2017-2018 CSU East Bay Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Biological Science, General Biology Option, B.A.
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Biological Science (B.A.) 180 units
Program Description
Biology is concerned with living matter in all its forms, responses, and interactions. It deals with the study of anything that has been or is alive: microbes, all plants, and all animals, including humans. The science of biology includes a large number of highly integrated sub-disciplines such as microbiology, genetics, ecology, evolution, physiology, systematics, and behavior. Biologists must draw upon a wide variety of academic disciplines to make observations and draw conclusions, and well-trained biologists have solid backgrounds in chemistry, mathematics, computer science, statistics, physics, and the humanities, as required by graduate programs and professional schools, to meet the demands of professions in the life sciences.
The Department of Biological Sciences offers a diversified curriculum in the life sciences. Courses are designed for biology majors with specific degree objectives, for students seeking applied technical training, and for non-major students with general interest in biological subjects. Undergraduate programs will prepare students for both graduate work and for a diversity of careers. Biology majors may enter specialized or general careers in life science and find themselves working in laboratories, offices, the field, farms, administrative posts, academic institutions, industry, government agencies, private foundations, botanic gardens and zoos, wildlife preserves, and elsewhere.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a B.S. or B.A. in Biological Science from Cal State East Bay will be able to:
- demonstrate how evolutionary processes give rise to the diversity and unity of life, from genomes to ecosystems;
- explain the relationship between structure and function across all levels of biological organization, from ions to ecosystems;
- clearly communicate biological information in a variety of formats (written, oral, graphical, computational) using a style appropriate for the intended audience;
- apply methods of scientific inquiry-specifically, students will be able to formulate testable hypotheses, collect and analyze data, and report conclusions;
- gather, interpret, and evaluate published scientific information.
Career Possibilities
- Administrator
- Biotechnologist
- Botanist
- Cell Biologist
- Consultant
- Dentist
- Ecologist
- Entomologist
- Environmentalist
- Genetic Engineer
- Physiologist
- Geneticist
- Health Scientist
- Lab Assistant
- Marine Biologist
- Medical Doctor
- Medical Technologist
- Pharmacologist
- Physical Therapist
- Population Biologist
- Researcher
- Teacher
- Space Biologist
- Technical Sales
- Technical Writer
- Toxicologist
- Veterinarian
- Zoologist
Features
Classes are offered on the Hayward campus in well-equipped facilities, at the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories located on Monterey Bay, and at a number of field locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including the South San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Field Station, and the Garin Reserve adjacent to campus.
A program in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences is offered to qualify students for California hospital traineeships which lead to state licensure as medical technologists.
Preparation
A student who has successfully completed an advanced placement course in biology in high school and has earned a score of “3,” “4” or “5” on the Advanced Placement Examination will be granted 9 units of credit in place of BIOL 1001-2 and 2040 or, if student is a Biology Major, 10 units in place of BIOL 1401 and 1403. No Advanced Placement credit is given for BIOL 1402.
Prerequisite courses for all Biology courses must be passed with a grade of “C-” or better. All requests for Grade Forgiveness are subject to space availability, with priority given to newly enrolled students.
Major Requirements (B.A.) 90 units
The Bachelor of Arts major program should be considered by students wishing broad experience in biology as well as specialized course work tailored to their special interests. Students planning careers in education, biological interpretative work, natural history programs, health-related vocations, or seeking generalized biological training may find this program most adaptable to their needs. However, the B.A. degree major in many cases will not provide the required courses for admission to graduate or professional schools. The B.A. degree requires a minimum of 180 units.
- The core major consists of 45 units;
- the Biology Education Option consists of 45 units;
- the General Biology Option consists of 45 units;
- GE/USHG/UWS consists of 84 units (some courses may double-count units - see your advisor).
- Free Electives (if any) consist of any remainder units to reach the 180 total units (see your advisor).
Note: Requirements are subject to change, so consult your advisor in the Department of Biological Sciences for clarification and interpretation of your major requirements.
Lower Division Core (15 units)
The following core courses are required:
Upper Division Core (30 units)
The following core courses are required:
Option Requirements
The Biological Science B.A. degree requires that students must select one of the following options:
General Biology Option (45 units)
The Option in General Biology for the B.A. Biological Science consists of 90 units. The B.A. Biological Science degree requires a total of 180 units. The University requires 72 units of GE. However, the B.A. Biological Science with the Option in General Biology can incorporate up to 16 units of GE into the major. These include:
- GE Areas B1, B3, B5 can be satisfied with CHEM 1601 and 1602
- GE Area B4 can be satisfied with MATH 1304
- GE Area C4 can be satisfied with PHIL 3151 or 3152 or 3153
Required Courses
Complete 24 units of required courses:
Electives
Twenty-one (21) elective units required:
- Consultation with a faculty advisor is strongly recommended to rewiew the suitability of this degree program for the desired professional goal.
- Any upper division biology course can be applied, except BIOL 3020.
- Can include a maximum of 8 units from departments outside of Biological Science but not more than one course per department.
Approved Elective Courses
Listed are approved elective courses outside of Biological Science:
Course Descriptions
Use this link to see all Course Descriptions available throughout this catalog.
Other Undergraduate Degree Requirements
In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University requirements for graduation which are described throughout this catalog. These include the General Education-Breadth requirements; the second composition (ENGL 1002 ) requirement; the cultural groups/women requirement; the performing arts/activities requirement; the U.S. history, U.S. Constitution, and California state and local government requirement; the University Writing Skills Requirement; and the residence, unit, and grade point average requirements.
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