Directed Electives

Below are the directed electives available for BIMS majors.
Please be aware that this list is subject to change at any time.

BIMS Directed Electives
Approved List (by department)

Animal Science

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

ANSC 107: General Animal Science – 3 credit hrs.
(lab not required; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
ANSC 108: General Animal Science Laboratory – 1 credit hr.
(ANSC 107 is a co-requisite when taking ANSC 108; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
ANSC 210: Companion Animal Science – 3 credit hrs. (available Fall/Spring)
ANSC/NUTR 303: Animal Nutrition – 3 credit hrs. (available Fall/Spring)
ANSC 318: Animal Feeds and Feeding – 3 credit hrs.
(available Fall/Spring/Summer)
ANSC 320: Animal Nutrition and Feeding – 3 credit hrs.
(available online only in Spring)
ANSC/FSTC 326: Food Bacteriology – 3 credit hrs.
(lab not required; available Fall and Spring)

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Anthropology

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

ANTH 435: Medical Anthropology - 3 credit hrs.

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Biochemistry

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

(Note: BICH 410 and BICH 411 not approved as BIMS Directed Electives)
BICH 412: Biochemistry Laboratory I – 1 credit hr. (available Fall)
BICH 414: Biochemical Techniques I – 2 credit hrs. (available Spring)
BICH/GENE 431: Molecular Genetics – 3 credit hrs. (available Fall/Spring)
BICH/GENE 432: Laboratory in Molecular Genetics – 2 credit hrs.
(available Fall/Spring)

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Biomedical Sciences

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

BIMS 110: One Health in Action – 1 credit hr. (available Fall/Spring)
BIMS 125: Animals in Society – 1 credit hr. section only (available Fall/Spring)
BIMS 289: Special Topics in . . . – could be 1 to 4 credit hours
(not always scheduled)
BIMS 291: Research (U1/U2 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
BIMS 380: Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies: Best Practices
(CBK not required; available Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 then tentatively)
BIMS/GENE 405: Mammalian Genetics – 3 credit hrs. (available Fall)
BIMS/GENE 421: Advanced Human Genetics – 3 credit hrs. (available Spring)
BIMS 481: Seminar in Biomedical Science – 1 credit hr.
(C-intensive credit; available Fall and Spring tentatively)
BIMS 484: Biomedical Science Field Experience – 2 credit hrs.
(approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
BIMS 485: Directed Studies (U3/U4 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
BIMS 489: Special Topics in . . . – could be 1 to 4 credit hours
(not always scheduled)
BIMS 491: Research (U3/U4 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)

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Biology

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

(courses count as BIMS W-intensive credit until further notice)
BIOL 401: Critical Writing in Biology – 1 credit hr.
(must be CBK complete; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
BIOL 402: Communicating Biological Research to the Public – 1 credit hr.
(must be CBK complete; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
BIOL 403: Medical Narratives – 1 credit hr.
(must be CBK complete; available Fall/Spring/Summer)

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Communication

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

COMM 370: Health Communication – 3 credit hrs. (available Fall/Spring)

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Entomology

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

ENTO 208: Veterinary Entomology – 2 credit hrs.
(co-requisite ENTO 209; available Fall/Spring)
ENTO 209: Veterinary Entomology Laboratory – 1 credit hr.
(co-requisite ENTO 208; available Fall/Spring)
ENTO 210: Global Public Health Entomology – 3 credit hrs. (available Fall/Spring)
ENTO 423: Medical Entomology – 2 credit hrs.
(co-requisite ENTO 427; available Fall/Spring)
ENTO 425: Disease Ecology – 3 credit hrs. (available Spring only)
ENTO 427: Medical Entomology Laboratory – 1 credit hr.
(co-requisite ENTO 423; available Fall/Spring)
ENTO/FIVS 431: The Science of Forensic Entomology – 3 credit hrs.
(available Spring only)
ENTO/FIVS 432: Applied Forensic Entomology – 1 credit hr.
(available Spring only)

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HEALTH

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

HLTH 354: Medical Terminology for the Health Professions – 3 credit hrs.

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Marketing

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

MKTG 443/PHLT 426: The Business of Healthcare – 3 credit hrs.
(available Fall only)

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Nutrition

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

NUTR 202: Fundamentals of Human Nutrition - 3 credit hrs.

NUTR 222: Nutrition for Health and Health Care - 3 credit hrs.
(Distance Education only; available Fall/Spring)

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Poultry Science

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

POSC 454: Animal Welfare – 3 credit hrs. (available Spring only)

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Urban Planning

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

URPN 370: Health Systems Planning – 3 credit hours
(available Fall/Spring/Summer)

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Veterinary Integrative Biosciences

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

VIBS 111: Biodefense, Biosecurity, and Bioterrorism – 1 credit hr.
(available Fall/Spring)
VIBS 201: History of Neuroscience
VIBS 210: 21^st Century Global One Health – 1 credit hr. (available Fall only)
VIBS 211: 21^st Century Biological Threats – 1 credit hr. (available Spring only)
VIBS 222: Great Poisonings of the World – 3 credit hrs. (not scheduled in 3 years)
VIBS 243: Introductory Mammalian Histology – 2 credit hrs. (available Fall/Spring)
VIBS/NRSC 277: Essential Neuroscience - 3 credit hrs. (available Fall/Spring)
VIBS 285: Directed Studies (U1/U2 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
VIBS 289: Special Topics in . . . – could be 1 to 4 credit hours
(not always scheduled)
VIBS 305: Biomedical Anatomy – 4 credit hrs. (unknown availability at this time)
VIBS 310: Biomedical Writing – 1 credit hr.
(Fall-only, education abroad-only at this time)
VIBS 343: Histology – 4 credit hrs. (available Fall only)
VIBS/NRSC 401: Developmental Neurotoxicology – 3 credit hrs.
(VIBS/NRSC 489 in Sp’24 then VIBS/NRSC 401 in Fall and Spring)
VIBS 411: Tumor Cell Biology and Carcinogenesis – 3 credit hrs. (available Spring)
VIBS 413: Introduction to Epidemiology – 3 credit hrs. (
VIBS 422: Endocrine Toxicology
VIBS 424: Biomedical Neuroendocrinology and Endocrine Disorders
VIBS/ENTO 426: Methods in Vector-Borne Disease Ecology (by application)
VIBS 443: Biology of Mammalian Cells and Tissues
VIBS 445: Applying Peer Teaching Principles in Biomedical Anatomy
VIBS/NRSC 450: Mammalian Functional Neuroanatomy
VIBS 485: Directed Studies (U3/U4 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
VIBS 489: Special Topics in . . . – could be 1 to 4 credit hours
(not always scheduled)

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(course descriptions with prerequisites)

VIBS 111: Biodefense, Biosecurity, and Bioterrorism – 1 credit hr.
(available Fall/Spring)
VIBS 201: History of Neuroscience
VIBS 210: 21^st Century Global One Health – 1 credit hr. (available Fall only)
VIBS 211: 21^st Century Biological Threats – 1 credit hr. (available Spring only)
VIBS 222: Great Poisonings of the World – 3 credit hrs. (not scheduled in 3 years)
VIBS 243: Introductory Mammalian Histology – 2 credit hrs. (available Fall/Spring)
VIBS/NRSC 277: Essential Neuroscience - 3 credit hrs. (available Fall/Spring)
VIBS 285: Directed Studies (U1/U2 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
VIBS 289: Special Topics in . . . – could be 1 to 4 credit hours
(not always scheduled)
VIBS 305: Biomedical Anatomy – 4 credit hrs. (unknown availability at this time)
VIBS 310: Biomedical Writing – 1 credit hr.
(Fall-only, education abroad-only at this time)
VIBS 343: Histology – 4 credit hrs. (available Fall only)
VIBS/NRSC 401: Developmental Neurotoxicology – 3 credit hrs.
(VIBS/NRSC 489 in Sp’24 then VIBS/NRSC 401 in Fall and Spring)
VIBS 411: Tumor Cell Biology and Carcinogenesis – 3 credit hrs. (available Spring)
VIBS 413: Introduction to Epidemiology – 3 credit hrs. (
VIBS 422: Endocrine Toxicology
VIBS 424: Biomedical Neuroendocrinology and Endocrine Disorders
VIBS/ENTO 426: Methods in Vector-Borne Disease Ecology (by application)
VIBS 443: Biology of Mammalian Cells and Tissues
VIBS 445: Applying Peer Teaching Principles in Biomedical Anatomy
VIBS/NRSC 450: Mammalian Functional Neuroanatomy
VIBS 485: Directed Studies (U3/U4 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
VIBS 489: Special Topics in . . . – could be 1 to 4 credit hours
(not always scheduled)

Large Animal Clinical Sciences

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

VLCS 485: Directed Studies (U3/U4 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)

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Small Animal Clinical Sciences

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

VSCS 485: Directed Studies (U3/U4 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)

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Veterinary Pathobiology

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

VTPB 212: Genetics in the News
VTPB 221: Great Diseases of the World
VTPB 285: Directed Studies (U1/U2 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
VTPB 289: Special Topics in . . . – could be 1 to 4 credit hours
(not always scheduled)
VTPB 301/RWFM 309: Wildlife Diseases
VTPB 303: Medical Communication in the International Community
VTPB 407: Advanced Veterinary Microbiology Laboratory (McAllen only)
VTPB 409: Introduction to Immunology
VTPB 410: Cell Mechanisms of Disease
VTPB 411: One Health and Tropical Ecology
VTPB 438: Biomedical Virology
VTPB 460: Mammalian Cell Pathobiology
VTPB 485: Directed Studies (U3/U4 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
VTPB 489: Special Topics in . . . – could be 1 to 4 credit hours
(not always scheduled)

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Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology

(course descriptions with prerequisites)

VTPP 123: Foundations of Physiology
VTPP 207: Methodologies of Physiology Education Research
VTPP 208: Analysis and Evaluation of Physiology Education
VTPP 223: Design of Experiments for Physiology Research
VTPP 224: In Vitro Experimentation in Physiology Research
VTPP 234: Design of Models for Physiology Research
VTPP 235: Analysis and Validation of Models for Physiology Research
VTPP 281: Seminar
VTPP 285: Directed Studies (U1/U2 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
VTPP 289: Special Topics in . . . – could be 1 to 4 credit hours
(not always scheduled)
VTPP 291: Research (U1/U2 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
VTPP 401/BMEN 400: History of Human and Veterinary Medicine in Europe
VTPP 404: Food Toxicology and Safety
VTPP 420: Applied Pharmacology
VTPP 425: Pharmacology
VTPP 427: Applied Biomedical Physiology
VTPP 429: Introduction to Toxicology
VTPP 438: Analysis of Genomic Signals
VTPP 444: Practicum in Biomedical Research
VTPP 452: Fetal & Embryo Physiology
VTPP 481: Seminar
VTPP 485: Directed Studies (U3/U4 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
VTPP 489: Special Topics in . . . – could be 1 to 4 credit hours
(not always scheduled)
VTPP 491: Research (U3/U4 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)

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(course descriptions with prerequisites)

VTPP 123: Foundations of Physiology
VTPP 207: Methodologies of Physiology Education Research
VTPP 208: Analysis and Evaluation of Physiology Education
VTPP 223: Design of Experiments for Physiology Research
VTPP 224: In Vitro Experimentation in Physiology Research
VTPP 234: Design of Models for Physiology Research
VTPP 235: Analysis and Validation of Models for Physiology Research
VTPP 281: Seminar
VTPP 285: Directed Studies (U1/U2 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
VTPP 289: Special Topics in . . . – could be 1 to 4 credit hours
(not always scheduled)
VTPP 291: Research (U1/U2 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
VTPP 401/BMEN 400: History of Human and Veterinary Medicine in Europe
VTPP 404: Food Toxicology and Safety
VTPP 420: Applied Pharmacology
VTPP 425: Pharmacology
VTPP 427: Applied Biomedical Physiology
VTPP 429: Introduction to Toxicology
VTPP 438: Analysis of Genomic Signals
VTPP 444: Practicum in Biomedical Research
VTPP 452: Fetal & Embryo Physiology
VTPP 481: Seminar
VTPP 485: Directed Studies (U3/U4 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)
VTPP 489: Special Topics in . . . – could be 1 to 4 credit hours
(not always scheduled)
VTPP 491: Research (U3/U4 classification only – approval form required before registration; available Fall/Spring/Summer)