B.S. in Biology: Option in Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology, 2021-2022 Catalog

Four Year Degree Worksheet

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.

Please note that your Major Specific Requirements (MSRs) are bolded in the document and are also listed as an "MSR" 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 MSR suite.

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.

CSULB Enrollment Services prepares the Academic Requirements Report, which is the official graduation verification.

Year 1 - Semester 1

Courses to Take in Year 1 - Semester 1
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
CHEM 111A General Chemistry (5) Appropriate Placement, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 112A or 112B or higher MSR
MATH 119A;
OR
MATH 122
(area B4)
Survey of Calculus I (3);
OR
Calculus II (3)
Appropriate placement, MATH 112B or 113;
OR
Appropriate placement, MATH 111 and either 112B or 113
MSR
GE (area A2) Written Communication (3)   MSR
GE (area C,D,E,F ) Other Exploration (3)    
NSCI 190A Experience Success Program 1 (1)   Fall only

Year 1 - Semester 2

Courses to Take in Year 1 - Semester 2
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
CHEM 111B General Chemistry (5) CHEM 111A or 112A, MATH 112B or higher MSR
BIOL 211 Intro. to Evolution and Diversity (4) Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 111A or 112A MSR
GE (area A1) Oral Communication (3)   MSR
GE (area A3) Critical Thinking (2)   MSR
Elective Elective Requirement (1)    

Year 2 - Semester 3

Courses to Take in Year 2 - Semester 3
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
CHEM 220A Organic Chemistry I (3) CHEM 111B or 112B, Corequisite: CHEM 223A  
CHEM 223A Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1) Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 220A  
BIOL 212 Intro. to Cell and Molecular Bio. (4) BIOL 211, CHEM 111A or 112A, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 111B or 112B  
BIOL 260 Biostatistics (3) BIOL 211, MATH 111, 113, 119A, or 122  
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
Elective Elective Requirement (1)    

Year 2 - Semester 4

Courses to Take in Year 2 - Semester 4
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
CHEM 220B Organic Chemistry II (3) CHEM 220A, Corequisite: CHEM 223B  
CHEM 223B Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1) CHEM 220A and 223A, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 220B  
BIOL 213 Intro. to Ecology and Physiology (4) BIOL 211 and 212, CHEM 111B or 112B  
BIOL 340 Molecular Cell Biology (3) BIOL 211 and 212  
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
Elective Elective Requirement (1)  

Year 3 - Semester 5

Courses to Take in Year 3 - Semester 5
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
BIOL 342 & BIOL 342L;
OR
BIOL 345 & BIOL 345L;
OR
BIOL 440L
Human/Mammalian Physio. (3) & Human/Mammalian Physio. Lab (1);
OR
Comparative Animal Physio. (3) & Comparative Animal Physio. Lab (1);
OR
Molecular Cell Biology Lab (4)
BIOL 211, 212, 213 & Pre/Corequisite: BIO 342;
OR
BIOL 211, 212, 213 & Pre/Corequisite: BIO 345;
OR
BIOL 340, 370
 
CHEM 441A Biological Chemistry (3) CHEM 220B and 223B; BIOL 212  
PHYS 100A;
OR
PHYS 151
General Physics (4);
OR
Mechanics and Heat (4)
MATH 109, 111, 112A, 113, 119A, or 122
OR
Pre/Corequisite: MATH 122,123, or 224
 
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
Elective Elective Requirement (1)    

Year 3 - Semester 6

Courses to Take in Year 3 - Semester 6
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
PHYS 100B;
OR
PHYS 152
General Physics (4);
OR
Electricity and Magnetism (4)
PHYS 100A or 151; MATH 109, 111, 112A, 113, 119A, or 122;
OR
PHYS 151; Pre/Corequisite: MATH 123
 
CHEM 441B Biological Chemistry (3) BIOL 441A  
BIOL 370 General Genetics (4) BIOL 211, 212, and 260; GE Foundation GE AREA UD-B
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
Elective Elective (1)    

Year 4 - Semester 7

Courses to Take in Year 4 - Semester 7
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
Upper Division Elective Biological Science (3)    
Upper Division Elective Biological Science (3)    
Upper Division Elective Biological Science (3)    
GE Upper Division (Area C-UD, D-UD) Upper Division (3) GE Foundation  
GE Upper Division (Area C-UD, D-UD) Upper Division (3) GE Foundation  

Year 4 - Semester 8

Courses to Take in Year 4 - Semester 8
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
BIOL 312;
OR
BIOL 350
Evolutionary Biology (3);
OR
General Ecology (3)
BIOL 211, 212, 213, and 260;
OR
BIOL 211, 212, 213, and 260, and MATH 119A or 122
 
BIOL 480 Seminars (1) take in last semester, department consent required  
Upper Division Elective Biological Sciences (3)    
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
Elective Elective (1)