The Department of Biological Sciences is housed in the Engineering-Science Complex of the University. The biology building is composed of about 48,000 square feet of teaching and research facilities. The Department serves approximately 450 bioscience majors and in a typical semester there is an enrollment of approximately 3,500 students in 40 courses. Teaching and research laboratories contain some of the most up-to-date equipment available in Biology today, and field studies are possible in a wide variety of regional habitat types.

The Department offers B.S. degrees in Biological Sciences and in Microbiology. Starting in the Fall of 2000, entering students in the Biological Sciences degree programs may specialize in a Biomedical Track or an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Track. The Microbiology program follows a curriculum associated with accreditation in this field. In addition to their roles as teachers, faculty members are also actively engaged in research in their areas of interest, with opportunities for undergraduates to participate in these research programs. The University's location in the northern part of the Chihuahuan Desert, the valley of the Rio Grande, and the border between the United States and Mexico all provide a unique instructional and research setting.

The Department requires 30-42 semester hours in biological science and/or microbiology coursework, depending on the degree selected. A minor of 18 semester hours in a supporting scientific field is also required for the Bachelor of Science degree.

Freshman and transfer students initially entering UTEP who desire to major in Biological Sciences or Microbiology will be expected to enroll for their first semester as Pre-Science majors, and participate in a structured curriculum designed to maximize their early success at the University. Advising of Pre-Science students is managed by a student development specialist through the College of Science Office (Bell Hall 100), either at the time of Freshman Orientation or before registration. The prescribed coursework of the first two years of study will vary depending upon each student's level of preparedness for university-level mathematics and English. Moreover, advanced placement credit is available for several introductory courses through UTEP's Counseling Service.

After completion of one semester in the Pre-Science curriculum, and advancement to calculus-ready math preparation as necessary, students may choose to become a Biological Sciences or Microbiology major. Such majors are subsequently advised by a Departmental faculty member for the duration of their undergraduate careers. After 60 hours of course work have been completed, a degree plan should be drawn up in the Office of the Dean of the College of Science, Bell Hall, Room 100.