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Biology major, Environmental Policy major, Environmental Science major
Home > Biology > Majors & Minors > Biology Major

B.S. Degree in Biology
Students seeking the B.S. degree are required to complete eight and one-half units of Biology coursework: Biology 120, 125, 455 (½ unit), and six upper division courses (200-level or above) with at least one of the six chosen from each of the four Biology Department curricular core areas: 1) Molecular Biology & Genetics, 2) Cell Biology & Microbiology, 3) Integrative Biology, and 4) Ecology & Evolution (see below). Additionally, B.S. degree candidates must complete Chemistry 222 (Chemistry 111, 112, and 221 are prerequisite), two units of Physics (103/104 or 201/202), and two units of Mathematics/Statistics (Statistics 101 and Mathematics 112 or higher; the Mathematics 121/122 sequence is recommended). Bachelor of Science Major Checksheet

B.A. Degree in Biology
Students seeking the B.A. degree must complete seven and one-half units of Biology coursework: Biology 120, 125, 455 (½ unit), and five upper division courses (with at least one course chosen from each the four Biology Department curricular core areas - see below). Additionally, B.A. degree candidates must complete Chemistry 112 (Chemistry 111 is prerequisite), one unit of Physics with laboratory (Physics 101 or higher), and two units of Mathematics/Statistics (Statistics 101 and Mathematics 112 or higher). Bachelor of Arts Major Checksheet

Course Requirements

Courses required of all Biology majors (both B.A. and B.S. candidates):

BIOL 120 - Principles of Biology
BIOL 125 - Biodiversity
BIOL 455 - Seminar

Core Areas:

Core area requirements are intended to ensure students' broad exposure to key areas of modern biology, while allowing significant choice in tailoring their course-of-study to interest and preparation for post-graduate study or work. Students are encouraged to consult Biology Department faculty in determining their course choices and should plan their schedules carefully, paying attention to prerequisite requirements and frequency of course offerings.

The upper-division course component of a student's program-of-study (six for the B.S. degree; five for the B.A. degree) must satisfy the following requirements:

  •  For either the B.S. or B.A. degree, at least one of these courses must be chosen from each of the four curricular core areas: Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cell Biology & Microbiology, Integrative Biology, and Ecology and Evolution.
  •  The remaining two upper-level courses for the B.S. degree (one for the B.A. degree) may come from any of the four core areas.
  • At least four of the six for the B.S. degree (three of five for the B.A. degree) must be laboratory courses.
  • Students seeking either degree must have at least two 200-level laboratory courses.
  •  At least three of the six for the B.S. degree (two of five for the B.A. degree) must be at the 300-level or higher.
  • Courses cross-listed in more than one core area may not be used to satisfy the requirement for more than one core area.
  • Independent Study courses (BIOL 350, 355, 460, 470, 495. 496, 497) and Internship (BIOL 450) are taken in addition to major requirements and may not be counted as part of the upper division course requirements for either the B.S. or B.A. degree.

Four Curricular Core Areas:

Molecular Biology & Genetics
BIOL 215 - Components of Life
BIOL 345 - Special Topics
BIOL 365 - Plant Anatomy & Physiology
BIOL 380 - Advanced Genetics
BIOL 390 - Advanced Cell Biology
BIOL 400 - Molecular Biology

Cell Biology & Microbiology
BIOL 235 - Microbiology
BIOL 290 - Principles of Physiology
BIOL 345 - Special Topics
BIOL 375 - Comparative Physiology
BIOL 390 - Advanced Cell Biology
BIOL 420 - Developmental Biology
BIOL 430 - Immunology

Integrative Biology
BIOL 235 - Microbiology
BIOL 240 - Algae & Fungi
BIOL 265 - Plant Kingdom
BIOL 270 - Invertebrate Biology
BIOL 275 - Vertebrate Biology
BIOL 345 - Special Topics
BIOL 365 - Plant Anatomy & Physiology
BIOL 375 - Comparative Physiology

Ecology & Evolution
BIOL/ENVI 200 - Environmental Science
BIOL 300 - Aquatic Ecology
BIOL 345 - Special Topics
BIOL 360 - Terrestrial Ecology
BIOL 205 - General Ecology

These course pairs will usually be offered on an alternating year basis:

  • Plant Kingdom (265)/Plant Anatomy & Physiology(365)
  • Aquatic Ecology(300)/Vertebrate Biology(275) Invertebrate Biology(270)/Comparative Animal Physiology(375) Advanced Cell Biology(390)/Immunology(430)

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