B.S. in Marine Biology, 2024-2025 Catalog
Four Year Degree Worksheet for: B.S. in Marine 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATH 119A (area B4) | Survey of Calculus I (3) | Appropriate placement, MATH 112B and 113 | MSDR |
| CHEM 111A | General Chemistry (5) | CPT score of 24 or higher, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 112A or 112B or higher, CHEM 95 if needed | 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 153 | Introduction to Marine Biology (3) | Pre/Corequisite: GE Written Communication (A2), MATH 119A or 122 (B4) | |
| BIOL 211 | Introduction to Evolution and Diversity (4) | CHEM 111A | MSDR |
| CHEM 111B | General Chemistry (5) | CHEM 111A, MATH 112B or higher | MSDR |
| GE (area A3) | Critical Thinking (3) | MSDR |
Year 2 - Semester 3
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 212 | Introduction to Cell and Molecular Bio. (4) | BIOL 211, CHEM 111A, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 111B | |
| BIOL 260 | Biostatistics (3) | BIOL 211, MATH 111, 113, 119A, or 122 | |
| CHEM 227; OR CHEM 220A | Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry(3); OR Organic Chemistry I (3) | CHEM 111A, recommended 111B; OR CHEM 111B, Corequisite: CHEM 223A | 227 usually recommended |
| CHEM 223A (if 220A taken) | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1) | Corequisite: CHEM 220A | |
| GE (area A1) | Oral Communication (3) | MSDR | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | Other Exploration (3) |
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 (if 220A taken) | Organic Chemistry II (3) | CHEM 220A; Corequisite: CHEM 223B | |
| CHEM 223B (if 223A taken) | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1) | Corequisite: CHEM 220B | |
| PHYS 100A; OR PHYS 151 | General Physics (4); OR Mechanics and Heat (4) | MATH 109, 113, 119A, or 122; OR Pre/Corequisite: MATH 122, 123, or 224 | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) |
Year 3 - Semester 5
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 345 & BIOL 345L | Comparative Animal Physiology (3) & Comparative Animal Physiology Lab (1) | BIOL 211, 212, 213 & Pre/Corequisite: BIOL 345 | |
| BIOL 350 | General Ecology (3) | BIOL 211, 212, 213, 260 and MATH 119A or 122 | |
| BIOL 353 | Marine Biology (3) | BIOL 153, 211, 212, 213, and 260 | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) |
Year 3 - Semester 6
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 312 | Evolutionary Biology (3) | BIOL 211, 212, 213, 260 | |
| BIOL 370 | General Genetics (4) | BIOL 211, 212, and 260 | |
| BIOL 419 | Ichthyology (3) | BIOL 211, 212, 213, and 260 | |
| GE Upper Division (area C-UD, D-UD) | Upper Division (3) | GE Foundation | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) |
Year 4 - Semester 7
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 313 | Invertebrate Zoology (4) | BIOL 211, 212, and 213, consent from instructor required | Fall only |
| Elective | Marine Biology Elective (3) | ||
| GE Upper Division (area C-UD, D-UD) | Upper Division (3) | GE Foundation | |
| Elective | Marine Biology Elective (3) |
Year 4 - Semester 8
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 480 | Seminars (1) | Must take in last semester, department consent required | |
| Elective | Marine Biology Elective (3) | ||
| Elective | Marine Biology Elective (3) | ||
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| Elective | Elective (3) |
