2024-2025 Catalog 
    
    Oct 11, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog

Biology, Honors Concentration, Major


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This degree requires a research thesis in an area of Biology. The program is designed to provide superior undergraduate students with opportunities to carry out original research in preparation for graduate school, professional training, or a position in an industrial or government research laboratory.

Admission

Students with an overall grade point average of 3.2, plus a grade point average of 3.4 or above in Biology and supporting science courses (Chemistry, Math and Physics) are eligible for acceptance into the program.

Applications are to be made to the Honors Thesis Program Committee during the student’s junior year.

Depending on the area of research interest, students are assigned a thesis committee consisting of a research adviser and one additional faculty member.

Requirements

  • A maximum of four Honors units can be counted as upper division course credit.
  • Each project must be evaluated by the Thesis Committee before submission to the chair for final approval.
  • Honors students are required to present a departmental seminar on their research.

Successful completion of the Biology Honors concentration is recorded on the student’s transcript.

Program Learning Outcomes


Please see the Biology Major 

Major Requirements (66-69 units)


Note


*All students in the Biology major must earn a minimum grade of C in the core Biology courses required for the Major (General Biology I and II, Cell Physiology, Genetics, Evolution, and the undergraduate Seminar) to meet graduation requirements. Courses required for the Biology major (including Chemistry, Physics and Math classes) can be repeated no more than once to earn the minimum grade required in the course. If the minimum grade is not achieved in the second time completing the course, the student will be disqualified from the Biology major.

Additional Field/Lab Electives (4 units)


Complete 4 units from the following:

Upper Division (8 units)


Complete 8 units in BIOL 312-499 and select courses from other programs listed below.

Honors Required Courses (4 units)


Complete 4 units of the following:

Supporting Courses (25 - 28 units)


Area II: Mathematics


Complete one of the following:

Area III: Physics


Complete one of the following options:

Area IV: Organic Chemistry


Choose one of the following options:

Degree Planner


First-Year


Fall Units
Core B2: BIOL 105 - Gen Biology - Molec of Life    4
CHEM 111 - General Chemistry I   3
CHEM 112 - Laboratory   1
Core A2: Rhetoric and Composition - Course 1 4
Core A1: Public Speaking - OR - Core: First Year Seminar 4
Total Semester Units 16
Spring Units
BIOL 106 - Gen Biology - Diversity of Life   4
CHEM 113 - General Chemistry II   3
CHEM 114 - Laboratory   1
Core A2: Rhetoric & Composition - Course 2 4
Core - OR - Core: First Year Seminar (C1) 4
Total Semester Units 16

Sophomore Year


Fall Units
BIOL 212 - Cell Physiology   4
Core B1: MATH 102 - Biostatistics   4
Language - Course 1 4
Core (C2) 4
Total Semester Units 16
Spring Units
BIOL 310 - Genetics    3
BIOL 311 - Genetics Lab   1
CHEM 236 - Fundamentals of Organic Chem   4
Language - Course 2 4
Core (D1) 4
Total Semester Units 16

Junior Year


Fall Units
BIOL Upper Division Elective 4
Core - B2: PHYS 100 - Introductory Physics I    4
CHEM 232 - Organic Chemistry Lab I   1
Core (D2) 4
Core (D3) 4
Total Semester Units 17
Spring Units
BIOL Upper Division Lab Elective 4
PHYS 101 - Introductory Physics II    4
Core (E) 4
Core (F) 4
Total Semester Units 16

Senior Year


Fall Units
BIOL Upper Division Elective 4
BIOL 598 - Thesis Research/Bio Honors    2
BIOL 490 - UG Seminar in Biology   1
Core (CD) 4
Core (CEL) 4
Total Semester Units 15
Spring Units
BIOL Upper Division Field Elective 4
BIOL 414 - Evolution   4
BIOL 599 - Thesis Writing/Bio Honors   2
Elective 4
Elective 4
Total Semester Units 18

*This information is subject to change, the degree planner is a sample, and students should consult with the department for any updated information.

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