Biology

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Option in Option in Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology (120 units)

This option is designed primarily for those interested in careers that involve biology at the cell, molecular and organ system levels and is particularly appropriate for those contemplating graduate work in these fields or entering one of the health professions, such as medicine and physical therapy. Students in this option might also want to pursue the Certificate in Biotechnology described elsewhere in this Catalog. This option requires approximately 79-83 units in the major, of which 39-41 are in lower division and 40-42 are in upper division.

All students must achieve at least a 2.0 grade-point average in each of the following: 1. the entire college record, 2. all units attempted at CSULB, and 3. all courses in the major.

Lower Division:

Take all of the following courses:

BIOL 211 Introduction to Evolution and Diversity (4)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: CHEM 111A with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 212 Intro to Cell and Molecular Biology (4)
Prerequisites: Completion of BIOL 211 and CHEM 111A with grades of "C" or better.
Prerequisite/Corequisite: CHEM 111B with grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 213 Intro to Ecology and Physiology (4)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, 212, CHEM 111B all with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 260 Biostatistics (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211 or BIOL 207 or MICR 200; MATH 111 or 113 or 119A or 122 all with a grade of "C" or better.
CHEM 111A General Chemistry (5)
Prerequisites: A passing score on the Chemistry Placement Examination . (Credit in Chem 101 does not substitute for a passing score on the Chemistry Placement Examination) and a "C" or better in MATH 113 or 117 or 119A or 122. One year of high school chemistry is strongly recommended. (Recommended for students who intend to pursue careers in science or engineering).
CHEM 111B General Chemistry (5)
Prerequisite: CHEM 111A with a grade of "C" or better.

NOTE: BIOL 111, 111L, 212, 212L, 213, 213L are required if courses were taken prior to catalog year 2010-11.

Take one of the following courses:

MATH 119A Survey of Calculus I (3)
Prerequisite: Appropriate MDPT placement or a grade of "C" or better in MATH 113.
MATH 122 Calculus I (4)
Prerequisite: Appropriate MDPT placement or a grade of "C" or better in MATH 111 and 113, or a grade of "C" or better in MATH 117.

Take one of the following courses:

MATH 119B Survey of Calculus II (3)
Prerequisite: MATH 119A or 122.
MATH 123 Calculus II (4)
Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or better in MATH 122.

Take one of the following courses:

PHYS 100A General Physics (4)
Prerequisite: MATH 109 or 113 or 117 or 119A or 120 or 122.
PHYS 151 Mechanics and Heat (4)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 122.

Take one of the following courses:

PHYS 100B General Physics (4)
Prerequisites: PHYS 100A.
PHYS 152 Electricity and Magnetism (4)
Prerequisite: PHYS 151; Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 123.

Upper Division:

Take all of the following courses:

CHEM 322A Organic Chemistry (3)
Prerequisite: CHEM 111B with a grade of "C" or better. Concurrent enrollment in CHEM 323A required except for students who have previously earned a "C" or better in CHEM 323A.
CHEM 322B Organic Chemistry (3)
Prerequisites: CHEM 322A and CHEM 323A, both with a grade of "C" or better. Concurrent enrollment in CHEM 323B required except for students who have previously earned a "C" or better in CHEM 323B.
CHEM 323A Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1)
Prerequisite: CHEM 111B with a grade of "C" or better. Concurrent enrollment in CHEM 322A required except for students who have previously earned a "C" or better in CHEM 322A.
CHEM 323B Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1)
Prerequisites: CHEM 322A and CHEM 323A, both with a grade of "C" or better. Concurrent enrollment in CHEM 322B required except for students who have previously earned a "C" or better in CHEM 322B.
CHEM 441A Biological Chemistry (3)
Prerequisite: Either CHEM 320B or both CHEM 322B and 323B with a grade of "C" or better; a biology or microbiology course is recommended.
CHEM 441B Biological Chemistry (3)
Prerequisite: CHEM 441A with a grade of "C" or better.

Take all of the following courses:

BIOL 340 Molecular Cell Biology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, 212; CHEM 320A or 322A or 327 all with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 370 General Genetics (4)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, 212 and either BIOL 260 or CHEM 251 all with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 480 Seminars (1)
Prerequisites: Consent of undergraduate [graduate] advisor. Undergraduates must have filed for graduation and be in their last semester. Classified post-baccalaureates must have been admitted to a second baccalaureate or a certificate.

Take one of the following:

BIOL 312 Evolutionary Biology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, 212, 213, 260 all with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 350 General Ecology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, 212, 213, 260; MATH 119A or 122 all with a grade of "C" or better. Chemistry and physics recommended.

Take at least one of the following courses/course pairs:

BIOL 342 Human/Mammalian Phys (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, 212, 213 all with grade of "C" or better. Recommended: PHYS 100A,B
- And
BIOL 342L Lab in Human/Mammalian Phys (1)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: BIOL 342 with a grade of "C" or better.

BIOL 345 Comparative Animal Physio (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211, 212, 213 all with grade of "C" or better.
- And
BIOL 345L Lab in Comp Animal Phys (1)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: BIOL 345 with a grade of "C" or better.

BIOL 440L Molecular Cell Biology Lab (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 340, 370, both with a grade of "C" or better, and consent of instructor.

If more than one is taken, the second course may count towards the electives below.

Take four courses totaling at least 12 units selected from the following:

BIOL 431 Biology of Cancer (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 340, 370 with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 432 Stem Cell Biology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 433 with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 433 Developmental Biology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 340, and either BIOL 370 or MICR 371, both with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 440L Molecular Cell Biology Lab (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 340, 370, both with a grade of "C" or better, and consent of instructor.
BIOL 442 Physiology at the Limit (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 342 or 345 with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 443 Endocrinology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 340 or CHEM 441B; CHEM 320A or 322A or 327; and one of BIOL 341, 342, 345, 445, 448; CHEM 441A or 448, all with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 444 Reproductive Biology (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 342 or 345 with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 445 Metabolic Regulation (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 340, 342 or 345; CHEM 441A with grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 447 Molecular Plant Physiology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 340, 370, both with grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 448 Principles of Neurobiology (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 340 or CHEM 441B and one of BIOL 341, 342, or 345 all with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 449 Fish Physio and Endocrinology (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 345 with grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 472 Molecular Evolution (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 370 with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 473 Molecular Genetics (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 370 or MICR 371; CHEM 320A,B or 322A,B and 323A,B, or 327, all with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL 477 Biotechnology & Bioinformatics (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 340 or 370 or CHEM 441A,B; all with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL/MICR 416 Virology (3)
Prerequisite: MICR 320 or BIOL 340 with a grade of "C" or better.
BIOL/MICR 430 Immunology (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 340 with a grade of "C" or better.

With permission of the appropriate advisor, students may substitute one course in the biological sciences that is not on the above list for one of these four courses.

The following courses do not meet any specific or elective requirements for this major: BIOL 301, 304, 305, 308, 309I; MICR 300; and NSCI 492.
Students contemplating graduate or professional school should consider taking 1-3 units of BIOL 496 in addition to the requirements listed above. With prior permission of the advisor for this option, students may use 3 units of BIOL 496 as an elective.