Biology Program

The study of life, its origins, diversity and intricacies.

2008-2009 Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology with an Emphasis in Pre-Professional Studies (119-121 units)

Lower Division Requirements (8 units):

BIOL 200* Principles of Organismal and Population Biology, GE-B2 (4)
BIOL 201 Principles of Cell and Molecular Biology (4)

Upper Division Requirements in the Major (32 units):

1. Required Biology Courses (21-22 units)

BIOL 300 Cell Biology (4)
BIOL 302 Genetics (4)
BIOL 304 Comparative Animal Physiology (3)
BIOL 400 Molecular Biology (4)
BIOL 499 Senior Capstone in Biology (3)

Select one of the following:
BIOL 303 Evolutionary Biology (3)
BIOL 433* Ecology and the Environment, GE-B2, UDID (4)

2. Electives in Biology (10-11 units)

Select a minimum of 10-11 units of Biology courses from 300 and 400 levels, one of which be a lab course. (Biology courses numbered from 326 to 345 are counted toward GE credits only and they are not counted towards the 10-11 units of electives)

No more than 2 units taken from the following can be counted towards the 10-11 units of electives:
BIOL 492 Internship (2-3)
BIOL 494 Independent Research (1-3)
BIOL 497 Directed Study (1-3)

Required Supporting and Other GE Courses (69-70 units):

1. Chemistry (16 units)

CHEM 121* General Chemistry I, GE-B1 (4)
CHEM 122 General Chemistry II, GE-B1 (4)
CHEM 311 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 312 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (1)
CHEM 314 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 315 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (1)
A year-long organic chemistry sequence with laboratory taken at a community college may be accepted for the Biology major in lieu of CHEM 311, 312, 314, 315

2. Mathematics and Statistics (3-4 units)

Select one of the following:
BIOL 203* Quantitative Methods for Biology, GE-B3, B-4 (3)
MATH 150* Calculus I, GE-B3 (4)
Check with professional schools or pre-professional advisor for specific requirements in this category.

3. Physics (8 units)

PHYS 100 Introduction to Physics I, GE-B1 (4)
PHYS 101 Introduction to Physics II, GE-B1 (4)

4. Other GE Courses in Categories A-E (36 units)

Category A (9) (For A3, recommend MATH 230 Logic and Mathematical Reasoning)
Category C (12)
Category D (12)
Category E (3)

4. American institutions requirement (6)

Electives in any Discipline (10-11 units)

One must choose enough elective units to reach the required 120 units for the degree.

Courses with * are double-counted toward GE credits.