Program Description for Undergraduate Majors

Biology is the study of life, its origins, diversity and intricacies. It emphasizes the relationship between structure and function in living systems and the processes by which organisms grow, reproduce and interact with each other and their environment. The Biology Program provides its undergraduate and graduate students with a strong theoretical foundation in biology, combined with extensive hands-on laboratory experiences using state-of-the-art technology. Students take a series of core courses augmented by electives selected from areas of special interest.

Careers

The Bachelor of Science in Biology provides breadth and depth in biology and supporting sciences and is designed for students who wish to enter health professional (e.g., medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy) programs, graduate schools in all aspects of biology, or seek careers in business, industry or government. By following course roadmaps that align with their interests and career goals, students can choose electives that prepare them for careers in biotechnology, natural resources, conservation, education or for entry into certification programs in health-related fields (including medical imaging, clinical laboratory science, and public health microbiology).

The Bachelor of Arts degree provides a general background in both the concepts and the technical skills of modern biology and is designed for students seeking a more flexible degree program. Within the Bachelor of Arts program, students can choose to follow an elective course roadmap required for entering a single subject credential program in science for teaching at the high school and middle school levels. Additional courses in geology, astronomy, and chemistry are recommended to meet the breadth requirements for credential programs.

The Biology Minor provides non-majors with a background in biology necessary for many graduate and professional programs. Equipped with a minor in biology, students with majors in other disciplines will have a greater understanding and knowledge of the latest advances in many areas of biology and will therefore be more versatile in their career paths. The requirement for a Minor in Biology is 21 units.
 

Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Biology program will be able to:

• Explain the basic structures and fundamental processes of life at molecular, cellular and organismal levels;
• Identify the evolutionary processes that lead to adaptation and biological diversity;
• Describe the relationship between life forms and their environments and ecosystems;
• Collect, organize, analyze, interpret and present quantitative and qualitative data and incorporate them into the broader context of biological knowledge;
• Effectively apply current technology and scientific methodologies for problem solving;
• Find, select and evaluate various types of scientific information including primary research articles, mass media sources and world-wide web information; and
• Communicate effectively in written and oral forms.

Summary of Units:

Note: BIOL 150  /CHEM 150  or MATH 230  /PHIL 230  is recommended to meet GE Area 1B.