Natural Sciences Minors

REQUIREMENTS FOR MINORS IN SCIENCE 

Minors require a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all applied coursework. Upper-level courses applied to a minor must have a grade of C or better. Minors must be distinct from any declared degree and degree concentration. Students may bring 3-4 hours of upper-level credit from another institution, but the balance of upper-level credits (depending upon minor) must be taken at UHD. Credit for directed studies, field experiences, honors thesis and undergraduate research cannot apply.

MINOR IN APPLIED PHYSICS (20 hours minimum)

Minors require a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all applied coursework. Upper level courses applied to a minor must have a grade of C or better. Minors must be distinct from any declared degree and degree concentration. Students may bring 3-4 hours of upper-level credit from another institution, but the balance of upper-level credits (depending upon minor) must be taken at UHD. Credit for directed studies, field experiences, honors thesis and undergraduate research cannot apply.

Required courses:

• PHYS 2401 - Physics I
• PHYS 2101 - Physics Laboratory I
  
• PHYS 2402 - Physics II
• PHYS 2102 - Physics Laboratory II
• At least 8 hours of upper-level courses in physics.

MINOR IN BIOINFORMATICS (36 hours)

Required courses:

• BIOL 1101 - General Biology Laboratory I
• BIOL 1301 - General Biology I
• BIOL 2103 - General Genetics Laboratory
• BIOL 2303 - General Genetics
• CHEM 1107 - General Chemistry Laboratory I
• CHEM 1108 - General Chemistry Laboratory II
• CHEM 1307 - General Chemistry I
• CHEM 1308 - General Chemistry II
• CS 1410 - CS I-Introduction to Computer Science with C++
• CS 2410 - CS II-Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms
• CS 3304 - Data and Information Structures
• CS 4318 - Database Systems

Two courses from:

• CS 4328 - Parallel Computing
• CS 4319 - Statistical and Machine Learning
• or any approved upper-level CS course​

Note: All hours counted toward the minor must be passed with “C” or better. At least 6 hours of upper-level course work in the minor must be completed at the University of Houston-Downtown. Students majoring in an area of the natural sciences, computer science or mathematics should choose courses in consultation with their academic advisor.

MINOR IN BIOLOGY (22 hours minimum)

• ​22 hours of biology with only eight hours at the lower level
  
• Must include a minimum of four three-contact hour laboratory courses
  

MINOR IN CHEMISTRY (20 hours minimum)

Required courses:

• CHEM 1307 - General Chemistry I
• CHEM 1107 - General Chemistry Laboratory I
• CHEM 1308 - General Chemistry II
• CHEM 1108 - General Chemistry Laboratory II
• CHEM 2301 - Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM 2101 - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
• Eight hours of upper-level chemistry​

Note: Must include an additional eight hours of upper-level courses in chemistry.

MINOR IN ENVIRONMENTAL ​SCIENCES (22 hours minimum)

Required courses:

• BIOL 3302 - General Ecology
• BIOL 3102 - General Ecology Laboratory
• BIOL 4260 - Environmental Laboratory and Field Studies (crosslisted as GEOL 4260)​

Two courses from:

• BIOL 4360 - Environmental Biology
• CHEM 3320 - Environmental Chemistry
• GEOL 3303 - Environmental Geology
• MBIO 3340 - Environmental Microbiology​

One course from Species Identification Lab courses:

• BIOL 3310 - Plant Identification
• BIOL 3110 - Plant Identification Laboratory
• or​
• ​ BIOL 3340 - Biology of Fungi
• BIOL 3140 - Biology of Fungi Laboratory
• or​

One course from:

• CHEM 3310 - Quantitative Analysis
• CHEM 3110 - Quantitative Analysis Laboratory
• or
• GEOL 3340 - Inorganic Geochemistry​

One course from:

• BA 3303 - Global Environmental Issues in Business
• TCOM 3329 - Environmental Writing
• PHIL 3320 - Environmental Ethics​

MINOR IN GEOLOGY (20 hours minimum)

Required courses:

• GEOL 1305 - Physical Geology
• GEOL 1105 - Physical Geology Laboratory
• GEOL 1306 - Historical Geology
• GEOL 1106 - Historical Geology Laboratory
• 12 hours of upper-level courses in geology​

Note: Must include 12 hours of upper-level courses in geology.

MINOR IN MICROBIOLOGY (20 hours minimum)

Required courses:

• BIOL 1301 - General Biology I
• BIOL 1101 - General Biology Laboratory I
• BIOL 1302 - General Biology II
• BIOL 1102 - General Biology Laboratory II
• MBIO 2305 - General Microbiology
• MBIO 2105 - General Microbiology Lab
• Eight hours of upper-level microbiology​

Note: Must include eight hours of upper-level courses in microbiology.

MINOR IN SUSTAINABILITY (18 hours minimum)

Required courses:

• SUST 3302 - Fundamentals of Sustainability
• SUST 4301 - Seminar in Sustainability
• SUST 4302 - Capstone Experience in Sustainability

Note: Must complete three additional courses one from each category: Environmental Science Fundamentals (3 hours), Social and Ethical Considerations (3 hours), Technological/Business Components (3 hours).

FOR ALL MINORS:

Students may focus secondarily to their major degree plan in another discipline to earn a Minor in Bioinformatics, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Geology, Physics, or Microbiology. Multiple minors can be obtained (see an academic advisor in the CST Advising Center ). No upper-level courses with grades of D will be counted. No transfer credits with grades of D will be counted. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in courses applied to the minor. Upper-level courses must be taken at UHD. Credit for directed studies, field experiences, honors thesis, and undergraduate research cannot apply.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the CST Advising Center.