Facts about the Department of Biological and Health Sciences (BHS)
The Department of Biological and Health Sciences (BHS) is a relatively new entity established by the merger of the Department of Biology (BIOL) and Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSDO) in the Fall of 2006. BHS now has approximately 620 undergrads and 75 graduate students, with offices and laboratories located in four different buildings on the A&M-Kingsville Campus.
BIOLOGY STRENGTHS (BIOL)
- Many of our faculty are native South Texans.
- A dozen active faculty research laboratories, the majority are focused on biomedical research.
- “Teaching through research” philosophy. Aside from graduate students, nearly every faculty lab supports undergraduate research students.
- Excluding the Natural Toxins Research Center (NTRC), faculty garnered nearly $2 million in federal funding over the last several years.
- Growth rate of over 5% per year over the last four years.
- Strong and highly successful pre-health advising program. Of 475 undergraduate majors, 65% are in pre-health professions preparing for careers in Pharmacy, Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Optometry, or Physical Therapy.
- Biology is a South Texas pipeline for students transitioning to Ph.D. or professional programs.
- BS degree in Biomedical Science is one of only a half dozen such programs in the country.
- Extensive vertebrate and invertebrate collections – 25,000 specimens — for both research and teaching, including the Perry Glick Butterflies of the World Collection (7000 specimens) on loan from the Conner Museum.
- Paleontology Museum with 1000s of fossils exclusive to South Texas.
- Wide array of faculty teaching specialties ranging from cellular to population level biology. Engagement activities and field trips emphasized in all biology labs.
- Multiple biology scholarships available for many students each year.
- Department is in preliminary stages of developing a joint degree program with Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy, an MS degree in Biomedical Sciences, and a minor in Forensics or Forensic Biology.
- J. Talmer Peacock Auditorium.
- Most of TAMUK's Presidential Scholars choose to major in Biology.
COMMUNICATIONS SCIENCES AND DISORDERS STRENGTHS (CSDO)
- 130% increase in students enrolled in CSDO classes since 2005. Currently with nearly 150 undergraduates.
- Clinic in Manning Hall.
- Distance education partnership with other Texas Universities.
- Largest Graduate program in Arts & Sciences with 50+ graduate students.
- CSDO program offers no General Education classes; all classes are required for their specialized major.
- Explosive growth in program such that faculty are committed to raising admission standards for both undergraduate and graduate students.
- Large number of graduate students supported by scholarships.
- Recognition of CSDO program by major gifts received by donors.
- Faculty acquiring increasing number of financial grants or support.
- Graduate students recognized at state level by appointment to professional governance boards.
- South Texas pipeline for MS in Communication Sciences and Disorders professionals. 100% employment at graduation.
BHS OVERALL STRENGTHS
- Many of our faculty are native South Texans.
- High quality teaching and research.
- Faculty recognized locally, campus-wide, state-wide, and nationally for their professional and community contributions.
- Faculty known for student-friendly attitude.
For
more information, contact:Texas A&M University-Kingsville
700 University Blvd.
Kingsville, TX 78363
Telephone: 361.593.2111
email: webmaster@tamuk.edu.