Biology Major

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The program is designed to prepare students for a broad spectrum of careers in the life sciences, including completion of all requirements for admission to professional schools (e.g., medical, dental, pharmacy and veterinary schools) and graduate programs.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will:

demonstrate both in-depth and broad knowledge of the concepts that comprise the biological sciences
apply the scientific process, including designing and conducting experiments and testing hypotheses
competently perform laboratory, field, and analytical techniques
understand and critically review scientific papers and prepare oral and written reports in a standard scientific format
demonstrate an awareness of the significance ethics plays in the biological sciences

Major Requirements (65 Units)

Required Courses

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, and Evolution) in order to graduate. Courses required for the Biology major 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.

Field/Lab Courses (4 units)

Complete 4 units from the following:

Additional Field/Lab Electives (8 Units)

Complete 8 units from the following:

Upper Division Electives (8 Units)

Complete 8 units in BIOL 300:499 or BIOL 598 or BIOL 599 *

*A maximum of 4 units can come from BIOL 398 / BIOL 498

Seminar in Biology (1 unit)

Complete the following:

BIOL 490 - UG Seminar in Biology

Supporting Courses (25 - 28 units)

Area I: General Chemistry

Complete the following:

Area II: Mathematics

Complete one of the following:

Area III: Physics

Complete one of the following options:

Option I -Introductory Physics I & II

Option II - General Physics I & II

Area IV: Organic Chemistry

Choose one of the following options:

Option I - Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry

Option II - Organic Chemistry

Curriculum Sample:

Freshman Year

FALL	UNITS
BIOL 105 - General Biology I	4
CHEM 111 - General Chemistry I & CHEM 112 - Laboratory	4
Core: Rhetoric and Composition	4
Core: Public Speaking or Freshman Seminar	4
Total Semester Units	16
SPRING	UNITS
BIOL 106 - General Biology II	4
CHEM 113 - General Chemistry II & CHEM 114 - Laboratory	4
Core: Rhetoric & Composition	4
Core	4
Total Semester Units	16

Sophomore Year

FALL	UNITS
BIOL 212 - Cell Physiology	4
CHEM 230 - Organic Chemistry I	3
CHEM 232 - Organic Chemistry Lab I	1
Core: MATH 102 - Biostatistics	4
Core or Language Requirement	4
Total Semester Units	16
SPRING	UNITS
BIOL 310 - Genetics	4
CHEM 231 - Organic Chemistry II or CHEM 236 - Fundamentals of Organic Chem	4
Core or Language Requirement	4
Core	4
Total Semester Units	16

Junior Year

FALL	UNITS
Core or Language Requirement	4
PHYS 100 - Introductory Physics I	4
Upper-division Biology	4
Elective	4
Total Semester Units	16
SPRING	UNITS
PHYS 101 - Introductory Physics II	4
Upper-Division Biology	4
Core or Language Requirement	4
Elective	4
Total Semester Units	16

Senior Year

FALL	UNITS
Upper-Division Biology	4
Upper-Division Biology	4
Core	4
Elective	4
Total Semester Units	16
SPRING	UNITS
BIOL 414 - Evolution	4
Upper-Division Biology	4
Elective	4
Elective	4
Total Semester Units	16