The Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences

Student Learning Outcomes

All candidates for the BS in Biological Sciences will demonstrate mastery in the following Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Students can describe the structure and function of cellular components and explain how they interact in a living cell.
2. Students can demonstrate an understanding of the mechanisms driving evolution and can describe similarities and differences of the major taxonomic groups.
3. Students can describe how cells interact to develop tissues and organs and how these contribute to a functional organism.
4. Students can describe how organisms interact with one another and to their environment and are able to explain interactions at the population and community levels.
5. Students demonstrate an understanding of, and ability to use, the processes and methods of scientific inquiry.
6. Students can formally communicate the results of biological investigations using both oral and written communication skills.

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See Bachelor's Degree Requirements in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. You can view MAPs on the Major Academic Plans page or you can request a plan from your major advisor.

Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.

General Education Pathway Requirements: 48 units

See General Education in the University Catalog and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Pathway Requirements and course offerings.

This major has approved GE modification(s). See below for information on how to apply these modification(s).

• BIOL 360 is an approved major course substitution for Upper Division Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning.

Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See Diversity Requirements in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education .

Upper-Division Writing Requirement:

Writing Across the Curriculum (Executive Memorandum 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog for more details on the four courses.  The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.

• Any upper-division Writing (W) course.

The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (Executive Order 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

Course Requirements for the Major: 78 units

Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Additional required courses, depending upon the selected option are outlined following the major core program requirements.

Major Core Program: 47 units

Lower-Division Requirements: 36 units

9 courses required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
BIOL 109	The Biological University Experience		1.0	FS
A university success course for biology majors new to California State University, Chico. Appropriate for all incoming freshmen and transfer students. The course explores academic and social opportunities in addition to resources available to promote successful completion of the student's educational goals. Meets twice a week for the first half of the semester. 1 hour lecture. Credit/no credit grading. (021133)
BIOL 161	Principles of Ecological, Evolutionary, and Organismal Biology		4.0	FS	GE
Introduction to evolutionary history and biological diversity, microbes and protists, invertebrates, vertebrates, and plants. Form and function of plants and animals. Ecological principles. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. Formerly BIOL 152. (001123)
BIOL 162	Principles of Cellular and Molecular Biology		4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: CHEM 107 or CHEM 111; or department permission. Introduction to biological molecules, bioenergetics, cellular structure and function, elements of molecular biology and genetics, and mechanisms of macroevolution and systematics. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. Formerly BIOL 151. (001122)
BIOL 163	Principles of Physiology and Development		4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisite: BIOL 162 or department permission. Introduction to plant and animal physiology and development. Laboratory consists of small group independent investigations of biological questions that include student-devised experiments; application of biological techniques, data analysis, and peer reviewed presentation of results. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. Formerly BIOL 153. (020284)
CHEM 111	General Chemistry I		4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: GE Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning Ready; second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.) Principles of chemistry for students in science and engineering programs. Topics include atoms, molecules and ions, reactions, stoichiometry, the periodic table, bonding, chemical energy, gases, and solution chemistry. The laboratory sequence supports the above topics including both qualitative and quantitative experiments, analysis of data, and error propagation. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (001816)
CHEM 112	General Chemistry II		4.0	FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 111 with a grade of C- or better. A continuation of CHEM 111. Topics include kinetics, equilibrium, acid-base chemistry, electrochemistry, chemical thermodynamics, coordination chemistry, and nuclear chemistry. The laboratory sequence supports the above topics including both qualitative and quantitative experiments, analysis of data, and error propagation. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (001817)
ENVL 105W	Environmental Literacy (W)		3.0	FS	GE  W
This course introduces students to the issue and practices of environmental literacy. Environmental literacy is the capacity to perceive and interpret the relative health of environmental systems and to connect the environment to human physical, mental, and social health. Students are encouraged to recognize that their lives depend upon the environment, and that their personal decisions affect the environment. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. This is an approved General Education course. (021259)

OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
ENVL 105	Environmental Literacy		3.0	FS	GE
This course introduces students to the issue and practices of environmental literacy. Environmental literacy is the capacity to perceive and interpret the relative health of environmental systems and to connect the environment to human physical, mental, and social health. Students are encouraged to recognize that their lives depend upon the environment, and that their personal decisions affect the environment. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (003723)
PHYS 202A	General Physics I		4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. High school trigonometry and second-year high school algebra or equivalent (MATH 051 and MATH 118 at CSU, Chico). Mechanics, properties of matter, wave motion, sound, heat. Science majors are encouraged to take PHYS 204A instead of this course. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (007394)
PHYS 202B	General Physics II		4.0	FS
Prerequisites: PHYS 202A with a grade of C- or higher. Light, electricity, magnetism, selected topics in modern physics. Science majors are encouraged to take PHYS 204B instead of this course. Algebra and trigonometry are used. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (007395)

4 units selected from:

OR (one of the following courses may be substituted for the above)

Note: MATH 105 and MATH 130 are recommended for most students. Students who need calculus may take MATH 109 or MATH 120.

Upper-Division Requirements: 11 units

Biological sciences majors are expected to have completed BIOL 109, BIOL 161, BIOL 162, BIOL 163, CHEM 111, and CHEM 112 before beginning their upper-division requirements.

4 courses required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
BIOL 350W	Fundamentals of Ecology (W)		3.0	FS	GW  W
Prerequisites: GE Written Communication (A2) requirement; BIOL 161 or faculty permission. Some taxonomic background is recommended. Interrelationships among living organisms, field observations of such phenomena. Application of quantitative and qualitative methods to the interpretation of ecological phenomena. 2 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. This is an approved Writing Course. (001206)
BIOL 360	Genetics		4.0	FS
Prerequisite: BIOL 163 or faculty permission. A detailed study of the principles of classical, molecular, and population/evolutionary genetics. Activities will include computer simulations of segregation, linkage, and population genetics, internet-based database searches for genetic diseases and cloned genes, and searches of the current genetic literature. 3 hours lecture, 1 hour discussion. (001173)
BIOL 492	Seminars in Biological Science		1.0	FS
Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing or faculty permission. Analysis of seminars on various topics in the biological sciences. 1 hour seminar. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading. (001232)
MATH 315	Applied Statistical Methods I		3.0	FS
Prerequisite: MATH 105, MATH 109, or MATH 120, or faculty permission. Single and two sample inference, analysis of variance, multiple regression, analysis of co-variance, experimental design, repeated measures, nonparametric procedures, and categorical data analysis. Examples are drawn from biology and related disciplines. The statistical programming language R is used. Appropriate for biology, agriculture, nutrition, psychology, social science and other majors. 3 hours discussion. (005568)

Major Option Course Requirements: 31 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required dependent upon the option chosen. Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.  Use the links below to jump to your chosen option.

• The Option in Cellular and Molecular Biology
• The Option in Ecological, Evolutionary, and Organismal Biology
• The Option in Plant Biology

The Option in Cellular and Molecular Biology: 31 units

6 courses required:

12 units selected from:

BIOL 371W, BIOL 389, BIOL 399, any 400-level BIOL course, or 600-level BIOL course.

Note: Undergraduate students need permission to enroll in 600-level courses. Please see the Department of Biological Sciences to obtain permission.

Note: A maximum of 3 units of BIOL 399 may be taken in one semester, and a maximum of 3 units of BIOL 399, BIOL 489, or BIOL 499H may be credited toward the major.

The Option in Ecological, Evolutionary, and Organismal Biology: 31 units

1 course required:

1 course selected from:

1 course selected from:

17 units selected from:

Select courses from the following groups, for 31 units total for this option.

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
BIOL 436	Waterfowl Biology		3.0	FA
This lecture, lab, and field course exposes students to the evolution, ecology, morphology, classification, and identification of North American waterfowl. Additionally, this course has a strong hands-on wetland management component, as well as extensive exposure to the primary literature. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (021105)
BIOL 484W	Field Ecology (W)		3.0	SP	GW  W
Prerequisites: GE Written Communication (A2) requirement, BIOL 161, BIOL 350W. Principles of ecology illustrated in the context of biotic communities. Field studies using quantitative and qualitative approaches. Laboratory segment offered at local field sites. 1 hour discussion, 6 hours laboratory. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. This is an approved Writing Course. (001203)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
BIOL 402	Microbial Ecology		4.0	FA
Prerequisite: BIOL 161. Recommended: BIOL 371W. The roles and interactions of viruses, bacteria, algae, protozoa, and fungi in the natural and human environment, stressing fundamental principles of ecology and evolution. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (001225)
BIOL 404	Aquatic Ecology		4.0	F2
Prerequisites: BIOL 161, CHEM 112. Physical, chemical, and biological factors influencing the ecology of inland waters. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (001207)
BIOL 428	Animal Behavior		3.0	F1
Prerequisite: BIOL 163. Consideration of the basic problems in animal behavior, including orientation, social behavior, and the nature and organization of animal societies. 2 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (001205)
BIOL 613	Population Ecology		4.0	S1
Prerequisite: BIOL 350W. Study and lecture/discussion of population ecology, with an emphasis on field methods used on local populations. 2 hours seminar, 6 hours laboratory. (001303)
BIOL 668	Community and Ecosystem Ecology		3.0	S2
Prerequisites: BIOL 350W and a statistics course. The analysis, modeling, and computer simulation of the structure and function of communities and ecosystems, with emphasis on patterns of competition, predation, energy and nutrient flow and succession. 2 hours seminar, 3 hours laboratory. (001305)
BIOL 672	Plant Ecology		4.0	S1
Prerequisites: BIOL 350W, BIOL 448, graduate standing. Autecology, emphasizing California vascular plants, with focus on current topics in behavioral and reproductive ecology. Field project work and detailed literature survey. 2 hours seminar, 6 hours laboratory. (001299)
GEOS 536	Applied Ecology		3.0	SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 350W, MATH 315. Examination of the mechanisms, directions, and magnitude of an organism's or ecosystem's response to human perturbation. 3 hours discussion. (004166)

Note: Undergraduate students need permission to enroll in 600-level courses. Please see the Department of Biological Sciences to obtain permission.

A minimum of three courses from:

Note: A maximum of 3 units of BIOL 399 may be taken in one semester, and a maximum of 3 units of BIOL 399, BIOL 489, or BIOL 499H may be credited toward the major.

4 units selected from:

Any 400-level biology (BIOL) courses.

The Option in Plant Biology: 31 units

3 courses required:

1 course selected from:

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
BIOL 448	Plant Diversity and Identification		4.0	SP
Prerequisite: BIOL 161 or faculty permission. Principles of plant classification with field study of local flora, emphasizing the higher plants and their phylogenetic relationships. 2 hours discussion, 6 hours laboratory. (001198)
BIOL 451	Plant Geography		3.0	F2
Prerequisites: BIOL 161, BIOL 369. The composition and distribution of plant communities, emphasizing the ecological, environmental, and evolutionary processes that affect them. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (020283)
BIOL 484W	Field Ecology (W)		3.0	SP	GW  W
Prerequisites: GE Written Communication (A2) requirement, BIOL 161, BIOL 350W. Principles of ecology illustrated in the context of biotic communities. Field studies using quantitative and qualitative approaches. Laboratory segment offered at local field sites. 1 hour discussion, 6 hours laboratory. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. This is an approved Writing Course. (001203)

13-14 units selected from:

Select courses from the following groups, for 31 units total for this option.

A minimum of one course from:

A minimum of one course from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
BIOL 370	Advanced Zoology		3.0	SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 161, BIOL 162, and BIOL 163, or faculty permission. Advanced study of animal anatomy, morphology, physiology, ecology, and evolution. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (020281)
BIOL 371W	Microbiology (W)		4.0	FS	GW  W
Prerequisites: GE Written Communication (A2) requirement; BIOL 161, BIOL 162, BIOL 163, or faculty permission. Introduction to the biology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, as well as viruses. Topics include cell structure, metabolism, genetics; ecological interactions; pathogenic mechanisms; and the roles of microorganisms in sanitation, food production, and biotechnology. The lab focuses on methods for growing and studying diverse microbes. 2 hours lecture, 6 hours laboratory. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. This is an approved Writing Course. (020279)
BIOL 399	Special Problems		1.0 -3.0	FS
This course is an independent study of special problems offered for 1.0-3.0 units. You must register directly with a supervising faculty member. Research in biology under direct supervision of faculty member. For majors only. This course counts toward the upper-division biology units required for the BS. 9 hours supervision. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. Credit/no credit grading. (001167)
BIOL 422	General Entomology		4.0	SP
Prerequisite: BIOL 161 or faculty permission. Recommended: BIOL 163. The morphology, ecology, and physiology of insects. Economic entomology and medical entomology, and taxonomy. 2 hours discussion, 6 hours laboratory. (001210)
BIOL 442	Plant Morphology		4.0	F1
Prerequisite: BIOL 163. Comparative morphology of plant types, emphasizing evolution of structures and methods of reproduction. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (001191)
BIOL 448	Plant Diversity and Identification		4.0	SP
Prerequisite: BIOL 161 or faculty permission. Principles of plant classification with field study of local flora, emphasizing the higher plants and their phylogenetic relationships. 2 hours discussion, 6 hours laboratory. (001198)
BIOL 451	Plant Geography		3.0	F2
Prerequisites: BIOL 161, BIOL 369. The composition and distribution of plant communities, emphasizing the ecological, environmental, and evolutionary processes that affect them. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (020283)
BIOL 484W	Field Ecology (W)		3.0	SP	GW  W
Prerequisites: GE Written Communication (A2) requirement, BIOL 161, BIOL 350W. Principles of ecology illustrated in the context of biotic communities. Field studies using quantitative and qualitative approaches. Laboratory segment offered at local field sites. 1 hour discussion, 6 hours laboratory. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. This is an approved Writing Course. (001203)
BIOL 489	Internship in Biology		1.0 -3.0	FS
Prerequisites: Necessary background for the specific internship. This internship course is offered for 1.0-3.0 units. You must register with a supervising faculty member. The internship program is designed to provide students with direct field or laboratory research experience in occupational settings. 9 hours supervision. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 15.0 units. Credit/no credit grading. (001228)
BIOL 490	Peer Mentoring in the Biological Sciences		2.0	FS
Prerequisite: Faculty permission. Lecture/discussions to train peer mentors for the biology majors' introductory courses laboratory sections. Peer mentors' laboratories are scheduled to coincide with a lab section for the course in which they are mentoring. Peer mentors assist the laboratory instructor in all phases of lab planning, set-up, and tear-down. In addition peer mentors become involved in laboratory instruction including explaining procedures, providing demonstrations, answering questions, and student evaluation. Peer mentors are encouraged to offer help during the scheduled lab period when first-year mentees inquire about class choices, studying, and other student issues. The peer mentoring program is a rewarding way to help first-year students become part of the university and community. 1 hour lecture, 3 hours independent study. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 4.0 units. Credit/no credit grading. (021033)
BIOL 499H	Honors Research in Biological Sciences		3.0 -6.0	INQ
Prerequisites: Faculty permission. An intensive 6-unit, one-year course in biological research. See department office for details. (Open only to students with at least a 3.0 GPA in the major.) The course will consist of participation in a team research effort. 9 hours supervision. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (001244)

Electives Requirement:

To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate advisor for specific information.

Honors in the Major:

Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.

The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.

Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:

• You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. All 6 units are honors classes (marked by a suffix of H), and at least 3 of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.
• You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
• Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
• Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
• Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.
• Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.

While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.