Biological Sciences, B.S.: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Concentration

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Biological Science, B.S. Program (120 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, fungi, plants, “protists” and all animals, including humans. The science of biology includes a large number of highly integrated sub-disciplines such as microbiology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, physiology, systematics, and behavior. Biologists must draw upon a wide variety of academic disciplines to make observations and form 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, administrative posts, academic institutions, industry, government agencies, private foundations, botanic gardens, wildlife preserves and zoos. Simply put, biologists study the living planet.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a B.S. in Biological Science from Cal State East Bay will be able to:

Explain core biological concepts, including evolutionary processes, structure-function relationships across all levels of biological organization, homeostasis, information flow, matter and energy transformations, and the interactions and interconnectedness of living systems.
Apply quantitative reasoning to explain biological phenomena and to address biological problems.
Clearly communicate biological information in a variety of formats (written, oral, visual) using a style appropriate for the intended audience.
Apply methods of scientific inquiry by formulating testable hypotheses, collecting and analyzing data, and reporting conclusions.
Gather, interpret, and evaluate published scientific information.

Program Roadmaps

These program roadmaps represent recommended pathways through the program. Please see an advisor to create an education plan that is customized to meet your needs.

4-Year Freshmen Roadmaps

2-Year ADT Roadmaps

Career Opportunities

A degree in biological science can lead to many exciting career opportunities including: • Biotechnologist • Health Professional such as Medical Doctor, Dentist, Opthamologist, Veterinarian, and Pharmacist • Environmental Scientist • Biology Researcher • Environmental Toxicologist • Forensic Scientist • Clinical Lab Scientist • Biology Teacher/Science Educator • College Instructor • Marine Biologist • Physical Therapist • Food Scientist • Radiation Therapy Technologist • Dietician • Science Editor • Medical Illustrator • Horticulturalist • Emergency Medical Technician • Mortician • Medical Technologist • Drug Inspector.

Features

Classes are offered on the Hayward campus in well-equipped facilities, at the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories located in Monterey Bay (via participation in a CSU Consortium which allows degree credit for MLML course), and at field locations such as Garin Reserve adjacent to campus.

A concentration in Microbiology and Biomedical Laboratory Sciences is offered to qualify students for California hospital traineeships which lead to state licensing as medical technologists and clinical lab scientists.

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 the following course credit:

Score of 3, credit for non-majors introductory biology and lab (BIOL 100 or BIOL 101+102)
Score of 4, credit for BIOL 140B only
Score of 5, credit for BIOL 140A and BIOL 140B

Note: students earning a score of “3” or better on the AP Biology Exam will earn no more than 6 semester units toward the degree and will have satisfied GE Areas B2 and B3.

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.

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

For the B.S. degree in Biological Science, the student must select a concentration to complete the major. All concentrations have the same lower and upper division core of required classes. See major requirements for concentration information.

Degree Requirements Unit-Outline

A baccalaureate of arts degree requires a total of 120 units:
- The major and concentration requires 75-78 units of coursework;
- General Education (GE) & Graduation Requirements (GR) consists of 57 units;
- Free Electives may consist of 0 units (actual number of free elective units may depend on GE/GR units).

Note: It may be possible to double-count units within the graduation requirements or that a course may satisfy both a graduation requirement and a major requirement. Students should contact their program advisors for information.

Biological Science (B.S.) Major Requirements (75-78 units)

Lower Division Coursework

The following 32 units of interdisciplinary coursework is required:

BIOL 140A - Principles of Cell and Molecular Biology Units: 5 ; Breadth Area: GE-B2, GE-B3
BIOL 140B - Principles of Organismal Biology Units: 5
CHEM 111 - General Chemistry I Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-B1
CHEM 111L - General Chemistry Laboratory I Units: 2 ; Breadth Area: GE-B3
CHEM 112 - General Chemistry II Units: 3
CHEM 112L - General Chemistry Laboratory II Units: 2
MATH 130 - Calculus I Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-B4
PHYS 125 - Principles of Physics I Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-B1, GE-B3
PHYS 126 - Principles of Physics II Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-B1, GE-B3

Upper Division Coursework

The following 7 units of upper-division coursework is required:

BIOL 310 - Genetic Analysis I Units: 4
BIOL 320 - Evolutionary Biology Units: 3

Concentrations

Students must choose one (1) concentration to complete the major:

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Concentration

Upper Division Coursework

The following 20 units of interdisciplinary coursework is required:

BIOL 350 - Ecology Units: 4
BIOL 370 - Animal Physiology Units: 4
BIOL 469 - Conservation Biology Units: 4
CHEM 230 - Survey of Organic Chemistry Units: 5
STAT 303 - Statistical Methods in Biology Units: 3
Note: If the student objective requires a year of organic chemistry and/or a year of biochemistry, then enroll in CHEM 330, 331 and CHEM 441, 442; enrollment in CHEM 441 requires a minimum C- in CHEM 331. A maximum of 5 units for the organic chemistry requirement and a maximum 3 units for the biochemistry requirement will apply to this concentration curriculum.

Elective Courses

Choose a minimum of 16 units of electives from the following list of courses. Note: BIOL 490 Independent Study and/or BIOL 498 Internship may be used for a maximum total of 3 units elective credit. Enrollment in these courses requires approval by a faculty member and the Department Chair.

BIOL 315 - Marine Biology Units: 4
BIOL 352 - Biogeography Units: 4
BIOL 368 - Fungi of California Units: 3
BIOL 398 - Internship Units: 1-4
BIOL 410 - Genetic Analysis II Units: 3
BIOL 415 - PCR, Sequencing and Fragment Analysis Units: 3
BIOL 424 - Bioinformatics Units: 3
BIOL 433 - Microbial Ecology Units: 3
BIOL 452 - Plant Biology Units: 4
BIOL 454 - Biology of Fungi Units: 4
BIOL 456 - Ornithology Units: 4
BIOL 466 - Population Biology Units: 4
BIOL 468 - Molecular Ecology Units: 4
BIOL 470 - Animal Senses Units: 4
BIOL 475 - Global Change Biology Units: 4
BIOL 488 - Environmental Physiology Units: 3
BIOL 490 - Independent Study Units: 1-4 Please Note: Courses offered at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (https://www.mlml.calstate.edu) may also be used to satisfy the electives unit requirement. Enrollment in these courses requires approval by a faculty member and the Department Chair.
BIOL 498 - Internship Units: 1-4
CHEM 340 - Survey of Biochemistry Units: 3

Other Undergraduate Degree Requirements

In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University’s baccalaureate requirements for graduation, which are described in the Undergrad Baccalaureate & Program Requirements chapter of this catalog.