Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Academic Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Academic Catalog [Archived Catalog]


Baccalaureate Degree Requirements Advising Sheet

Biological Sciences B.A.



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

The Bachelor of Arts degree is designed to provide breadth and background in the natural sciences and to allow sufficient flexibility to accommodate the diverse needs of the general student. Persons preparing for careers in such areas as agriculture, industry, and elementary teaching will find this degree adaptable to their objective.

Program Learning Objectives

Knowledge and Skills

  1. Biological knowledge: Successful students will demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles and unifying themes of biology.
  2. 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 scientific questions, design experiments to answer these questions, and collect, analyze, interpret, and report data.
  3. 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.
  4. Communication skills: Successful students will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing as professional scientists.
  5. 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 issues associated with each.
  6. Teamwork skills: Successful students will demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively and solve problems in a group.

Values

   7. 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.
   8. Natural Resources: Successful students will have an appreciation of the inherent value of the components of the natural world and their interconnectedness.

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)
    - 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.


(8 units)

4. Complete the required courses for the major.


Courses taken without the pre-requisites will not be applied toward the degree. With approval of the major adviser, a maximum of 4 units may be satisfied by lower division courses. 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.

The Major


(37 units)

1. Complete the Biology Core courses.


(13 units)

2. Complete the subareas.


(24 units)

d. Electives


(10 units)

Complete 10 additional units from the Diversity/Systematics, Structure/Function, Biotechnology/Genetics categories, or from the following:

Environmental Sciences Concentration


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.

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