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Bachelor of Science in Biology - Option in Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology (120 units)

This option is designed primarily for those interested in careers that involve biology at the cell, molecular and organ system levels and is particularly appropriate for those contemplating graduate work in these fields or entering one of the health professions, such as medicine and physical therapy. Students in this option might also want to pursue the Certificate in Biotechnology described elsewhere in this Catalog. This option requires approximately 76-79 units in the major, of which 44-45 are in lower division and 34 are in upper division.

All students must achieve at least a 2.0 grade-point average in each of the following: 1. the entire college record, 2. all units attempted at CSULB, and 3. all courses in the major.

In addition, students must receive a "C" or better in all upper division major courses.

Degree Progress

Pre-Biology majors must complete the following requirements within the specified time of declaring the pre-major. Some students may need to take courses during Summer Session to meet these requirements. Students who have not met the requirements by the required semester must either declare another major or meet with an Academic Advisor to determine if the student's performance in the courses merits an additional semester to complete.

Freshmen: A grade "C" or better must be achieved in CHEM 111A, BIOL 211, and MATH 119A (or 122) within one and a half calendar years.

Requirements

Lower Division:

Take all of the following courses:

  • BIOL 211 Introduction to Evolution and Diversity (4)
    Prerequisite/Corequisite: CHEM 111A with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 212 Intro to Cell and Molecular Biology (4)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 211, CHEM 111A with grades of "C" or better.
    Prequisite/Corequisite: CHEM 111B.
  • BIOL 213 Intro to Ecology and Physiology (4)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 211, 212, CHEM 111B, each with a grade of "C" or better

NOTE: BIOL 111, BIOL 111L, BIOL 212, BIOL 212L, BIOL 213, BIOL 213L are required if courses were taken prior to catalog year 2010-11.

  • BIOL 260 Biostatistics (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 211 or BIOL 207 or MICR 200; MATH 111 or MATH 113 or MATH 119A or MATH 122 all with a grade of "C" or better.
  • CHEM 111A General Chemistry (5)
    Prerequisite: A passing score on the Chemistry Placement Examination. 
    Corequisite:  MATH 109 or higher.
  • CHEM 111B General Chemistry (5)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 111A and MATH 113 or MATH 115 or MATH 119A or MATH 122 all with a grade of "C" or better.
  • CHEM 220A Organic Chemistry I (3)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 111B with a grade of "C" or better. Corequisites: CHEM 224 is required for students repeating course. CHEM 223A must be taken concurrently if required by a degree plan.
  • CHEM 220B Organic Chemistry II (3)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 220A with a grade of "C" or better. Corequisite: CHEM 223B or CHEM 320L except for students who previously earned a "C" or better in CHEM 223B or CHEM 320L.
  • CHEM 223A Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
    Corequisite: CHEM 220A, except for students who have previously earned a "C" or better in CHEM 220A.
  • CHEM 223B Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 220A and CHEM 223A, both with a grade of "C" or better. Corequisite: CHEM 220B, except for students who have previously earned a "C" or better in CHEM 220B.

Take one of the following courses:

  • MATH 119A Survey of Calculus I (3)
    Prerequisites: Appropriate MDPT placement or a grade of "C" or better in MATH 113.
  • MATH 122 Calculus I (4)
    Prerequisites: Appropriate MDPT placement or a grade of "C" or better in MATH 111 and MATH 113.

Take one of the following courses:

  • PHYS 100A General Physics (4)
    Prerequisites: MATH 109 or MATH 113 or MATH 119A or MATH 122.
  • PHYS 151 Mechanics and Heat (4)
    Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 122.

Take one of the following courses:

  • PHYS 100B General Physics (4)
    Prerequisites: PHYS 100A.
  • PHYS 152 Electricity and Magnetism (4)
    Prerequisite: PHYS 151.
    Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 123.

Upper Division:

Take all of the following courses:

  • BIOL 340 Molecular Cell Biology (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212, all with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 370 General Genetics (4)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212 and either BIOL 260 or CHEM 251 all with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 480 Seminars (1)
    Prerequisites: Consent of Department of Biological Sciences. (Undergraduates and classified post-baccalaureates enroll in BIOL 480; graduates enroll in BIOL 580). Undergraduates must have filed for graduation and be in their last semester. Graduates must have been admitted to the department as a graduate student. Classified post-baccalaureates must have been admitted to a second baccalaureate or a certificate.
  • CHEM 441A Biological Chemistry (3)
    Prerequisites: Either CHEM 220B or CHEM 223B with a grade of "C" or better; a biology or microbiology course is recommended.
  • CHEM 441B Biological Chemistry (3)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 441A with a grade of "C" or better.

Take one of the following:

  • BIOL 312 Evolutionary Biology (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212, BIOL 213, BIOL 260 all with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 350 General Ecology (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212, BIOL 213, BIOL 260; MATH 119A or MATH 122 all with a grade of "C" or better.

Take at least one of the following courses/course pairs:

  • BIOL 342 Human/Mammalian Phys (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212, BIOL 213 all with grade of "C" or better.
  • and
  • BIOL 342L Lab in Human/Mammalian Phys (1)
    Prerequisite/Corequisite: BIOL 342 with a grade of "C" or better.

Or

  • BIOL 345 Comparative Animal Phys (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212, BIOL 213 all with grade of "C" or better.
  • And
  • BIOL 345L Lab in Comp Animal Phys (1)
    Prerequisite/Corequisite: BIOL 345 with a grade of "C" or better.

Or

  • BIOL 440L Molecular Cell Biology Lab (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 340, BIOL 370, both with a grade of "C" or better, and consent of instructor.

Take four additional courses totaling at least 12 units selected from the following:

  • BIOL 311 General Microbiology (4)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212; CHEM 111B, all with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 431 Biology of Cancer (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 340, 370 with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 432 Stem Cell Biology (3)
    Prerequisite: BIOL 340 and 370 with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 433 Developmental Biology (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 340; BIOL 370 or BIOL 371 or MICR 371, both with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 440L Molecular Cell Biology Lab (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 340, BIOL 370, both with a grade of "C" or better, and consent of instructor.
  • BIOL 442 Physiology at the Limit (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 342 or BIOL 345 with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 443 Endocrinology (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 340; BIOL 342 or BIOL 345, all with a grade of "C" or better. (Undergraduates enroll in BIOL 443; graduates enroll in BIOL 543.)
  • BIOL 444 Reproductive Biology (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 342 or BIOL 345 with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 445 Metabolic Regulation (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 340, BIOL 342 or BIOL 345; CHEM 441A with grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 447 Molecular Plant Physiology (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 340, BIOL 370, both with grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 448 Principles of Neurobiology (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 340; BIOL 342 or BIOL 345, all with a grade of "C" or better. (Undergraduates enroll in BIOL 448; graduates enroll in BIOL 548.)
  • BIOL 449 Fish Physiology and Endocrinology (3)
    Prerequisite: BIOL 345 with grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 472 Molecular Evolution (3)
    Prerequisite: BIOL 370 with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 473 Molecular Genetics (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 370 or BIOL 371 or MICR 371; CHEM 220A,B and 223A,B, or CHEM 227, all with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 474 Bioinformatics (3)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 260; BIOL 370 or BIOL 371 or MICR 371, all with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 477 Biotechnology & Bioinformatics (4)
    Prerequisite: BIOL 340 or 370 or CHEM 441A,B; all with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 416 Virology (3)
    Prerequisite: BIOL 320 or MICR 320 or BIOL 340 with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 430 Immunology (3)
    Prerequisite: BIOL 340 with a grade of "C" or better.

With permission of the appropriate advisor, students may substitute one course in the biological sciences that is not on the above list for one of these four courses.

These courses do not meet any specific or elective requirements for this major: BIOL 300, BIOL 301, BIOL 304, BIOL 305, 309; and NSCI 492.

To meet prerequisite standards for courses in this program's requirements, a "C" or better is necessary in the following: BIOL 211, BIOL 212, BIOL 213, BIOL 260, BIOL 340, BIOL 342, BIOL 345, BIOL 370, CHEM 111A, CHEM 111B, CHEM 220A, CHEM 220B/223B, CHEM 223A, CHEM 441A, MATH 119A/MATH 122.

Students contemplating graduate or professional school should consider taking 1-3 units of BIOL 496 in addition to the requirements listed above. With prior permission of the advisor for this option, students may use 3 units of BIOL 496 as an elective.


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