Total credits: 120
Credits at CSUMB: 60
Credits in the major: 72 - 82, depending upon the concentration. At least 40 units must be upper division, but not all of these need to be in the major.
The Biology major is a four-year major that begins in the freshman year with specific requirements, including math and chemistry. Getting good academic advice and an early start in the major are essential for timely graduation, because most upper-division (junior/senior) biology courses require lower-division (freshman/sophomore) courses as prerequisites.
If you are a high school or community college student, please check out our information about preparation for the major. If you are already at CSUMB (or planning to enroll soon), please contact the Division of Science & Environmental Policy to get a biology advisor. Your advisor will help you select courses that match your interests and career goals. You should contact your advisor at least once each semester throughout your time at CSUMB for updates about new courses, internship opportunities, and biology careers.
Like other majors at CSUMB, the Biology major is defined in terms of a set of Major Learning Outcomes (MLOs), which are things you'll be able to do after completing the major. Each of the three concentrations within the Biology major uses a slightly different set of courses to help you achieve the same outcomes in different ways. For details, check out the course requirements for each concentration:
We have put together some sample course pathways illustrating realistic semester-by-semester course sequences that meet the Biology and CSUMB graduation requirements. These are only suggestions. You should work with your advisor to develop a pathway that makes the most sense for you and your goals.
To learn more about each course listed in the requirements and pathways, including prerequisites, please consult the course descriptions.