Degree pathways serve as a guide for planning the academic coursework required to complete a specific major, semester by semester. This roadmap is subject to change and is NOT to be considered a replacement for advisement with an academic advisor.

This pathway assumes that the transfer student

  • Completed all GE course work.
  • Passed Calculus I and Calculus II with a grade of "C" or higher.
  • Passed General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II for Science Majors with a grade of "C" or higher. These courses have 2-unit labs either embedded in the courses or as co-requisites.
  • Passed the entry level (sophomore or 200 level) Biology course sequence with a grade of "C" or higher. In our curriculum, courses would be equivalent to BIO 240: Ecology,Evol, Biodiversity (Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity), BIO 241: Cellular & Molecular Biology (Cellular and Molecular Biology, and BIO 242: Plant & Animal Form & Function (Plant and Animal Form and Function.)
  • Still needs to complete the CSUMB language requirement.

If the student needs more preparatory courses, the four-semester model below would need to be extended. Also, since there is room for adjustment in this pathway, it is essential that a student seek an advisor at the outset to help set up a reasonable plan.

Language Requirement: Students who choose Biology or Environmental Science Technology and Policy as a major will need to acquire language proficiency through the third level (101, 102 and 201) in a single language by the time they graduate. Other majors that require only third level include BUS, ADMIN, CSIT, and Liberal Studies.  If students change to any other major, they will need to complete the fourth level (101, 102, 201, and 202).

Students with proficiency in a language (whether from coursework completed in high school or fluency) should consult with the World Languages and Cultures Department for proper placement levels or to assess out of language requriements.

Courses by Requirement

Degree requirements are considered a guideline for graduation, and cannot replace the feedback of an academic advisor. Learn more about degree requirements at CSUMB.

Course units may only be counted once, when a course meets multiple requirements, the letter 'C' means that the completed course units were counted elsewhere.

First Year Seminar

University Learning Requirements

Upper-division General Education

RequirementCourseUnits
Culture & EquityAny approved course5
Language 2Any approved course4
Language 3Any approved course4
Total:13

Graduation Learning Outcomes

RequirementCourseUnits
Culture & EquityAny approved course5
GWAR BIO 300: Issues & Ethics in Biology4
Language 2Any approved course4
Language 3Any approved course4
Tech/Info ENVS 300L: Read Write Crit Think ENVS Lab1
Upper Division Service LearningAny approved courseC
Total:18

Major Learning Requirements

RequirementCourseUnits
MLO 10 Biology Capstone and Advanced Electives BIO 490: Biology Capstone2
MLO 2 Physical Science FoundationsCHEM 2125
MLO 4 Communication and Ethics in Biology BIO 300: Issues & Ethics in BiologyC
MLO 5 Information, Technology and Scientific Inquiry in BiologyAny approved course4
MLO 6 Advanced Knowledge in Molecular and Cellular BiologyAny approved course4
MLO 7 Advanced Knowledge in Organismal BiologyAny approved course4
MLO 8 Advanced Knowledge in Ecology, Evolution or GeneticsAny approved course4
MLO 9 Service in BiologyAny approved courseC
Total:23

Major Core Courses

Major Concentration Courses

Additional Courses

Total: 61 units

This is assuming a transfer student has entered CSUMB with 60 units