Biology B.S. ~ Degree Requirements

Credits Required

Total credits: 120

Credits at CSUMB: 60

Credits in the major: 72 - 82, depending upon the concentration

Outcomes, Courses, and Assessment

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 (SEP) 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:

• General Biology Concentration Requirements ~ The General Biology concentration is designed for students with an interest any area of biology other than health sciences or preparing to be a secondary biology teacher. Students in the General Biology concentration can choose Biology electives to focus on ecology, molecular biology, marine biology, or organismal biology, in preparation for either graduate school or working in a biology-related field after graduation.
• Premedical Concentration Requirements ~ The Premedical concentration is designed to fulfill admissions requirements for medical, pharmacy, or veterinary school, and is intended to serve students interested in going on to professional school in the health sciences.
• Teacher Preparation Concentration Requirements ~ The Teacher Preparation Concentration is aligned with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing's standards for middle school and high school biology teachers.

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.