See Through a Scientist’s Eyes
Expand your passion for biology and the environment with a degree from A&M-Commerce.
Take a deeper look at the inner workings of the world around you. The Department of Biological and Environmental Science offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs. Undergraduate programs encompass biological sciences, environmental sciences, wildlife conservation science and teacher certification. Our graduate studies include Master of Science degree in biology, certificates in environmental science and a fully online Master of Science degree in biological sciences.
Welcome from the Department Head
Welcome to the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at Texas A&M University-Commerce. The department offers a dynamic learning environment, exciting cutting-edge research opportunities and strong mentorship by world-class scientists. Our undergraduate and graduate programs in cell and molecular biology, conservation biology, ecology, environmental science and biology education are all designed to train and educate students to meet the challenges of modern sciences. We invite you to explore our exceptional education and research opportunities.
Explore Our Programs
Biological Sciences (BA/BS)
The BA or BS degree provides a comprehensive overview of biological sciences, working from the molecular level up through ecosystems. The programs are suited for you if you are interested in the biological sciences, a career in biological research or applying for candidacy in medicine, dentistry, physical therapy or other allied health sciences fields.
4 years
Required for BA, not BS
120 hours
No thesis required
Biological Sciences (BS) Teaching Emphasis
There is a growing need for science teachers in high school. A degree in biology along with a teacher certification will allow you to combine your interest and passion for biology with influencing and shaping the lives of the next generation.
4 years
No foreign language credits required
120 hours
No thesis required
Biological Sciences (MS)
If you are interested in furthering your studies in biological sciences, this program will enable you to work closely with faculty members with similar research interests. Faculty research interests within the department include behavioral ecology, environmental science, microbiology, neuroscience, molecular, cellular and developmental biology, as well as wildlife ecology and conservation.
2-3 years
No foreign language credits required
Non-thesis 36, Thesis 30
Thesis and non-thesis options available
Environmental Science (BS)
If you are interested in the growing field of environmental science, this degree is for you. As a graduate you will be able to work for private environmental companies, corporations or federal, state, county or civic governments in positions that will impact air quality, water quality, hazard mitigation and other environmental challenges. Career fields include, but are not limited to, pollution remediation, environmental impact assessment, regulation enforcement and research.
4 years
No foreign language credits required
120 hours
No thesis required
Wildlife and Conservation Science (BS) Biology Track
This program is designed for students interested in wildlife management, ecology or the preservation of biodiversity. Through hands-on research at our university wetland, practical exercises, field trips, internships and personal instruction in the classroom, you will gain marketable expertise in soils, ecology, botany and zoology. Upon completion of this program you can pursue careers as wildlife ecologists, game managers, state and federal wildlife biologists, state and federal park rangers, nature preserve and interpretive specialists, and zoo-keepers. This program is offered as a collaboration between the Department of Biological and Environmental Science and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
4 years
No foreign language credits required
120-123 hours
No thesis required
Our Facilities
Our new health science building will feature the Biomedical Institute for Regenerative Research center. You’ll benefit from the latest laboratory equipment as you research ways to cure and reverse damages from disease. After graduating, you’ll be well on your way to a successful career in the healthcare industry.
Opened in 2003, our Keith D. McFarland Science Building offers a state-of-the-art research facility and learning center. The building features an 87-seat planetarium and 29 fully-equipped laboratories.
Our environmental science program takes your knowledge outdoors. Forty-six acres of wetlands/prairie restoration are located at the interface of two of the most endangered ecosystems in North America, the Texas Blackland Prairie and The Texas Post Oak Savanna. You’ll help restore, maintain and protect the wetlands of Northeast Texas.
Our Animal Care Facility is designed to house different model vertebrate animals including mice, rats, fish and birds. A faculty supervisor and student workers oversee its operations. The ACF is monitored by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Chief Compliance Officer for the Texas A&M University System.
News Spotlights
TAMUC Leads Quail Research and Collaborative Restoration Efforts
A&M-Commerce Associate Professor Kelly Reyna presented at the Texas House Sportsman’s Caucus in Austin on March 20 about the state’s declining quail population and the university’s ambitious Texas Quail Restoration Plan. Reyna and university representatives—including President Mark Rudin, College of Business Interim Dean Scott Wheeler and Vice President for Philanthropy and Engagement Devin Girod—also attended […]
A&M-Commerce Researchers Developing Fire-Suppressing Drone Technology
A&M-Commerce faculty and students presented research at the Applied Emergency Management Research Grant Symposium on Feb. 21 in College Station, Texas. Dr. Burchan Aydin in the Department of Engineering and Technology and students Cody Logue and Venkata Reddy presented updates on their progress developing an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) from scratch. The research team also […]
A&M-Commerce Construction Engineering Student Earns Scholarships
A&M-Commerce student Pauline Van received two scholarships at the 2023 TEXO Foundation Student Competition on Feb. 20; the Hill & Wilkinson Scholarship in honor of Luther Hill, and the TEXO Young Constructors Council Scholarship. Van is set to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering. Assistant Professor Ayman Elzohairy said Van […]
A&M-Commerce Students Earn Top Marks at Regional Research Forum
Students representing the Department of Biological and Environmental Science at A&M-Commerce presented at the 8th Annual LSUS Regional Student Scholars Forum at Louisiana State University Shreveport on Feb. 17. Trinity Campbell earned first place in the undergraduate poster category for her poster titled “Fetal bovine serum alternative in culturing hormonal-dependent human cells.” Additional authors included […]
A&M-Commerce Construction Students Participate in Regional Competition
Two teams of students from the Department of Engineering and Technology at A&M-Commerce participated in the 2023 TEXO Foundation Student Competition in Hurst, Texas, on Feb. 20. The Construction Building team was tasked with presenting a construction proposal, including a work breakdown, based on a project previously completed by ANDRES Construction. The team presented their […]
TAMUC Alumna Recognized for Service to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) recently recognized Mrs. Faye Branch Williams for her dedicated support to the organization’s Code Enforcement Officer Program. Throughout her career, Williams has served as a code enforcement officer, a supervisor and an assistant director with the city of Dallas. The TDLR website describes code enforcement as the […]
A&M-Commerce Chemistry Faculty, Students Present at Regional Meeting
Students and faculty representing the A&M-Commerce Department of Chemistry gave 12 presentations at the 78th American Chemical Society Southwest Regional Meeting held Nov. 6-9 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Drs. Laurence Angel, Bukuo Ni and Thomas West accompanied 14 students, including: Undergraduate students: Graduate students: Learn more about the American Chemical Society and the Department of […]
A&M-Commerce Physics Students Present Research at International White Dwarf Workshop
Students Eric Burns and Zorayda Martinez from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Texas A&M University-Commerce presented research at the renowned 22nd European Workshop on White Dwarfs in Tübingen, Germany, from August 15-19. “White dwarfs are the remains of stars like the sun,” said A&M-Commerce Associate Professor Kurtis A. Williams, Ph.D. “By studying these […]
TAMUC Faculty Member Part of International Team Investigating Tetraneutrons
A&M-Commerce faculty member Carlos Bertulani, Ph.D., is part of an international research team that has discovered further evidence of the existence of a mysterious type of matter consisting of four neutrons known as a tetraneutron. The research is published in Nature, a prestigious, international science journal. Possible tetraneutron signatures were first detected in a 2002 […]
A&M-Commerce Hosts JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge
The Department of Engineering and Technology at A&M-Commerce hosted 60 cadets from high schools throughout Mesquite ISD for a hybrid JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge (JCLC) event held June 6-9. Traditional JCLC events included ropes training, a leadership reaction course, orienteering, swimming and drown proofing, drill and ceremony competitions and other events. Cadets also received 15 […]
Student Organizations
Beta Beta Beta
Our Delta Gamma chapter participates in a variety of social functions and charity work pertaining to biological and health sciences. This organization is for students who major in biological sciences, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and have completed a minimum of three courses in biology (associate members are those who have not taken three biology courses but fulfill the other two membership requirements).
STUDENT SUPPORT
BioPride
BioPride is a one-week program that introduces biology coursework to freshman students before the first week of classes. This program helps you transition from the high school classroom to the university setting. You’ll gain insight into the discipline by attending lectures and learning laboratory techniques.
JAMP
Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) is a special program created by the Texas Legislature to support and encourage highly qualified, economically disadvantaged Texas resident students pursuing a medical education. It is funded through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
SCHOLARSHIPS
As a biological and environmental studies student, you have access to a wide range of scholarships specific to your degree.
Our Research
Our biological and environmental science faculty are excited to develop your knowledge and skills through research. Opportunities are available for both undergraduate and graduate students. We encourage you to discuss any research interests with your professors.
Human Dimensions Of Quail Sustainability
The human dimensions of quail sustainability consider the role that humans play in every stage of the socio-economic system, including, communications, decision making, economics, ethics, governance, management, science, social systems, stakeholders and values. Learn more
Quail Chick Development
To determine if quail embryos and eggs are affected by environmental change, normal stages of development for each species must first be described to compare to experimental results. Scientists from The Quail Research Laboratory recently charted the normal stages of development for the California valley quail and continue to chart other quail species. Learn More
Control of Fear via Kisspeptin
Research focused on the role of kisspeptin, a newly discovered brain hormone/neurotransmitter, in the control of fear responses in zebrafish is likely to provide new information relevant to the mechanisms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a highly debilitating psychiatric disorder for which no experimental model is currently available.
.page-box .page-content .tamuc-video-cover { margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; }Quail Research Station Program
What is the definition of a sustainable quail population? Current quail research is rich in data which has identified many potential components of state and national declines in quail populations. Yet, consistently predicting quail population behavior and sustainability remains as elusive as ever. Learn More
Abstract Analysis and Applications
Research is focused in three major areas of abstract analysis and applications: geometric analysis, complex analysis and qualitative analysis of differential equations. In addition to seeking applications in biology, finance and economics, this research deepens the understanding of mathematics, enriches the curricula of undergraduate and graduate programs, and provides research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
Simulation-Based Optimization with Artificial Intelligence
Simulation-based operations management deals with real-world issues involving complex socio-cyber-physical systems through representing real human behaviors, especially reasoning and decision-making processes, via artificial intelligence (AI) and agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS). Various studies have been conducted with ABMS involving data-driven dynamic decision modeling, including traffic control for a large-scale transportation network, real-time manufacturing scheduling for energy cost reduction and simulation-based bio-fuel supply chain management.
Catalysis
Catalysis research improves the efficiency of industrial chemical and biochemical processes by reducing industrial production costs and introducing green chemistry approaches. Researchers at A&M-Commerce study different aspects of catalysis including: surface chemistry, the role of metal ions in binding peptides, ionic liquids and transition metals as catalysts, porphyrins with recognition properties, and bio-based catalysis.
Freshwater Turtles' Spatial Use of Managed and Unmanaged Wetlands in Northeast Texas
Freshwater ecosystems have been altered significantly through dams, excavated channels, filled wetlands and levees. The freshwater turtle species found in these altered environments are being studied to determine the type of habitats they are selecting based upon water flow, aquatic vegetation and physical structure. This work will provide insights into microhabitat selected by different species of turtles, including if there is a difference in the habitat selected by age, gender and seasonal movements.
Herpetological Communities within Constructed Wetland Complexes
Wetlands are critical habitats for a wide variety of endogenous animals. In Texas, approximately 52% of the precolonial wetlands have been destroyed. In response, conservation agencies have made efforts to construct wetlands. However, due to the fact that over 95% of Texas is privately owned, large parcels of land with the potential to be reconstructed into wetlands are rare. Smaller plots of land may be more available to reconstruct into wetlands, but little is known about the communities they can support in comparison to larger artificial wetlands. The herpetofauna community at large and small artificial wetlands in terms of abundance, diversity, and equitability are being studied.
Using Plants to Remove Heavy Metal Contamination
Soil, water, and air, which are basic elements of the environment, are being contaminated by many pollutants. The use of selected plants to remove pollutants, phytoremediation technology, is being investigated. One example is using a common reed, Phragmites Australis, to remove heavy metals Barium and Strontium from hydraulic fracking flow backwater.
Smoking, Abnormal Fetal Development, and Treatments
Use of addictive substances such as cigarette smoking remains a persistent health problem in the United States and abroad. Approximately 11% of pregnant women reported smoking during pregnancy, which can lead to developmental issues in children. The adverse effects of cigarette smoke exposure in offspring is being studied by analyzing behavioral changes caused by cellular and physiological alterations in the brain. These studies are expected to provide unconventional and more effective treatment options for behavioral problems and learning disabilities in children.
Heart/Cardiovascular Regeneration
Biomedical regenerative research to establish heart muscle regeneration involving the use of a recently-discovered ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule, which has the ability to convert pluripotent stem cells into definitive cardiac muscle in tissue culture. The long-term goal is to develop the ability to rescue and repair damaged heart muscle.
Control of Fear via Kisspeptin
Research focused on the role of kisspeptin, a newly discovered brain hormone/neurotransmitter, in the control of fear responses in zebrafish is likely to provide new information relevant to the mechanisms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a highly debilitating psychiatric disorder for which no experimental model is currently available.
Arming Immune System to Fight Breast Cancer
The North East Texas region, including Hunt County, is a hot spot for breast cancer incidence, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among American women. The introduction of antiestrogen and anti-HER2 therapies has improved the clinical outcomes of breast cancer patients. However, in over half of these patients, cancer will recur and metastasize. A novel strategy is being pursued to restore the ability of the immune system to detect and eliminate cancer cells. Four critical genes have been identified that help cancer cells evade the immune system. Inhibition of these immune evading genes is expected to be more efficient in eliminating cancer cells than therapies currently available.
Meet our Department
Contact Us
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
- 903.886.5378
- P.O. Box 3011
- Commerce, TX 75429-3011