B.S. in Biology, 2024-2025 Catalog
Four Year Degree Worksheet for: B.S. in Biology - CSULB Catalog (2024-2025)
This degree worksheet is intended to help you develop a balanced course schedule while completing your degree within 4 years. The same sequence of courses (with fewer courses each semester) is also recommended for students completing their degree in 5 or 6 years.
This worksheet is not intended to replace academic advising with your assigned advisor. Students should consult with their assigned advisor to determine the appropriate sequence of required courses and electives based on their academic goals.
CSULB Enrollment Services prepares the Academic Requirements Report, which is the official graduation verification.
Major-Specific Degree Requirements
Major-Specific Degree Requirements are listed as an "MSDR" in the notes column. These courses must be completed in order to declare your major. All students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher in the STEM MSDR suite. For more information, please see: Major-Specific Degree Requirements for CSULB Students.
Pre-Biology first-time freshmen must complete CHEM 111A and MATH 119A or higher within one year of matriculation. Some students may need to take courses during Summer Session to meet these requirements. Students who have not met the requirements by the required semester must either declare another major or meet with an Academic Advisor to determine if the student's performance in the courses merits an additional semester to complete.
Additional Notes
Students should take the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement Placement Examination (GPE) after Year 1.
The "elective (1)" entries below are placeholders for the extra units needed for graduation if only the listed courses are taken. All students should make sure they take at least 120 units to meet graduation requirements.
Year 1 - Semester 1
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 111A | General Chemistry (5) | Appropriate Placement, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 112A or 112B or higher; CHEM 95 if needed | MSDR |
| MATH 119A (area B4) | Survey of Calculus I (3) | Appropriate placement; MATH 112B or 113 | MSDR |
| GE (area A2) | Written Communication (3) | MSDR | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| NSCI 190A | Experience Success Program 1 (1) | Fall only |
Year 1 - Semester 2
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 211 | Introduction to Evolution and Diversity (5) | Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 111A | MSDR |
| CHEM 111B | General Chemistry (5) | CHEM 111A, MATH 112B or higher | MSDR |
| GE (area A1) | Oral Communication (3) | MSDR | |
| GE (area A3) | Critical Thinking (3) | MSDR | |
| Elective | Elective Requirement (1) |
Year 2 - Semester 3
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 212 | Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (4) | BIOL 211; CHEM 111A, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 111B | |
| BIOL 260 | Biostatistics (3) | BIOL 211, MATH 111, 113, 119A, or 122 | |
| CHEM 220A | Organic Chemistry I (3) | CHEM 111B, Corequisite: CHEM 223A | |
| CHEM 223A | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1) | CHEM 111B, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 220A | |
| GE (area C,D,E, F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| Elective | Elective Requirement (1) |
Year 2 - Semester 4
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 213 | Introduction to Ecology and Physiology (4) | BIOL 211 and 212, CHEM 111B | |
| BIOL 340 | Molecular Cell Biology (3) | BIOL 211 and 212 | |
| CHEM 220B | Organic Chemistry II (3) | CHEM 220A, Corequisite: CHEM 223B | |
| CHEM 223B | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1) | CHEM 220A and 223A, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 220B | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| Elective | Elective Requirement (1) |
Year 3 - Semester 5
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 312 | Evolutionary Biology (3) | BIOL 211, 212, 213, and 260 | |
| BIOL 342 & BIOL 342L; OR BIOL 345 & BIOL 345L; OR BIOL 447 | Human/Mammalian Physiology (3) & Human/Mammalian Physiology Lab (1); OR Comparative Animal Physiology (3) & Comparative Animal Physiology Lab (1); OR Molecular Plant Physiology (3) | BIOL 211, 212, 213 & Pre/Corequisite: BIO 342; OR BIOL 211, 212, 213 & Pre/Corequisite: BIO 345; OR BIOL 340, 370 | |
| PHYS 100A; OR PHYS 151 | General Physics (4) OR Mechanics and Heat (4) | MATH 109, 111, 112A, 113, 119A, or 122; OR Pre/Corequisite: MATH 122,123, or 224 | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| Elective | Elective Requirement (1) |
Year 3 - Semester 6
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 350 | General Ecology (3) | BIOL 211, 212, 213, 260; MATH 119A or 122 | |
| BIOL 370 | General Genetics (4) | BIOL 211, 212, and either BIOL 260 or CHEM 251, GE Foundation | GE AREA UD-B |
| PHYS 100B; OR PHYS 152 | General Physics (4); OR Electricity and Magnetism (4) | PHYS 100A or 151, MATH 109, 111, 112A, 113, 119A, or 122; OR PHYS 151, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 123 | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| Elective | Elective (1) |
Year 4 - Semester 7
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective | Biology Diversity Course (4) | ||
| Upper Division Elective | Biological Science (3) | ||
| 400 Level Elective | Biological Science (3) | ||
| GE Upper Division (area C-UD, D-UD) | Upper Division (3) | GE Foundation | |
| GE Upper Division (area C-UD, D-UD) | Upper Division (3) | GE Foundation |
Year 4 - Semester 8
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 480 | Seminars (1) | Must take in last semester, department consent required | |
| 400 Level Elective | Biological Science (3) | ||
| Elective | Biology Diversity Course (3) | ||
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| Elective | Elective (1) |
