Bachelor of Science in Biology - Option in Biology Education
(120 units)
Single Subject Preliminary Credential in Biology
This option is designed solely for students who wish to become secondary school Biology teachers. This option requires 79-88 units in the major, of which 46-56 are lower division and 29-36 are upper division. Prospective students should consult the Single Subject Science Education Advisor in the Department of Science Education early to plan their program.
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.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:
- 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.
- ASTR 100 Astronomy (3)
Corequisites: One course from General Education Category B.2 and ASTR 100L.
- CHEM 111A General Chemistry (5)
Prerequisites: 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.
Choose either:
- GEOL 106 Earth Science for Teachers (4)
Prerequisites/Corequisites: A course that fulfills the A.1 GE requirement and three years of high school mathematics, including algebra, geometry, and intermediate algebra or the equivalent.
or both of the following:
- GEOL 102 General Geology (3)
Prerequisites/Corequisites: A course that fulfills the A.1 GE requirement and three years of high school mathematics including algebra, geometry, and intermediate algebra or the equivalent.
- GEOL 104 Geology Laboratory (1)
Prerequisites/Corequisites: A course that fulfills the A.1 GE requirement and three years of high school mathematics including algebra, geometry, and intermediate algebra or the equivalent, and concurrent or prior enrollment in GEOL 102.
Take one of the following courses:
- MATH 119A Survey of Calculus I (3)
Prerequisite: Appropriate MDPT placement or a grade of "C" or better in MATH 113.
- MATH 122 Calculus I (4)
Prerequisite: Appropriate MDPT placement or a grade of "C" or better in MATH 111 and MATH 113.
Take one of the following courses:
- BIOL 201 General Microbiology for Health Professionals (4)
Prerequisites: CHEM 111A or CHEM 140 with a grade of "C" or better and GE Foundation requirements.
- BIOL 311 General Microbiology (4)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212; CHEM 111B, all with a grade of "C" or better.
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.
These courses do not meet any specific or elective requirements for this major: BIOL 100, BIOL 101, BIOL 200, BIOL 200L, BIOL 205, BIOL 205L, BIOL 207, or BIOL 208.
Take either:
- CHEM 227 Organic Chemistry (3)
Prerequisite: CHEM 111A with a grade of "C" or better; CHEM 111B is recommended.
Or all four of the following courses lower-division courses:
- CHEM 220A Organic Chemistry I (3)
Prerequisites: 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.
Upper Division:
Take the following course:
- SCED 404 The Nature of Science and Scientific Reasoning for Teachers (3)
Prerequisites: At least three-fourths of the credential specialization courses for Single Subject Teaching Credential in science and consent of instructor. Enrollment limited to students who intend to pursue a Single Subject Credential in Science.
Take at least nine courses totaling at least 26-29 units in the biological sciences including:
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.
One of the following courses in physiology:
- BIOL 345 Comparative Animal Physiology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, BIOL 212, BIOL 213 all with grade of "C" or better.
- BIOL 447 Molecular Plant Physiology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 340, BIOL 370, both with grade of "C" or better.
One of the following courses in plant diversity:
- 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.
One of the following courses in animal diversity:
- 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.
The remaining biological sciences course should be chosen in consultation with an advisor; BIOL 495 is highly recommended. Either CHEM 441A, CHEM 441B or CHEM 448 will count toward this additional required course. Students may use BIOL 496 as one of the nine required upper division courses but only with prior permission of the advisor for this option.
These courses do not meet any specific or elective requirements for this major: BIOL 300, BIOL 301, BIOL 304, BIOL 305; 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 312, BIOL 370, CHEM 111A, CHEM 111B, CHEM 220A, CHEM 223A, MATH 119A, MATH 122.
Although SCED 403 and EDSS 300C are not required in the major, the credential does require these courses. Students may want to take some or all of them prior to graduation.
Single Subject Teaching Credential in Biology
The Biological Sciences Concentration meets the subject matter competence requirement for the Single Subject Teaching Credential in Biology. In addition to meeting the subject matter competence requirement for the Teaching Credential, prospective Biology teachers are also required to complete 45 units of professional preparation in the Single Subject Credential Program, including student teaching. Students may begin the professional preparation courses as early as the junior year. With careful planning, it is possible to complete many of the credential program courses as an undergraduate. Courses may also be started as a post-baccalaureate student. Refer to the Single Subject Teacher Education section of this catalog or the Single Subject Credential Program website (www.ced.csulb.edu/single-subject) for a description of the professional preparation requirements, courses, and application procedures.
The Biological Sciences Subject Matter Program is being revised to meet new state standards. When the revised program has been approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the new course requirements will be in effect and supersede current requirements.
