The Department of Biology offers a Bachelor of Science in Biology, including a concentration in Biotechnology, a Bachelor of Arts in Human Biological Sciences, and a Master of Science in Biology. Classes include extensive field and laboratory investigations allowing students to study and understand biological systems. Students are encouraged to select elective courses best suited to their career interests.

The Bachelor of Science in Biology curriculum includes a wide range of courses that allows for diverse student interests. Students seeking a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biology must complete the following:

Course List

Code	Title	Units
General Education Requirements
Subject Area 1A: English Composition		3
Subject Area 1B: Critical Thinking		3
Subject Area 1C: Oral Communication		3
Subject Area 2: Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning 1		0
Subject Area 3A: Arts		3
Subject Area 3B: Humanities		3
Upper Division 3 Arts or Humanities: (3UD)		3
Subject Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences		3
Upper Division 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences: (4UD)		3
Subject Area 5A: Physical Science 1		0
Subject Area 5B: Biological Sciences 1		0
Subject Area 5C: Laboratory 1		0
Upper Division 5 Science: (5UD) 1		0
Subject Area 6: Ethnic Studies		3
General Education Subtotal		27
Campus Requirements
First-Year Seminar (FYS)		2
American Institutions: Government 2		3
American Institutions: History		3
Junior Year Diversity & Reflection (JYDR)		3
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) 3		0
Capstone 3		0
Campus Requirement Subtotal		11
Major Requirements
Biology 4
BIOL 2010	Introductory Biology - Cells 5	4
BIOL 2110	Introductory Biology - Animals	4
BIOL 2120	Introductory Biology - Plants	4
BIOL 3010	General Genetics	3
BIOL 3020	General Physiology	3
BIOL 3110	General Ecology	3
BIOL 3120	Research Design and Analysis	4
BIOL 4100	Evolution	3
BIOL 4918	Senior Seminar	2
At least 20 units of additional upper division elective coursework in Biology. 6		20
Cognates 7
CHEM 1000	Foundations of Chemistry	3
CHEM 1001	Foundations of Chemistry Laboratory	2
CHEM 1100	Foundations of Analytical Chemistry	2
CHEM 1600	Foundations of Physical Chemistry	2
CHEM 2300	Foundations of Organic Chemistry	3
MATH 2010	Calculus for the Biological and Chemical Sciences I (or equivalant)	4
PHYS 2110	College Physics I	4
PHYS 2120	College Physics II	4
Major Subtotal		74
Additional Units Needed Towards Graduation 8		8
Total Units		120

¹

A modification to the standard GE program has been approved that allows the possibility of satisfying some GE requirements through the major.

• BIOL 2010 Introductory Biology - Cells or BIOL 2110 Introductory Biology - Animals satisfies Subject Area 5B,
• MATH 2010 Calculus for the Biological and Chemical Sciences I or higher satisfies Subject Area 2, and
• CHEM 1000 Foundations of Chemistry satisfies Subject Area 5A. 
• Students are waived from the Upper Division area of their program.

²

American Institution - Government (American & Constitutional Ideals) satisfies one course of the two required in Subject Area 4. 

³

Some major requirements may be used to satisfy Campus Requirements.

• The CAPSTONE requirement is met by completing BIOL 4918 Senior Seminar 

• The JYDR requirement can be met with ENGL 3119 Advanced Writing, which also satisfies the GWAR requirement.

⁴

A minimum GPA for these 50 units is 2.0

⁵

A grade of C- or better is required to advance into upper division Biology courses.

⁶

At least three courses must be four units with lab and at least one must be a laboratory course at the 4000-level.

⁷

A minimum GPA for these 24 units is 2.0

⁸

Biology majors are encouraged to consider taking additional upper-division biology elective courses or additional upper-division scientific cognate courses to fulfill their university-wide additional unit requirement. Depending on student career objectives, faculty advisors may be able to recommend courses that would be appropriate, and students are encouraged to speak with their faculty advisor about course options.

Note: One (1) semester unit of credit normally represents one hour of in-class work and 2-3 hours of outside study per week.