Mar 29, 2024  
2008-2009 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2008-2009 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Biological Sciences B.A./B.S.


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

Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences


The degree Bachelor of Arts 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 career objective.

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences


The degree Bachelor of Science is designed to provide the comprehensive background in the sciences required for students planning to seek a career in secondary teaching or additional training for graduate or professional schools. The degree includes coursework usually required for admission to schools of medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, or laboratory technology, and for admission to graduate work in the biological sciences. 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 for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science


1. Complete University General Education requirements for the bachelor’s degree


(51 units)

Click here to view General Education requirements. 

2. Complete the following prerequisites to the major:


a. Required courses in the major field:


(8 units)

b. Required courses in supporting fields.


(14 units for the Bachelor of Arts degree; 25-26 units for the Bachelor of Science degree):

3. Complete the major.


The major consists of not less than 25 upper-division units for the Bachelor of Arts or not less than 29 upper-division units for the Bachelor of Science, including specific course requirements. No more than 8 units of CR-graded coursework from courses graded exclusively CR/NC may apply toward the major.

4. Completion of a minor or concentration is not required.


The Major


(34-38 units)

1. Animal and Plant Sciences


(8 units)

Note: These must be upper-division, 4- or 5-unit courses with laboratories. With the approval of the major adviser, certain lower-division (4 or 5 units, with lab) bacteriology courses taken at other institutions may be used to satisfy the Botany/Microbiology requirement. Under those circumstances, only 4 units of biology electives may then be at the lower-division level.

a. Select one course from Entomology or Zoology.


b. Select one course from Botany or Microbiology.


c. One of the above courses must deal with the diversity of organisms.


(Acceptable courses are indicated by an asterisk (*) in the course description section of the catalog.)

3. Genetics


(5-6 units)

4. Ecology


(4 units)

Select one course from the following:

6. Electives


Complete 10 units of electives in the Biological Sciences for the Bachelor of Arts degree or 14 units of electives in the Biological Sciences for the Bachelor of Science degree. A maximum of 8 units may be satisfied by courses at the lower-division level with the approval of the major adviser.

The following may be used, but no more than 3 units total:
 

7. Completion of a concentration is optional.


Optional Concentrations in the Major


Requirements


(16 units minimum, unless specified otherwise)

Students wishing to have a specific concentration may do so by completing all the requirements for a major in Biological Sciences, to include specific concentration requirements listed below. A minimum of 16 upper-division units must be completed within the area of concentration. Additional units within the concentration will be selected with the assistance of the adviser. Units taken to complete a concentration also count where appropriate, within the major. The following concentrations are offered:

Electives:

An additional 4 units selected with assistance of the adviser.

2. Clinical Laboratory Science Concentration


The curriculum for the Clinical Laboratory Science concentration includes mandatory classes required for eligibility to take the licensure examination for clinical laboratory scientists offered by the California Department of Health Services. Coursework also prepares students for entry into hospital- based, one-year training programs that are prerequisite to the licensure examination.

3. Ecology and Field Biology


(17-18 units)

Electives:

An additional 4 units selected with assistance of the adviser.

5. Environmental Sciences


A biological sciences major 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.

6. Genetics


7. Marine Biology


  • One term of residence at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories or another marine station.

8. Microbiology


9. Zoology


Select at least one course from each of the following groups:

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