About | Academic Programs | Highlights | Student Organizations and Activities | Internships | Scholarships | Courses
About
Chair
Todd Primm
Graduate Advisor
Sibyl R. Bucheli
Faculty
Sibyl R. Bucheli, Madhu Choudhary, Jerry L. Cook, Tamara J. Cook, P. Raelynn Deaton, James R. DeShaw, Anne R. Gaillard, Chad W. Hardgrave, Joan E. N. Hudson, Patrick J. Lewis, William I. Lutterschmidt, Aaron M. Lynne, Diane L. H. Neudorf, Todd P. Primm, Christopher P. Randle, Matthew P. Rowe, Monte L. Thies, Jack C. Turner, Justin K. Williams, Everett D. Wilson
Mission
The Department of Biological Sciences is dedicated to the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge and scientific discovery in the life sciences through innovative teaching and research programs. The department strives to instill in its students the philosophy of lifelong scholarship, producing scientifically literate members of society who have the knowledge to contribute and compete in a rapidly changing world.
Contact Information
936.294.1540
Website
www.shsu.edu/~bio_www/
Academic Programs
See also: Forensic Science, MS in the College of Criminal Justice
Highlights
Biology, the study of living things, is an exciting and dynamic field that offers many areas of focus. Students may choose to study how life functions at the molecular, cellular, organismal, or ecological levels. The biological sciences provide opportunities to study viruses, bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals and to investigate the biochemical, physiological, morphological, anatomical, behavioral, ecological, and evolutionary processes that make each organism unique.
The Department of Biological Sciences is located in the Lee Drain Building, which houses facilities including teaching and research laboratories, the Warner Herbarium, Sam Houston State University Arthropod Collection, Sam Houston State Vertebrate Museum and Texas Bird Sound Library, an animal rearing facility, greenhouse, outdoor aviary, and scanning electron microscopy, molecular, microbiology, flow cytometry, and morphology laboratories. The department operates the Center for Biological Field Studies, a 250 acre field station within 5 miles of campus that is dedicated to biological and environmental research and teaching.
Student Organizations and Activities
- Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) is an undergraduate national Biological Honor society. The organization was founded in 1922 and the Delta Tau chapter at SHSU was chartered in 1965. TriBeta is dedicated to advancing the understanding and appreciation of the biological sciences and encouraging/supporting undergraduate student scientific research. TriBeta membership requires: (1) a declared major in Biology, Environmental Science or related biological field, (2) completion of two biology courses (associate member) and one 300 or 400 course (regular member) with BIO GPA of 3.0, and (3) an overall SHSU GPA of 2.75. Membership invitations are sent to eligible students each fall and spring semester. Dr. P. Raelynn Deaton and Dr.Chad W. Hardgrave serve as faculty advisors to TriBeta.
- Sam Houston Association of Medical Oriented Students (SHAMOS) membership is available to any student interested in pursuing a career in the medical or allied health field. Activities include fundraisers, community service projects, blood drives with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, and canned food drives. SHAMOS sponsors an outside speaker program to inform students of the opportunities and benefits of the various disciplines of the medical arts (e.g., general and specialist dentistry, general and specialist medicine, occupational therapy, physician assistant, podiatry, forensic pathology, and EMS). Dr. Madhu Choudhary and Dr. Aaron M. Lynne serve as faculty advisors to SHAMOS.
Internships
The Department of Biological Sciences believes that "hands on" experiences, through either internships or faculty directed undergraduate research projects, are an important complement to a student's formal coursework. Moreover, undergraduate research experience is critical for students applying to graduate programs or professional schools. We therefore encourage Biology students to consider participating in an internship or an undergraduate research project; such participation is required for the Environmental Science program. Students seeking information regarding internships and/or undergraduate research experiences should contact one of the following faculty: Dr. James R. DeShaw for Environmental Science students; and Dr. Todd Primm for all others. Individual faculty members may be contacted for details regarding their research programs and independent research possibilities.
Scholarships
Academic scholarships are available from both the Department of Biological Sciences and the University to support student studies. The Department of Biological Sciences scholarships include:
- Biology & Environmental Science Academic Scholarship
- Claude McLeod Academic Scholarship
- Emma Normand Academic Scholarship
- James D. Long Biology Endowment
- Patrick Neil O'Bryant Academic Scholarship
- James Patrick Weber Environmental Science Award
- S.R. Warner Academic Scholarship
- Wilson-Warner Endowed Scholarship in the Biological Sciences
- Roy Turner Scholarship Endowment
- Everett Wilson Biology Endowment
- Harold F. Foerster Scholarship
Departmental scholarship information may be obtained by writing to Scholarships, Department of Biological Sciences, Box 2116, SHSU, Huntsville, Texas 77341-2116 or by visiting www.shsu.edu/~bio_www/scholarships.html. Information on University scholarships may be obtained from the Office of Academic Scholarships website at www.shsu.edu/~sfa_www/scholarship.html or telephone (936) 294-1672.
Graduate Student Support
Competitive teaching and research assistantships are available to graduate
students in Biology through the Department of Biological Sciences and
individual faculty members. In addition, the department offers entrance
scholarships to qualified incoming students and summer scholarships to support
research activities. University scholarships are also available. The department
also offers competitive research grants to support research activities and
travel to scientific meetings. For details and application materials, contact
the Graduate Committee Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Box 2116, Sam
Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341-2116; (936) 294-1540; email bio_www@shsu.edu. Details are also available
on the Department’s website at: http://www.shsu.edu/~bio_www/.