to the P.S.M. in Biotechnology graduate program and meet all admissions requirements.  Please see the Graduate Catalog for a complete list of degree requirements for the P.S.M. in Biotechnology program.

Plan of Study

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
BIOL 1113
BIOL 1111
Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory
BIOL 1406
& BIOL 1106
4
CHEM 1113
CHEM 1111
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 1311
& CHEM 1111
4
MATH 1303College Algebra MATH 13143
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
BIOL 1123
BIOL 1121
Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology II Laboratory
BIOL 1407
& BIOL 1107
4
CHEM 1123
CHEM 1121
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 1312
& CHEM 1112
4
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
Elective 2
 SCHs 16
Second Year
FallTCCN
BIOL 2113
BIOL 2111
Plant Biology
and Plant Biology Laboratory
BIOL 1411
& BIOL 1111
4
CHEM 2213
CHEM 2211
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 2323
& CHEM 2123
4
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I MATH 13423
 SCHs 14
SpringTCCN
BACT 3113
BACT 3111
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
4
CHEM 3223
CHEM 3221
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
4
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
Creative Arts Core Course3
 SCHs 14
Third Year
FallTCCN
BIOL 4813
BIOL 4811
Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression Laboratory
4
Biology Elective4
Multicultural Women's Studies CAO Core3
Minor Elective3
General or Minor Elective3
 SCHs 17
SpringTCCN
BIOL 4823
BIOL 4821
Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance Laboratory
4
ZOOL 4243
ZOOL 4241
Medical Physiology
and Medical Physiology Laboratory
4
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core3
 SCHs 14
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
PHYS 1133
PHYS 1131
Principles of Physics I
and Principles of Physics Laboratory I
PHYS 1301
& PHYS 1101
4
BIOL 4681Biology Seminar 1
BIOL 5293Advanced Scientific Communication 3
BUS 5013Foundations in Business 3
Upper-level General or Minor Elective4
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
PHYS 1143
PHYS 1141
Principles of Physics II
and Principles of Physics Laboratory II
PHYS 1302
& PHYS 1102
4
BIOL 5503Research Methods 3
BIOL 5903Special Topics 3
Global Perspectives Elective3
Social & Behavioral Science Core3
 SCHs 16
 Total SCHs:  121

This plan of study is for completion of the undergraduate portion of the accelerated B.S. in Biology/P.S.M. in Biotechnology program.  In the final semester of the B.S. in Biology, students must apply for formal admission to the P.S.M. in Biotechnology graduate program and meet all admissions requirements.  Please see the Graduate Catalog for a complete list of degree requirements for the P.S.M. in Biotechnology program.