BS in Biological Science (General Biology)
Units required for Major: 73-85, includes units of study in chosen concentration (see below).
Total units required for BS: 120
Program Description
The general biology concentration is intended to give students a broad training in the Biological Sciences and an opportunity to explore a wide range of elective courses. It also provides necessary preparation for most graduate programs and selected entry level technical positions in industry and government. The BS in Biological Sciences meets the Subject Matter Competency requirement to enter a Biology Single Subject Teaching Credential Program (the Biology Subject Matter Waiver Program requires three additional geoscience and environmental studies courses) and also satisfies requirements for admission to health professional schools (with additional coursework in Math and Chemistry).
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Lower Division Core Courses (37-41 Units) | ||
| BIO 1 | Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology 1 | 5 |
| BIO 2 | Cells, Molecules and Genes | 5 |
| CHEM 1A | General Chemistry I 1 | 5 |
| CHEM 1B | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 - 6 | |
| Organic Chemistry Lecture--Brief Course 2 | ||
| Organic Chemistry Lecture I Organic Chemistry Lecture II | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 - 4 | |
| Calculus I for the Social and Life Sciences | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| PHYS 5A | General Physics: Mechanics, Heat, Sound | 4 |
| PHYS 5B | General Physics: Light, Electricity and Magnetism, Modern Physics | 4 |
| STAT 1 | Introduction to Statistics 1 | 3 |
| Required Upper Division Core Courses (7 Units) | ||
| BIO 100 | Introduction to Scientific Analysis | 3 |
| BIO 184 | General Genetics | 4 |
| Concentration (29-37 Units) | ||
| Select from the following concentrations: | 29 - 37 | |
General Biology | ||
Biomedical Sciences | ||
Cell and Molecular Biology | ||
Clinical Laboratory Sciences | ||
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation | ||
Forensic Biology | ||
Microbiology | ||
| Total Units | 73-85 | |
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Course also satisfies General Education (GE)/Graduation Requirement.
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CHEM 24 and CHEM 124 may be taken in lieu of CHEM 20. (CHEM 124 is not counted toward the 36 upper division unit requirement in the major except in the Biomedical Sciences Concentration.)
Notes:
- Pre-Health Professional students should take the Chemistry and Math requirements as stated in the Pre-Health Professional Program section of this catalog.
- With approval, up to six units of upper division coursework from related fields may be applied as electives in the major.
Concentration in General Biology (29 units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (16 Units) | ||
| BIO 121 | Molecular Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIO 139 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO 160 | General Ecology | 3 |
| BIO 188 | Evolution | 3 |
| CHEM 161 | General Biochemistry 1 | 3 |
| Elective Courses (13 Units) | ||
| Select one of the following Structure and Function electives: | 3 | |
| Physiology of Human Reproduction | ||
| Advanced Human Anatomy | ||
| Neuroanatomy | ||
| Comparative Vertebrate Morphology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Plant Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Histology | ||
| Systemic Physiology | ||
| Neurophysiology | ||
| Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Renal Physiology | ||
| Select additional upper division elective courses in consultation with an advisor to total 13 total upper division elective units. | 10 | |
| Total Units | 29 | |
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CHEM 160A and CHEM 160B may be taken in lieu of CHEM 161. Only three units of the package may be counted toward the upper division requirement.
- No more than 3 units from the following combined can be applied to the Biological Sciences upper division major requirement. No more than 2 units of BIO 195 and 197 series courses can count toward the upper division major requirement.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 195 | Biological Internship | 1 - 2 |
| BIO 197A | Laboratory Teaching Assistant | 1 - 2 |
| BIO 197B | Laboratory Techniques | 1 - 2 |
| BIO 197C | Co-curricular Activities in Biology | 1 - 2 |
| BIO 199A | Introductory Undergraduate Research | 1 - 2 |
| BIO 199B | Directed Readings | 1 - 2 |
General Education Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Area A: Basic Subjects (9 Units) | ||
| A1 - Oral Communication | 3 | |
| A2 - Written Communication | 3 | |
| A3 - Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms (3 Units) | ||
| B1 - Physical Science 2 | 0 | |
| B2 - Life Forms 2 | 0 | |
| B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) 2 | 0 | |
| B4 - Math Concepts 2 | 0 | |
| B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area C: Arts and Humanities (12 Units) | ||
| C1 - Arts | 3 | |
| C2 - Humanities | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area D: The Individual and Society (9 Units) | ||
| Area D Course | 3 | |
| Area D Course | 3 | |
| Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area E: Understanding Personal Development (3 Units) | ||
| Area E Course | 3 | |
| Area F: Ethnic Studies (3 Units) | ||
| Area F Course | 3 | |
| Total Units | 39 | |
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To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.
Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.
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Required in Major; also satisfies GE.
Graduation Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (9 Units) | ||
| American Institutions: U.S. History | 3 | |
| American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive (WI) | 3 | |
| Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (12 Units) | ||
| English Composition II | 3 | |
| Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE) | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 2 | 6 | |
- 1
To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.
Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.
- 2
If not satisfied before entering Sacramento State, it may be satisfied in General Education Area C2 (Humanities). "C- or better required." The alternative methods for satisfying the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement are described here: https://www.csus.edu/college/arts-letters/world-languages-literatures/foreign-language-requirement.html