Bachelor of Science in Biology - General Biology (120 units)
This degree major is designed for students pursuing careers that involve the study of life. This general option is designed to expose students to a wide range of biological topics and is the most flexible option in terms of courses required. With the right elective choices, this option can work for students planning on future careers in health professions or graduate and professional studies in Biological Sciences. Students may not combine this option with any other in the B.S. in Biology nor with the B.S. in Marine Biology or Microbiology as part of a dual major. This option requires approximately 77-80 units in the major, of which 44-45 are in lower division and 33-35 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.
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 201 or 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)
Corequisite: CHEM 220B, except for students who have previously earned a "C" or better in CHEM 220B.
Take one course from the following:
- MATH 119A Survey of Calculus I (3)
Prerequisite: Appropriate MDPT placement or a grade of "C" or better in MATH 113.
- MATH 122 Calculus (4)
Prerequisite: 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)
Prerequisite: 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)
Prerequisite: PHYS 100A.
- PHYS 152 Electricity and Magnetism (4)
Prerequisite: PHYS 151.
Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 123.
The following courses do not meet any specific or elective requirements for this major: BIOL 100, BIOL 101 or MICR 101, BIOL 153, BIOL 153L, BIOL 200, BIOL 200L, BIOL 201 or MICR 200, BIOL 205, BIOL 205L, BIOL 207, or BIOL 208.
Upper Division:
Take all of the following courses:
- BIOL 312 Evolutionary Biology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212, BIOL 213, BIOL 260 all with a grade of "C" or better.
- BIOL 340 Molecular Cell Biology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212, 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.
- 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.
Take at least one of the following courses/course pairs in physiology:
- 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 447 Molecular Plant Physiology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 340, BIOL 370, both with grade of "C" or better.
Take two of the following courses in organismal diversity. One of the courses must be BIOL 313, BIOL 316, BIOL 324, BIOL 427, or BIOL 439:
- BIOL 311 General Microbiology (4)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212; CHEM 111B, all with a grade of "C" or better.
- BIOL 313 Invertebrate Zoology (4)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212, BIOL 213 all with a grade of "C" or better, and consent of instructor.
- BIOL 316 General Entomology (4)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212, BIOL 213 all with grade of "C" or better.
- BIOL 324 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212, BIOL 213 all with grade of "C" or better.
- BIOL 419, Ichthyology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212, BIOL 213, BIOL 260 and at least 6 additional units of upper division biological science, all with a grade of " C" or better. Recommended: BIOL 350, BIOL 353, and BIOL 370.
- BIOL 421 Herpetology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 260, BIOL 350, and one additional upper division biology course, all with a grade of "C" or better. Recommended: BIOL 312, BIOL 324, or BIOL 370.
- BIOL 423 Mammalogy (3)
Prerequisites: At least one of BIOL 312, BIOL 324, or BIOL 350, with a grade of "C" or better.
- BIOL 424 Ornithology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212, BIOL 213, BIOL 260 and three units of upper division BIOL, all with a grade of "C" or better. Recommended: BIOL 350.
- BIOL 427 Vascular Plant Systematics (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 312 or BIOL 370 with a grade of "C" or better.
- BIOL 439 Plant Morphology (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 312 or BIOL 370 with a grade of "C" or better.
Take three additional upper division courses in the Department of Biological Sciences totaling a minimum of nine units. At least six of these units must be at the 400 level.
Courses outside of BIOL that can also count toward these units include GEOG 481, CHEM 441A, and CHEM 448.
Courses that will not count towards these units are BIOL 300, BIOL 301, BIOL 304, BIOL 305; MICR 300.
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, BIOL342/BIOL 345, BIOL 370, CHEM 111A, CHEM 111B, CHEM 220A, CHEM 223A, 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.
