Biology B.S. ~ General Biology Freshman Pathway

The pathway listed below is appropriate for GENERAL BIOLOGY students who enter CSUMB prepared to begin Pre-Calculus and Introductory Chemistry their first semester. Freshmen who have not passed or been exempted from the ELM (Entry-Level Math exam) would need to modify this pathway by enrolling in MATH 098 instead of Math 130/L their first semester, and Math 099 their 2nd semester. Those who have not passed the EPT (English Placement Test) would need to add WRT 095 to their first-semester schedule. Students who enter CSUMB prepared for Calculus and General Chemistry would begin Math 150/L and CHEM 110/L instead of Math 130/L (Pre-calculus) and CHEM 109 their first semester. The pathway shown below assumes that students have had at least two years of a foreign language in high school and would begin their college study of foreign language with a second-semester course.

Because CSUMB is outcomes-based, this chronological pathway indicates which MLO (Major Learning Outcome) or ULR/GLO (University Learning Requirements / Graduation Learning Outcomes) each course fulfills. It then shows course numbers for courses that meet those outcomes, along with credits and an indication of which semester each course is offered. For more information on a course-including title, credits, description, and prerequisites-click its number. For more information on an outcome, click on its abbreviated name.

MLO
Covered

ULR/GLO
Covered

Course
Number

When
Offered

CR

F
A
L
L

-
-
-
-
-

FYS & TECH
or FYS & TECH
MATHCOM
VIBRANCY
SCI 1

FYS 100 Sci/Tech
OR FYS 100 Sci focus + CST 101
MATH 130/L
Vibrancy Activity
CHEM 109

Every semester
Every semester
Every semester
Every semester

6 or
2+ 4
5
1
3

S
P
R
I
N
G

1
2
-
-

-
-
ARTSCOM & LIT
LANG

MATH 150/L***
CHEM110/L*
HCOM 230 or TAT 230
LANG 102

Every semester
Every semester
Every semester
Every semester

4
5
4
4

F
A
L
L

1
2
-

-
-
DEMPART & HIST
LANG

STAT 200 or 250
CHEM 111/L
SBS 212 or GS 200
LANG 201

Every semester
Every semester
Every semester
Every semester

4
5
4
4

S
P
R
I
N
G

2
3
-
-

-
-
ENGCOM A
VIBRANCY & CP

PHYS 150/L***
BIO 240/L
ESSP 211
KIN 271S

Every semester
Every semester
Every semester
Every semester

4
4
4
6

F
A
L
L

2
3
3
-

-
-

ENGCOM B & ETHICS

CHEM 211/L
BIO 241/L
or BIO 242/L
ESSP 212

Every fall
Every semester
Every semester
Every semester

4
4
4
4

S
P
R
I
N
G

2
4

7
8

-
GWAR
-
-

CHEM 212/L*
BIO 300**
MLO 7 Organismal Bio Course
MLO 8 Ecology Course

Every spring
Every spring
Every semester
Every semester

4
3
4
4

F
A
L
L

5
6
8
5,6,7, or 8

-
-
-
-

MLO 5 Info Tech & Sci Inquiry Course
MLO 6 Adv. Cell/Molecular Bio Course
BIO 311
Upper Div Elective

Every semester
Every semester
Every fall
Every semester

4
4
2-4
3-4

S
P
R
I
N
G

9
10
10
-

CULTURE, Service
-
-
any upper division GE

MLO 9 Service in Biology**
BIO 490
Upper Div Capstone Elective
Upper Div GE**

Every semester
Every spring
Every semester
Every semester

5
2
2 or 4
3-4

* To have a lighter load during the academic year, students may take the courses indicated with an * during the summer (at CSUMB, if offered, or at a community college).
** Upper-division general education credits; students must complete at least 9 upper-division (300-level or above) ULR/GE units after attaining junior status.
*** Note that some graduate schools may require a second semester of calculus or a full year of physics.