Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Biology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Houston

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Biology at the University of Houston is a jointly administered program between the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Biology and Biochemistry, designed for students who want to use mathematical and quantitative approaches to understand biological systems. Students build an interdisciplinary foundation across biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, biochemistry, statistics, and mathematical modeling, making the program well suited to students interested in biological research, computational science, medicine, and quantitative life sciences.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish the scientific foundation through BIOL 1306/BIOL 1106 Biology for Science Majors I, BIOL 1307/BIOL 1107 Biology for Science Majors II, and CHEM 1311/CHEM 1111 Fundamentals of Chemistry I followed by the corresponding second-semester chemistry course. Mathematical preparation begins with MATH 2413 Calculus I and MATH 2414 Calculus II, alongside First-Year Writing.

Year 2: The program moves into the mathematical and biological principles needed for quantitative biological analysis, including BIOL 3301 Mendelian and Population Genetics and BIOL 3311 Advanced Methods and Writing in Genetics Lab. Students simultaneously develop higher-level mathematical skills through MATH 2318 Linear Algebra, MATH 3339 Statistics for the Sciences, and MATH 2415 Calculus III, while completing Organic Chemistry I and its laboratory.

Year 3: Students deepen their understanding of biological systems through BCHS 3304 General Biochemistry I, BIOL 3306 Evolutionary Biology, and BIOL 3324 Human Physiology. Quantitative modeling becomes more prominent through MATH 3331 Differential Equations, MATH 3338 Probability, and physics coursework, giving students the mathematical tools needed to analyze biological processes.

Year 4: The final year brings the disciplines together through BIOL 4374 Cell Biology, BIOL/MATH 4309 Mathematical Biology, and BIOL/MATH 4310 Biostatistics. Students also complete a 4000-level mathematics elective and free electives, allowing room for further specialization while applying mathematical and statistical approaches to biological questions.

Focus areas: Mathematical modeling of biological systems, genetics, evolutionary biology, cell biology, human physiology, biochemistry, differential equations, probability, statistics, biostatistics, and quantitative biological analysis.

Learning outcomes: The curriculum develops quantitative reasoning across mathematics and biology, with preparation in calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, probability, statistics, biological sciences, chemistry, physics, and biochemistry; students also progress to dedicated Mathematical Biology and Biostatistics coursework.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The University of Houston is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor's, master's, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees. No separate programmatic accreditation for the Mathematical Biology B.S. is stated on UH's official accreditation information.

Reputation (employability rankings): The University of Houston is a Carnegie R1 institution for very high research activity and was one of 21 U.S. institutions receiving both the 2025 R1 and Opportunity College & University designations. UH also reports $276 million in research expenditures in FY2025, while its NSM Career Center specifically includes Mathematical Biology among the majors connected with employer recruitment and STEM career opportunities.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The University of Houston’s Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Biology combines mathematical modeling with biological science, giving students opportunities to apply quantitative methods to real biological systems. The jointly administered program draws on the Department of Mathematics and Department of Biology and Biochemistry, with access to laboratory instruction, undergraduate research, mathematical-biology coursework, and the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics’ research and teaching facilities.

Students can develop practical and research skills through these program-specific opportunities:

Mathematical modeling: MATH 4309 Mathematical Biology explores mathematical models of biological systems across molecules, cells, organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems, using areas such as dynamical systems, network theory, stochastic processes, pattern formation, linear algebra, and game theory.
Computational and data skills: The Mathematics Department offers coursework in scientific computation, numerical analysis, dynamical systems, machine intelligence, and data science, providing relevant quantitative preparation for mathematical-biology applications.
Laboratory experience: The Department of Biology and Biochemistry offers laboratory courses covering a range of biological disciplines and methodologies, giving Mathematical Biology students access to practical biological training alongside their mathematical coursework.
Undergraduate research: UH specifically encourages undergraduate research because it enables students to develop skills beyond those gained in classrooms and teaching laboratories. Mathematical Biology students have participated in faculty-mentored research, including research connected to biomedical applications.
Research projects: The NSM capstone requirement can be fulfilled through a senior research project or senior honors thesis, giving students a structured opportunity to apply their interdisciplinary training to an extended project.
Research laboratories: The Science Teaching Laboratory Building houses undergraduate biology and chemistry teaching laboratories on its first three floors, with the fourth floor dedicated to research laboratories.
Interdisciplinary research environment: The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics includes facilities such as the Science and Engineering Research Center (SERC) and Science and Research Building 1 and 2, supporting interdisciplinary and collaborative research.
Honors research: Mathematical Biology is available through the Honors College, where students can pursue a dedicated Mathematical Biology honors flowchart and develop an enhanced academic and research experience.
Research seminars and academic engagement: The Mathematics Department provides undergraduate students with access to seminars, colloquia, and visiting scholars, complementing formal coursework with exposure to current mathematical research.
Program-specific facilities: Mathematical Biology is jointly administered by Mathematics and Biology & Biochemistry, giving students an interdisciplinary setting across mathematical and biological teaching and research facilities rather than restricting their experience to a single department.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Biology at the University of Houston combines mathematical modeling with biological and health-science applications, preparing graduates for analytical and research-oriented roles across science, healthcare, biotechnology, and data-driven fields. The degree can also provide a strong foundation for graduate or professional study, supported by UH’s Center for Mathematical Biosciences and its connections with the Texas Medical Center.

Career roles: Mathematical Biology Researcher, Biostatistics/Statistical Analyst, Computational Biology Analyst, Biomedical Research Assistant.

Career services: The NSM Career Center provides career counseling, employer engagement, career events, and access to HireNSM, where students can find internships, research opportunities, part-time positions, and full-time jobs. Employers can also conduct interviews and recruitment events through the platform.
Employment and salary data: UH reports that graduates across the university who received federal aid had a median annual income of $68,091 four years after graduation, based on the latest U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data reported by UH in 2026. This is a university-wide figure and is not specific to Mathematical Biology.
University–industry and research partnerships: UH is a member institution of the Texas Medical Center, creating opportunities for collaboration between UH researchers and medical institutions. Mathematical-biology research at UH specifically includes collaborations involving Rice University and Texas Medical Center institutions, including work on mathematical models for blood flow and cardiovascular devices.
Research and professional exposure: NSM reports research opportunities in partner settings including the Texas Medical Center and industry laboratories, while the college's research network also includes collaborations with energy companies and NASA.
Long-term accreditation value: The University of Houston is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor's, master's, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees, providing continuing institutional accreditation for the degree.
Graduation outcomes: UH's NSM career resources connect Mathematical Biology with career pathways in education, healthcare, and other science-related fields, while the university reports that its graduates enter employment and further education across a broad range of sectors.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S., students can continue into graduate study in areas such as mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics and data science, biology, biomedical sciences, or related computational fields. UH's Department of Mathematics offers M.S. programs in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics and Data Science, as well as Ph.D. programs in Mathematics and Statistics and Data Science; the university's interdisciplinary research environment also supports advanced work in mathematical modeling and biomedical research.