Biology B.S. ~ Pre-Medicine Junior Transfer Pathway

A sample semester-by-semester course pathway for transfer students in the Pre-Medicine concentration is shown below. The details of your pathway will be worked out in consultation with your Biology advisor. This pathway assumes you have successfully completed (C or above) the recommended transfer preparation, including a year of general chemistry (CAN CHEM SEQ A), a year of calculus (CAN MATH 18 or 30), the complete biology sequence for biology majors (CAN BIOL 2+4+6), and your general education requirements, including two semesters of a single foreign language. If you have not completed the recommended transfer preparation at a community college, you will need to complete those courses at CSUMB in addition to the courses listed in the transfer pathway shown below.

Because CSUMB is outcomes-based, this chronological pathway lists each target outcome first, either as an MLO (Major Learning Outcome) or ULR/GLO (University Learning Requirements / Graduation Learning Outcomes). It then shows courses aligned with those outcomes along with credits and an indication of when they are offered. For more information on a course-including its title, credits, description, and prerequisites-click its number. For more information on an outcome, click on its abbreviated name.

Your actual pathway and the number of semesters required to graduate will depend not only on completion of the recommended community college courses, but also on:

  • The number of credits you have when you transfer into CSUMB, and how those credits articulate with CSUMB requirements
  • The Biology concentration that you select, because different concentrations have slightly different requirements.
  • Whether or not you need to take additional courses to meet the CSUMB Language ULR as a Graduation Learning Outcome (The sample pathway presented here assumes you have not met the language requirement prior to your first semester at CSUMB. If you have already met the requirement in whole or in part, you can adjust your coursework accordingly in consultation with your major advisor. If you are already proficient in another language, you may earn credit for the language requirement through language assessment.)
  • Whether or not you need to take additional coursework to meet the Technology and Information ULR as a Graduation Learning Outcome (This pathway assumes you have not met this requirement prior to your first semester at CSUMB. If you have, you can adjust your coursework accordingly in consultation with your major advisor.)
  • Actual availability of courses during a given semester
  • Personal choices you make in your Individual Learning Plan-in consultation with your major advisors-including the decision to pursue more than the minimal learning requirements to increase your career and grad school options and opportunities

You must earn nine upper-division General Education credits after you have reached upper-division status. Upper-division GE courses taken when you are a lower-division student do not count toward this requirement.

You should consult a Biology advisor at least once each semester for course scheduling details and updated information about available internships, job opportunities, and new courses. Maintaining a high grade point average can be important, so if you work, participate extensively in extracurricular activities, or have other demands on your time, we advise that you adjust your schedule to include winter term, summer term, or additional semesters so that you do not take more than 12-16 units in any one semester. For planning purposes, please be aware that most upper division courses are not offered during winter or summer terms, only fall or spring.

Roadmap to degree for transfer students in the Pre-Med Concentration

MLO
Covered

ULR/GLO
Covered

Course
Number

When
Offered

CR

F
A
L
L

2
2
8
-

-
-
-
LANG

PHYS 220/L
CHEM 211/L
BIO 311
Any 201

Every semester
Every fall
Every fall
Every semester

4
4
3
4

S
P
R
I
N
G

2
2
4
-
-

-
-
GWAR
TECH
VIBRANCY

PHYS 221/L
CHEM 212
BIO 300
BIO 300L or ESSP 300L
HPWE X6X

Every spring
Every spring
Every spring
Every semester
Every semester

4
4
3
1
3

F
A
L
L

7
6
9
Elective

-
-
CULTURE
-

BIO 320L
BIO 314
BIO 378S or other MLO 9
BIO 3XX or Elective

Every fall
Every fall
Every semester
Every semester

4
3
5
3-4

S
P
R
I
N
G

5
10
10&5,6,7, or 8

-
Elective

-
-
-
-
-

BIO 310/L
BIO 490
BIO 4XX
Upper Division GE or Elective
Upper Division Elective

Every spring
Every spring
Every semester
Every semester
Every semester

4
2
2-4
3-4
3-4

Advisors must ensure that students choose electives that meet the required 40 upper-division units, 9 upper-division GE credits.