Department of Biological Sciences

Mark Grobner, Ph.D., Chair

Professors: Bruner, Kelly, Kohlhaas, Roe, Schoenly, Watson, Wolf, James Youngblom, Janey Youngblom
Associate Professors: Grobner, Jones, Thao
Assistant Professors: Cover, Gerson, Stevens, Wooley

Office: Naraghi Hall of Science — N259
Phone: (209) 667-3476

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with concentrations in: Botany, Clinical Laboratory Science, Ecology and Field Biology, Entomology, Genetics, Marine Biology, Microbiology, and Zoology
Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences
Minor in Biological Sciences
Liberal Studies degree concentration in Biological Sciences
Environmental Sciences concentration in Biological Sciences
Pre-Health Professional Guidelines
Master of Science in Marine Sciences
Master of Science in Ecology and Sustainability
Master of Science in Genetic Counseling

Liberal Studies Concentration in Biological Sciences

Please refer to the Liberal Studies section of the catalog.

Preparation for Graduate Work or Professional Degrees

Biological Sciences majors interested in health careers such as dentistry, medicine, clinical laboratory science, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, or veterinary medicine should see the Pre-Health Professions section of this catalog. The University offers the appropriate preprofessional coursework for these areas and the department has fliers that outline the undergraduate courses recommended for each of these career paths.

Consultation with a faculty adviser familiar with preprofessional requirements is strongly recommended at the beginning of the sophomore year.

Students who intend to seek an advanced degree are encouraged to select a minor in the Physical Sciences or Mathematics. A year sequence in college Physics and a year sequence in Organic Chemistry should also be completed. Students interested in an advanced degree in Biochemistry, Ecology, or Molecular Biology should elect a year sequence in Calculus and a course in Statistics.

Students interested in biological laboratory occupations should complete as many courses as possible that focus on laboratory skills and use of equipment, in addition to the traditional Chemistry and Physiology courses completed as part of the Biological Sciences degree.

The following courses will also prepare the student for lab-based graduate or professional degrees:

Teaching Credentials

Majors in Biological Sciences interested in multiple subject or single subject credentials are referred to the Teacher Education section of this catalog for a description of teaching credential programs.

Master of Science in Marine Sciences Marine Biology Concentration

The Department of Biological Sciences in conjunction with Moss Landing Marine Laboratories offers a Master of Science in Marine Sciences degree in areas of Marine Sciences. Please contact the Department of Biological Sciences office for further information.

Master of Science in Ecology and Sustainability

The Department of Biological Sciences offers a Master of Science in Ecology and Sustainability with concentrations in either Ecological Conservation or Ecological Economics. Please contact the Department office for further information.

Master of Science in Genetic Counseling

The Department of Biological Sciences offers a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling with coursework offered at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco State University, and Oakland Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. Please contact the Department office for further information.

Goals of the Programs in Biological Sciences

To provide graduates with an in-depth yet broad exposure to the principal disciplines and concepts central to the biological sciences
To ensure that all students are exposed to investigative methods used by field and laboratory biologists
To produce graduates who are versatile and possess good reasoning skills
To produce scientifically literate graduates

Learning Objectives

Knowledge and Skills

Cognitive skills: Successful students will demonstrate the ability to think critically, synthesize rather than memorize information presented to them, and use this information to formulate scientic questions, design experiments to answer these questions, and collect, analyze, interpret, and report data.
Research skills: Successful students will demonstrate the ability to find, evaluate, and integrate published information, and demonstrate computer literacy through the ability to use databases and information technology.
Communication skills: Successful students will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing as professional scientists.
Biological knowledge: Successful students will demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles and unifying themes of biology.
Technical/Analytical skills: Successful students will demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to use mainstream laboratory/field procedures, methods, and instrumentation to conduct biological investigations and safety isues associated with each.
Teamwork skills: Successful students will demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively and solve probles in a group.

Values

Stewardship advocacy: Successful students will demonstrate understanding and appreciation of the relevance of biology to society, the value of knowledge and life-long learning, integrity, and the ability to identify and evaluate ethical issues.
Natural Resources: Successful students will have an appreciation of the inherent value of the components of the natural world and their interconnectedness.