Multidisciplinary Science Degree

A total of 120 units is needed to complete the Multidisciplinary Science B.A. degree. Please see the University Catalog for course prerequisites.

In this section:

• Biology
  • Biology Teaching
  • Biomedical
  • Ecology and Evolution
• Chemistry
  • Biochemistry/Chemistry Teaching 1
  • Biochemistry/Chemistry Teaching 2
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Physical Chemistry
• Earth Science
  • Earth Science Teaching
  • Earth Science and Contemporary Society
  • Earth Science and the Environment
  • Physics of the Earth
• Physics
  • General Physics and Physics Teaching
• Additional Information
  • Grade Requirements
  • Health Professions Resources

Biology Exploration

Biology Teaching Sequence

Sequence includes the courses necessary to meet the requirements of the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing therefore waiving the content exam.

Required (16 units):

• BIOL 212 - Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (4 units)
• BIOL 213 - Introduction to Ecology and Physiology (4 units)
• BIOL 340 - Molecular Cell Biology (3 units)
• BIOL 342 - Human/Mammalian Physiology (3 units)
• BIOL 342L - Laboratory in Human/Mammalian Physiology (2 units)

And one of the following (2-4 units):

• CHEM 111B - General Chemistry B (5 units) [note: this is required unless completing a Chemistry Exploration]
• BIOL 313 - Invertebrate Zoology (4 units)
• BIOL 316 - General Entomology (4 units)
• BIOL 324 - Vertebrate Zoology (4 units)
• BIOL 423 - Mammalogy (3 units)
• BIOL 434 - Hematology (4 units)
• BIOL 442 - Physiology at the Limit (3 units)
• BIOL 443 - Endocrinology (3 units)
• BIOL 444 - Reproductive Biology (3 units)
• BIOL 446 - Physiology of Climate Change (3 units)
• BIOL 462 - Bioethics and Public Policy (3 units)

Biomedical Sequence

*indicates strongly recommended

Required (8 units):

• BIOL 212 - Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (4 units)
• BIOL 213 - Introduction to Ecology and Physiology (4 units)

And four of the following (for 10-12 units):

• CHEM 111B - General Chemistry B (5 units) [note: this is required unless completing a Chemistry Exploration]
• BIOL 208 - Human Anatomy (4 units)
• BIOL 311 - General Microbiology (4 units)*
• BIOL 320 - Bacterial Pathogenesis (3 units)
• BIOL 322 - Medical Mycology/Parasitology (4 units)
• BIOL 325 - Emerging Infectious Diseases (3 units)
• BIOL 340 - Molecular Cell Biology (3 units)*
• BIOL 342 - Human/Mammalian Physiology (3 units)*
• BIOL 342L - Laboratory in Human/Mammalian Physiology (2 units)
• BIOL 345 - Comparative Animal Physiology (3 units)
• BIOL 345L - Laboratory in Comparative Animal Physiology (1 unit)
• BIOL 371 - Microbial Genetics (3 units)
• BIOL 372 - Methods in Microbial Genetics (2 units)
• BIOL 416 - Virology (3 units)
• BIOL 430 - Immunology (3 units)
• BIOL 433 - Developmental Biology (3 units)
• BIOL 434 - Hematology (4 units)
• BIOL 440L - Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory (3 units)
• BIOL 442 - Physiology at the Limit (3 units)
• BIOL 443 - Endocrinology (3 units)
• BIOL 444 - Reproductive Biology (3 units)
• BIOL 446 - Physiology of Climate Change (3 units)
• BIOL 448 - Principles of Neurobiology (3 units)
• BIOL 462 - Bioethics and Public Policy (3 units)

Ecology and Evolution Sequence

*indicates strongly recommended

Required (11 units):

• BIOL 212 - Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (4 units)
• BIOL 213 - Introduction to Ecology and Physiology (4 units)
• BIOL 260 - Biostatistics (3 units)

And at least 2 of the following (for at least 7 units):

• CHEM 111B - General Chemistry B (5 units) [note: this is required unless completing a Chemistry Exploration]
• BIOL 312 - Evolutionary Biology (3 units)*
• BIOL 313 - Invertebrate Zoology (4 units)
• BIOL 316 - General Entomology (4 units)
• BIOL 324 - Vertebrate Zoology (4 units)
• BIOL 345L - Laboratory in Comparative Animal Physiology (1 unit)
• BIOL 350 - General Ecology (3 units)*
• BIOL 353 - Marine Biology (3 units)
• BIOL 355 - Microbial Ecology (3 units)
• BIOL 355L - Microbial Ecology Laboratory (2 units)
• BIOL 370 - General Genetics (4 units)
• BIOL 371 - Microbial Genetics (3 units)
• BIOL 372 - Methods in Microbial Genetics (2 units)
• BIOL 419 - Ichthyology (3 units)
• BIOL 421 - Herpetology (3 units)
• BIOL 423 - Mammalogy (3 units)
• BIOL 424 - Ornithology (3 units)
• BIOL 425 - Phycology (4 units)
• BIOL 427 - Vascular Plant Systematics (4 units)
• BIOL 439 - Plant Morphology (4 units)
• BIOL 450 - Plant Ecology (3 units)
• BIOL 451 - Wetlands and Mangrove Ecology (3 units)
• BIOL 452 - Behavioral Ecology (3 units)
• BIOL 454B - Research in Tropical Terrestrial Ecology (3 units)
• BIOL 456 - Population Ecology (3 units)
• BIOL 457 - Field Methods in Ecology (3 units)
• BIOL 459 - Conservation Biology (3 units)
• BIOL 462 - Bioethics and Public Policy (3 units)
• BIOL 474 - Bioinformatics (3 units)

Chemistry Exploration

Biochemistry/Chemistry Teaching Sequence 1

Sequence includes the courses necessary to meet the requirements of the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing therefore waiving the content exam.

Required (17 units):

• CHEM 111B - General Chemistry (5 units)
• CHEM 220A - Organic Chemistry I (3 units)
• CHEM 220B - Organic Chemistry II (3 units)
• CHEM 241 - Explorations in Biochemistry (2 units)
• CHEM 448 - Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry (3 units)
• CHEM 449 - Nutritional Biochemistry Laboratory (1 unit)

And one of the following (for 1-3 units):

• CHEM 223A - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1 unit)
• CHEM 223B - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1 unit)
• CHEM 320L - Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2 units)
• CHEM 330 - Bio-inorganic Chemistry (3 units)
• CHEM 361 - Chemical Communications (3 units)
• CHEM 379 - Physical Chemistry for the Biosciences (4 units)

Biochemistry/Chemistry Teaching Sequence 2

Sequence includes the courses necessary to meet the requirements of the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing therefore waiving the content exam.

Required (14 units):

• CHEM 111B - General Chemistry (5 units)
• CHEM 227 - Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (3 units)
• CHEM 241 - Explorations in Biochemistry (2 units)
• CHEM 448 - Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry (3 units)
• CHEM 449 - Nutritional Biochemistry Laboratory (1 unit)

And two of the following (for 4-6 units):

• CHEM 251 - Quantitative Analysis (4 units)
• CHEM 301 - Naturally Dangerous (3 units)
• CHEM 223A - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1 unit)
• CHEM 330 - Bio-inorganic Chemistry (3 units)

Inorganic Chemistry Sequence

Required (14 units):

• CHEM 111B - General Chemistry (5 units)
• CHEM 251 - Quantitative Analysis (4 units)
• CHEM 331 - Inorganic Chemistry (3 units)
• CHEM 332 - Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (2 units)

And two of the following (for 4-6 units):

• CHEM 227 - Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (3 units)
• CHEM 301 - Naturally Dangerous (3 units)
• CHEM 371A - Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry (3 units)
• CHEM 371B - Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry (3 units)

Physical Chemistry Sequence

Required (14 units):

• CHEM 111B - General Chemistry (5 units)
• CHEM 371A - Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry (3 units)
• CHEM 371B - Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry (3 units)
• CHEM 385 - Materials Science (3 units)

And two of the following (for 4-6 units):

• CHEM 251 - Quantitative Analysis (4 units)
• CHEM 385L - Materials Science Laboratory (2 units)
• CHEM 385C - Materials Science Colloquium (1 unit)

Earth Science Exploration

Earth Science Teaching Sequence

Sequence includes the courses necessary to meet the requirements of the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing therefore waiving the content exam.

Required (20 units):

• ASTR 100 - Astronomy (3 units)
• ASTR 100L - Astronomy Lab (1 unit)
• ERTH 190 - Environmental Geology (3 units)
• ERTH 240 - Historical Geology (4 units)
• ERTH 280 - Water Resources and Society (3 units)
• ERTH 300 - Earth Systems and Global Change (3 units)
• ERTH 303 - Coastal Systems and Human Impacts (3 units)

Earth Science and Contemporary Society Sequence

Required (14 units):

• ERTH 240 - Historical Geology (4 units)
• ERTH 280 - Water Resources and Society (3 units)
• ERTH 300 - Earth Systems and Global Change (3 units)
• ERTH 303 - Coastal Systems and Human Impacts (3 units)

And two of the following (for a minimum of 5 units and maximum of 8 units):

• ERTH 190 - Environmental Geology (3 units)
• ERTH 191 - Air and Water Pollution (3 units)
• ERTH 310 - Environmental Impacts of War (3 units)
• ERTH 339 - Introduction to Geomorphology (3 units)
• ERTH 340 - Climate and Human History (3 units)
• ERTH 363 - Earth Materials (4 units)
• ERTH 443 - Stratigraphy/Sedimentology (4 units)
• ERTH 461 - Introduction to Geochemistry (3 units)

Earth Science and the Environment Sequence

Required (14 units):

• ERTH 150 - Geology of Parks (4 units)
• ERTH 240 - Historical Geology (4 units)
• ERTH 250 - Introduction to Field Methods (3 units)
• ERTH 303 - Coastal Systems and Human Impacts (3 units)

And two of the following (for 4-6 units):

• ERTH 160 - Introduction to Oceanography (3 units)
• ERTH 160L - Introduction to Oceanography Laboratory (1 unit)
• ERTH 190 - Environmental Geology (3 units)
• ERTH 300 - Earth Systems and Global Change (3 units)
• ERTH 322 - Crystallography and Mineralogy (3 units)
• ERTH 339 - Introduction to Geomorphology (3 units)
• ERTH 341 - Paleontology and Biostratigraphy (4 units)
• ERTH 363 - Earth Materials (4 units)
• ERTH 433 - Structural Geology (4 units)
• ERTH 443 - Stratigraphy/Sedimentology (4 units)

Physics of the Earth Sequence

Required (14 units):

• ERTH 240 - Historical Geology (4 units)
• ERTH 300 - Earth Systems and Global Change (3 units)
• ERTH 428 - Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology and Petrography (3 units)
• ERTH 460 - Introduction to Geophysics (3 units)

And one of the following (for 3-4 units):

• ERTH 339 - Introduction to Geomorphology (3 units)
• ERTH 363 - Earth Materials (4 units)
• ERTH 443 - Stratigraphy/Sedimentology (4 units)
• ERTH 462 - Physics and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (3 units)
• ERTH 465 - Physical and Chemical Oceanography (3 units)
• ERTH 474 - Physical Hydrology (3 units)
• ERTH 477 - Hydrogeology (4 units)

Physics Exploration

General Physics and Physics Teaching Sequence

Sequence includes the courses necessary to meet the requirements of the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing therefore waiving the content exam.

Required (19 units):

• MATH 123 - Calculus II (4 units)
• MATH 224 - Calculus III (4 units)
• PHYS 152 - Electricity and Magnetism (4 units)
• PHYS 254 - Applied Modern Physics (3 units)
• PHYS 255 - Laboratory on Modern Physics (1 unit)
• PHYS 320 - Thermodynamics (3 units)

Note: students following the Physics Exploration Sequence must take PHYS 151 and PHYS 152 in their core sequence.

Additional Information

Grade Requirements

All Multidisciplinary Science B.A. majors must earn a "C" or better in all science courses (Core and Explorations) counting toward the major (including transfer courses) and must maintain major and upper-division major GPAs of 2.0 or higher.

A student whose GPA in the major or upper division GPA in the major falls below 2.0 will be advised that they are at risk of being dismissed from the major and granted one semester to raise their major GPA to 2.0. Students who do not successfully raise their major GPA must meet with an advisor to declare another major or submit an appeal to the Department of Science Education explaining why they need one additional semester.

Students Desiring Entrance into a Health Professions Program

Students desiring entrance into one of the various health-related professional schools should consult with the Health Professions Advising Office for more information. Most of these schools do not require students to major in one science discipline and many favor applicants who have earned a baccalaureate that includes science in some regard. However, it will be important for students to identify and successfully complete the courses required for their post-baccalaureate plans

The following lists are for reference. Your actual electives will be determined in combination with your Academic Requirements Report (ARR), Degree Planner, and meetings with an academic advisor.

Please see the University Catalog for course prerequisites.

In this section:

• Pre-Law
• Public Relations for Health, Environment, or Other Science-Related Industries/Services
• Public Health
• Science Teaching, with Minor
• Science Teaching with Math Emphasis
• Science Writing, Science Journalism, Grant Writing

Pre-Law

Science Legal Studies Certificate

Relevant Explorations: Various depending upon type of law

Required for certificate: 22-24 units

Choose two from the following:

• COMM 131 - Essentials of Argumentation (3 units) or ENGL 102 - Critical Reading and Writing (3 units)
• HIST 101 - Facts, Evidence and Explanation (3 units) or PHIL 170 Critical Reasoning (3 units)
• CLA 394A - Law School Readiness "Preparing for Law School and a Legal Career" (3 units) or CLA 394B - Law School Readiness "Becoming a Successful Law School Applicant" (3 units) or CLA 394C - Law School Readiness "Law School Admissions and Financial Aid" (3 units)
• POSC 311 - Constitutional Law: Powers (3 units) POSC 312 - Constitutional Law: Rights (3 units)

Choose 6 units from below:

• BLAW 220 - Introduction to Law and Business Transactions (3 units)
• BLAW 320 - Business/Transactional Practice
• CRJU 350 - Constitutional Criminal Procedure (3 units)
• HRM 461 - Employment Law (3 units)
• HRM 462 - - Labor Management Relations (3 units)
• JOUR 430 - - Communication Law and Policy (3 units)
• PHIL 351 - - Political Philosophy (3 units)
• PHIL 352 - - Philosophy of Law (3 units)
• PHIL 363 - - Ethical Theory (3 units)
• PHIL 451 - - Liberty and Justice: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in American Law (3 units)
• POSC 317 - Queer Law (3 units)
• WGSS 308 - Gender, Sex, and the Law (3 units)

Additional Science and Law Elective: choose 6 units from below:

• CRJU 230 - Survey for the Forensic Sciences (3 units)
• FSCI 338 - Food Law, Safety and Regulation (3 units)
• HCA 340 - Legal Access to Health Administration (3 units)
• POSC 314 - Environmental Law (3 units)
• PSY 495 - Psychology and the Law (3 units) [note: some limits apply; ask advisor]

Public Relations for Health, Environment, or Other Science-Related Industries/Services

Public Relations Minor

Relevant Explorations: Various

18 units + 5-6 units electives of your choice.

Required (6 units):

• JOUR 120 - News Writing and Ethics (3 units)
• JOUR 270 - Principles of Public Relations (3 units)

Core (3 units):

• JOUR 478 - Public Relations Case Studies (3 units)

Electives - complete 9 units from the following:

• JOUR 104 - Social Media Communication (3 units)
• JOUR 305 - Media Design (3 units)
• JOUR 325 - Video for Social Media (3 units)
• JOUR 335 - Entertainment Publicity (3 units)
• JOUR 350 - Writing in Spanish for Journalism and PR Careers (3 units)
• JOUR 374 - Media Relations Writing (3 units)
• JOUR 375 - Strategic Communication for Organizations (3 units)
• JOUR 411 - Data Detectives (3 units)
• JOUR 425 - Business of Journalism (3 units)
• JOUR 470 - Digital Tools for PR (3 units)
• JOUR 471 - PR Management and Campaigns (3 units)
• JOUR 485 - Public Relations Agency (3 units)
• JOUR 494 - Research Methods (3 units)
• JOUR 498 - Internship (3 units)

Public Health

Public Health Minor

Relevant Explorations: Biology, Chemistry, Physics leaning

15 units + 8-10 additional elective units of your choice (preferably journalism or communication courses)

• HSC 201 - Introduction to Public Health (3 units)
• HSC 400 - Principles of Epidemiology (3 units)
• HSC 421 - Health Behavior (3 units)

Complete 3 units from the following

• HSC 407 - Health Equity & Social Justice in the US (3 units)
• HSC 410 - Asian American Health (3 units)
• HSC 412 - African American Health (3 units)
• HSC 413 - Latino Health (3 units)
• HSC 420 - Global Health (3 units)
• HSC 425 - Human Sexuality & Sex Education (3 units)

Complete 3 units from the following

• HSC 210 - Personal Health and Wellness (3 units)
• HSC 227 - Drugs & Health (3 units)
• HSC 250 - Public Health Biology (3 units)
• HSC 327 - Advanced Substance Use Policy & Advocacy (3 units)
• HSC 332 - Mental Health & Community Wellbeing (3 units)
• HSC 350 - Introduction to Health Advocacy & Policy (3 units)
• HSC 401 - Community Health Education (3 units)
• HSC 403 - Community Health Statistics (3 units)
• HSC 422 - Environmental Health (3 units)
• HSC 423 - Consumer Health (3 units)
• HSC 426 - HIV/AIDS Policy & Advocacy (3 units)
• HSC 430 - School Health Program (3 units)
• HSC 431 - Fostering Mental Health in the School Environment (3 units)
• HSC 435 - Health Promotion & Risk Reduction (3 units)

Science Teaching, with Minor

SSCP Teaching Electives/ Equity and Education Studies Minor

Relevant Explorations: Teaching Sequences

18 units + 5-6 units of other electives of your choice (need 9 units upper division level)

*indicates required coursework aligned to the California Teacher Credential

• EDP 302 - Early and Late Adolescent Development and Learning (3 units)*
• EDSP 355B  - Collaborative Models of Inclusive Education (3 units)*
• EDSS 300C - Introduction to Science Teaching (3 units)*
• H SC 411B - Health Science for Secondary Teachers (3 units)*
• L/ST 310 - Educational Equity & Justice (3 units)
• L/ST 320 - Intersectionality in Education (3 units)

Science Teaching with Math Emphasis

Relevant Explorations: Teaching Sequences

18 units + 5-6 units of other electives of your choice (need 9 units upper division level)

*indicates required coursework aligned to the California Teacher Credential

• MATH 113 - Precalculus Algebra (or MATH 119A or MATH 122 – included in MDSC Core)
• MATH 247 - Linear Algebra
• MATH 341 - Number Theory
• MATH 444 - Abstract Algebra or MATH 445
• MATH 380 - Probability & Statistics
• STAT 108 - Statistics or STAT 381 - Statistics
• MATH 355 - College Geometry or MTED 312 Geometry & Measurement

Then in post-Bacc credential:

• Semester 1
  • EDSE 435 - U. S. Secondary Schools: Intercultural Education (3 units)
  • EDSE 436 - Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment & Classroom Management (3 units)
  • EDSE 457 - Reading and Writing in Secondary Schools (3 units)
  • EDSS 450C - Curriculum and Methods in Teaching Science (3 units)
• Semester 2
  • EDSS 472 A, B, & C - Student Teaching (15 units)
  • EDSS 473 - Teaching Seminar (2 units)
• Semester 3
  • After earning a credential, students would need to take 450X (whatever number aligns with the subject they are pursuing) through open-enrollment. Then submit transcripts listing subject-matter competency course (from elective) and completion of 450X to CCTC (along, of course, with some money).

Science Writing, Science Journalism, Grant Writing

Journalism Minor

Relevant Explorations: Various

Required 18 units + 5-6 units of other electives of your choice (need 9 upper division level units)

• JOUR 110 - Mass Media and Society (3 units)
• JOUR 120 - News Writing and Ethics (3 units)

Complete 12 units from the following:

• JOUR 104 - Social Media Communication (3 units)
• JOUR 160 - Understanding News Media (3 units)
• JOUR 240 - Multimedia Storytelling (3 units)
• JOUR 270 - Principles of Public Relations (3 units)
• JOUR 300 - Photojournalism (3 units)
• JOUR 305 - Media Design (3 units)
• JOUR 310 - Reporting for the Daily Forty-Niner (3 units)
• JOUR 311 - News Reporting and Ethics (3 units)
• JOUR 312 - Global News Media (3 units)
• JOUR 315 - Literary Journalism (3 units)
• JOUR 316 - Freelance and Feature Writing (3 units)
• JOUR 318 - Sports Journalism (3 units)
• JOUR 321 - Broadcast News Writing and Reporting (3 units)
• JOUR 325 - Video for Social Media (3 units)
• JOUR 331 - Editing for Print and Online (3 units)
• JOUR 333 - Data Journalism (3 units)
• JOUR 340 - Advanced Multimedia Journalism (3 units)
• JOUR 350 - Writing in Spanish for Journalism and PR (3 units)
• JOUR 360 - Culture and Politics of the Internet (3 units)
• JOUR 380 - Advanced Photojournalism (3 units)
• JOUR 382 - Podcasting (3 units)
• JOUR 405 - Advanced Media Design (3 units)
• JOUR 411 - Data Detectives: Democracy, Citizen Journalism, and Open Government (3 units)
• JOUR 412 - Theories of Mass Communication (3 units)
• JOUR 415 - Diversity in the Media (3 units)
• JOUR 418 - Journalism: Past, Present, and Future (3 units)
• JOUR 420 - Daily Forty-Niner News Production Team (3 units)
• JOUR 422 - Senior Media Production (1)
• JOUR 425 - The Business of Journalism (3 units)
• JOUR 430 - Communication Law and Policy (3 units)
• JOUR 431 - Mass Media Ethics (3 units)
• JOUR 440 - Trends in Online Media (3 units)
• JOUR 450 - Bilingual Journalism (3 units)
• JOUR 480 - Magazine Writing and Editing (3 units)
• JOUR 482 - Television News Production and Performance (3 units)
• JOUR 485 - Public Relations Agency (3 units) (Bateman Team)
• JOUR 490 - Selected Topics in Mass Communications (1-3 units)
• JOUR 494 - Research Methods (3 units)
• JOUR 495 - Enterprise Reporting in Diverse Communities (3 units)
• JOUR 498 - Internship (3 units)
• JOUR 499 - Special Projects (1-3 units)