Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Academic Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Academic Catalog [Archived Catalog]


Baccalaureate Degree Requirements Advising Sheet

Biological Sciences B.S.



View information for the Department of Biological Sciences , including Learning Objectives for the department and its programs.

The degree Bachelor of Science is designed to provide the comprehensive background in the sciences required for students planning to seek a career in biological sciences, secondary teaching, or a career requiring training in graduate or professional schools. Students planning to seek advanced or professional degrees should consult their department adviser early in their undergraduate program to determine what courses are required for graduate and professional programs.

Requirements


1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements.


A student must comply with all University regulations and satisfy the following requirements:

  1. Units and Residency  (minimum of 120 units: 40 units of upper division coursework and 30 semester units at Stanislaus State. At least 24 of these 30 units must be earned in upper-division courses, at least 12 must be in the major, and at least 9 must be applicable to General Education-Breadth requirements)
  2. Grade Point Average  (minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) or better)
  3. General Education  (minimum of 49 units)
  4. Upper Division Writing Proficiency  (minimum of 3 units)
    - Pass the Writing Proficiency Screening Test (WPST)
    - Writing Proficiency (WP) Course (may double count in the major)
  5. United States Constitution and California State and Local Government  (minimum of 3 units)
  6. Multicultural Requirement  (minimum of 3 units) (may double count with General Education requirements or in the major)

Subsequently all students must submit an application for graduation and receive approval from the major advisor, department chair, and Director of Academic Advising. For more information see the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements .

2. Complete the prerequisites to the major.


(a minimum of 8 units)

3. Complete the cognates to the major.


(a minimum of 25 units)

The Major


(45 units)

Courses taken without the prerequisites will not be applied toward the degree. In some concentrations, 4 units of specific non-biology science courses may be applied toward the major. A maximum of 4 units may be satisfied by lower division courses (with advisors approval). A maximum of 2 units may be satisfied by BIOL 4900 series courses (colloquium, independent study, internship, teaching assistantship) or CR-graded coursework from courses graded exclusively CR/NC. Completion of a minor is not required.

2. Complete the subareas or an optional concentration.


(32 units)

Complete the following or complete one of the optional concentrations:

Optional Concentration in Organismal, Ecological, and Evolutionary Biology


(32 units)

This concentration provides a focus on the structure and function of organisms in an ecological and evolutionary context.

Students opting for this concentration must take the prerequisites, cognates, and Biology core of the major with the following:

6. Electives


(9 units)

Complete 9 units from the Ecology, Diversity/Systematics, Structure/Function, Biotechnology/Genetics, or Complementary categories and/or from the following list:

Optional Concentration in Molecular, Cellular, and Microbial Biology


(32 units)

This concentration provides a focus on biological processes at the cellular and sub-cellular levels.

Students opting for this concentration must take the prerequisites, cognates, and Biology core of the major with the following:

Environmental Sciences


A student with a major in biological sciences may complete additional requirements in the sciences and mathematics to qualify for an Environmental Sciences concentration, in addition to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences. This program requires study in biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physical sciences, along with an environmental seminar and investigation of an environmentally-related problem. Further details are found on the Environmental Sciences Concentration  page.