Biology
The Natural Sciences Department offers both a Bachelor of Science
and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. A Master of Arts in Teaching Biology
is available in collaboration 
with the School of Education and Leadership.
Degrees in the Department lead directly to employment, graduate
study, or entrance into professional schools in medicine, pharmacy,
dentistry, veterinary medicine, allied health, or education. The Department
offers a selection of courses satisfying Core Curriculum Requirements
and encourages students in other majors to pursue a minor in the
Natural Sciences. By choosing elective courses with their advisor, Biology majors can concentrate their studies in Cell and Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Organismal Biology, Ecology and Environmental Science, or Forensic Science.
Enrollment in the prerequisite courses for the major: BY001A/B, CH002A/B, are limited to declared biology majors, or students in the Post Baccalaureate Pre Medical Program. All courses in the categories: Major Requirements and Electives in Major Tracks to be 100/400 numbered courses; no lower- division courses can be used to satisfy those requirements.
All incoming freshman intending to major in an area of biological science must take the placement examinations for: Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Having declared their major, a prospective biology student must achieve a score of 80%, or better on the placement examination; if that level is not attained, the student must take BY005 or its equivalent and earn a B or better before being allowed to take further biology courses. AP biology courses, or examinations, will not be considered as substitutes. Transfer students must submit proof of successful (B or better) completion of a course equivalent to BY005 or take the biology placement examination.
Bachelor of Science: Biology
| In addition to major requirements, students must meet Core Curriculum Requirements and General Degree Requirements. | ||
| Prerequisites | Units | |
| BY001A/B | General Biology | 8 |
| CH002A/B | General Chemistry | 8 |
| CH117A/B | Organic Chemistry | 8 |
| MA015 | Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry | 4 |
| MA020A or MA022 or MA102 |
Calculus I (4) Applied Calculus (4) Statistics (3) |
3-4 |
| PH002A/B or PH004A/B |
General Physics Physics for Scientists |
8 |
| Total Prerequisites | 39-40 | |
| Major Requirements | Units | |
| BY100 | Developmental Biology | 4 |
| BY102 | Human Physiology | 5 |
| BY114 | Genetics | 4 |
| BY116 | General Microbiology | 5 |
| BY142 or CH150A |
Immunology Biochemistry |
4 |
| Upper-division electives in Biology approved by the advisor | 8 | |
| Total Major Requirements | 30 | |
| Other Degree Requirements*
and General Electives * Other degree requirements include Core Curriculum Requirements and General Degree Requirements (e.g., Career Development, U.S. History). |
54-55 | |
| Total Unit Requirement | 124 | |
| Biology Elective Courses | ||
| BY109 | Contemporary Environmental Issues (3-4) | |
| BY132 | General Ecology (4) | |
| BY138 | Environmental Toxicology (4) | |
| BY140 | Invertebrate Zoology (4) | |
| BY141 | Vertebrate Zoology (recommended) (4) | |
| BY149L | Laboratory Assistant (1-3) | |
| BY152 | Cellular and Molecular Biology (4) | |
| BY154 | Molecular Biology for Computer Scientists (3) | |
| BY198 | Research (1-3) | |
| BY199 | Independent Study in Biology (1-3) | |
| BY199H | Honors Thesis Research (2-4) | |
| CH105 | Chemical Analysis and Instrumental Methods (5) | |
| CH132 | Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences (4) | |
| CH150A | Biochemistry (4) | |
| CH150B | Biochemistry (4) | |
| NS105 | Introduction to Nutrition (3) | |
| SM085/185 | Natural Sciences Seminar (1) | |
| Future medical, dental, veterinary medicine, or graduate students are advised to take PH004AB and MA020A. Biology majors are encouraged to fulfill the Career Development requirement with an appropriate internship. Students anticipating graduate study should consult the individual schools to which they intend to apply for specific undergraduate course requirements. | ||
Bachelor of Arts: Biology
| In addition to major requirements, students must meet Core Curriculum Requirements and General Degree Requirements. | ||
| Prerequisites | Units | |
| BY001A/B | General Biology | 8 |
| CH002A/B | General Chemistry | 8 |
| CH117A/B | Organic Chemistry | 8 |
| MA014 | College Algebra | 3 |
| MA102 | Statistics | 3 |
| PH002A/B | General Physics (recommended) | |
| Total Prerequisites | 30 | |
| Major Requirements | Units | |
| BY100 | Developmental Biology | 4 |
| BY102 | Human Physiology | 5 |
| BY114 | Genetics | 4 |
| BY116 | General Microbiology | 5 |
| BY142 or CH150A |
Immunology Biochemistry |
4 |
| Upper-division electives in Biology approved by the advisor | 8 | |
| Total Major Requirements | 30 | |
| Other Degree Requirements* and General Electives * Other degree requirements include Core Curriculum Requirements and General Degree Requirements (e.g., Career Development, U.S. History). |
64 | |
| Total Unit Requirement | 124 | |
Minor Requirements: Biology
| Required Courses | Units | |
| BY001A/B | General Biology | 8 |
| CH001 or |
Introductory Chemistry | 3 |
| CH002A/B | General Chemistry (recommended) | 8 |
| Upper-division units in Biology, approved by Department Chair | 12 | |
Biology Courses
Courses may be taken as lecture only (three units) or laboratory only (one unit) with permission of instructor. All courses are open to non-majors who have fulfilled the prerequisites.
BY001A/401A General Biology (4)
Prerequisite: High School Biology.
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. General Biology is
a foundation course dealing with cellular and molecular biology,
with emphasis on structure and function of cells as the basic unit
of life, including cellular metabolism, enzyme energetics, molecular
genetics, Mendelian genetics, and concepts of speciation and evolution.
Laboratory introduces basic laboratory techniques, light microscopy,
enzyme kinetics, calorimetry, and population genetics.
BY001B/401B General Biology (4)
Prerequisite: High School Biology.
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Focuses on the study
of microorganisms, fungi, higher plants and animals, their diversity
and unity, structure, development, physiology, and classification.
Laboratory develops observational skills using prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
BY004 Human Biology (3)
Prerequisite: High School Biology.
Three hours lecture. Covers the basic structure and function of
the human body. Surveys structure of cells, anatomy and physiology
of several organ systems (e.g. reproductive, circulatory, nervous,
muscular, immune), human genetics, nutrition, and our relationship
with the environment. Scientific method and principles of biology
are emphasized. May include laboratory demonstrations and activities.
BY005 Introduction to Biology (3.5)
Three hours lecture, one and one-half hours laboratory. Provides
a general introductory study of plants and animals. Required for
liberal studies majors.
BY010/110/410 An Introduction to the Diverse World of Plants (4)
Prerequisite: BY001A/B
This course is an introduction to plant systematics including vascular plant classification, diversity and evolutionary relationships. Discussion entails the structural components of vascular plants and how plant structure relates to function, development, environment, evolution, and human use of plants. The course briefly encompasses the major physiological and metabolic processes of plants with a survey of photosynthesis and plant metabolism, mineral nutrition and ion uptake, water relations, transport processes, and regulation of plant growth and development.
BY024/124 Forensic Science (4)
Three hours lecture. Focuses on the mysterious and exciting world
of forensic science and forensic psychology, with an emphasis on
the techniques, skills, tools, and procedures used in the discovery
process and their limitations. The nature of physical evidence is
studied, along with the limitations that technology, knowledge,
and human behavior impose. Class discussions cover DNA analyses,
fingerprint, hair, fiber, and bullet comparisons, footwear impressions,
crime-scene search and investigation as well as discussion of the
psychological domains of eyewitness testimony, the malleability
of memory, the fallibility of judgments, and decision-making.
BY100/400 Developmental Biology (4)
Prerequisites: BY001A/B.
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Covers development
of living organisms from the fertilized egg to establishment of
organ systems. Topics include fertilization, gastrulation, neurulation,
regulation of development, cell commitment, morphogenesis, induction,
and laying down of organ systems. Laboratory includes morphological
observations and individual experimental projects.
BY101 Human Anatomy (4)
Prerequisite: BY001A/B.
This is the study of the structure of the human body, including
muscles, bones, heart, brain, ear, eye, and other systems, as well
as a short look at development of the fetus. Lab work entails dissection
of the cat and study of the human skeleton.
BY102/402 Human Physiology (5)
Prerequisites: BY001A/B and CH002A/B.
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory, one hour seminar. Focuses
on functional aspects of the human organism at the subcellular,
cellular, and tissue levels and on causes and effects at organ level.
Topics include nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, circulatory,
respiratory, digestive, immune, and endocrine systems. Laboratory
includes use of oscilloscope, computerized measurements of cardiac,
muscle, and respiratory function, biochemical assays, and basic
histology. Results are discussed in seminar.
BY109 Contemporary Environmental Issues (3-4)
Prerequisites: Math Placement Level 2 and permission of instructor.
Three hours lecture, one hour laboratory. Surveys Earth's biomes
and gives an overview of where humans live, with a concentration
on how human activities affect biomes. Major themes are population
growth and concomitant demands on energy and resources. Addresses
pollution and consumer society links with the crisis of biodiversity
loss. Optional laboratory exemplifies the dominant issues in the
course topics by means of field studies and selected site visits.
BY114/414 Genetics (4)
Prerequisites: BY001A/B and CH002A/B.
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Focuses on the physical
and chemical basis of heredity. Topics include: Mendelian genetics;
mapping; structure, organization, and replication of DNA; mutation;
transcription, translation, and regulation; and extrachromosomal
inheritance and population genetics. Laboratory may include Mendelian
and population genetics, cytogenetics, DNA analysis, electrophoresis,
PCR, and mapping techniques.
BY116/416 General Microbiology (5)
Prerequisites: BY001A/B, CH002A/B.
Three hours lecture, six hours laboratory. Comprises the study of
microorganisms and viruses, including the structure, physiology,
genetics, systematics, and evolution of bacteria, fungi, protista,
and parasitic metazoans. Emphasizes medical, veterinary, and agricultural
microbiology, along with microbial ecology and industrial microbiology.
BY132/432 General Ecology (3-4)
Prerequisites: BY001B or BY109, Mathematics Placement Level
2 and either PH002A or PH009 or CH002A or CH001 or permission of
instructor.
Lecture and laboratory. Investigates Earth's physical structure
and place in the solar system, global climate patterns, evolution
of biomes, energy flow, and biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems.
Also investigates cycling of chemical elements in ecosystems and
trophic relationships within ecosystems. Presents selected ecosystems
exemplify unifying concepts of ecology. Discusses the impact of
human activity on ecosystems. Laboratory concentrates on field study
of concepts.
BY138/438 Environmental Toxicology (4)
Prerequisites: BY001A/B, CH002A/B and BY132 or permission of
instructor.
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Examines toxins in
the environment due to natural causes and human effects. Covers
sampling and survey techniques, risk assessment, and legal regulations.
BY140/440 Invertebrate Zoology (4)
Prerequisites: BY001A/B.
Three hours lecture and three hours laboratory, and field trips. This course emphasizes the evolution and diversity of invertebrates. Topics will include the phylogeny of Parazoa and Eumetazoa and the phyla within the derived clades of the Eumetazoa, as well as their life-histories, and functional morphology.
BY141/441 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
Prerequisites: BY001A/B recommended.
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Emphasizes the unique
structural and functional adaptations of vertebrates. Focuses on
the anatomy and physiology of representative vertebrates including
Agatha, cartilaginous and bony fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds,
and mammals. Laboratory includes dissection of lamprey, dogfish
shark, and cat as representative vertebrates provides for study
of functional anatomy.
BY142/442 Immunology (4)
Prerequisites: BY001A/B, CH002A/B.
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Covers cellular immune
response, biochemical mechanisms of immunity, immune disorders,
hypersensitivities, and genetics of immunity. Laboratory introduces
techniques including electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, in
vitro systems, ELISA, and plaque assay.
BY149L/449L Laboratory Assistant (1-3)
Prerequisites: BY001A and permission of instructor.
Provides an opportunity for Natural Science majors to earn credit
assisting instructors. Three units may be used as upper-division
units in the major.
BY152/452 Cellular and Molecular Biology (4)
Prerequisites: BY001A/B and CH117A/B and CH150 or BY114 or
permission of instructor.
Three-hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Focuses on the structural
and biochemical basis of cellular function. Emphasizes cell substructure,
cell membranes, cell-surface phenomena, and the storage and transfer
of biological information at the biochemical level. Laboratory presents
methods of biotechnology.
BY154/454 Molecular Biology for Computer Scientists (3)
Prerequisite: A college level biology course or permission of the instructor.
The field of bioinformatics is interdisciplinary, requiring knowledge of biology and computer science. This applied course for computer science majors is intended to fill the conceptual gaps that may exist in the areas of protein structure and function, protein synthesis, the genetic code, gene expression, gene sequencing, genetic engineering, and evolutionary biology. Successful completion of this course will allow a computer science major to understand and use gene sequence databases in bioinformatics application. Cross-listed with CS154.
BY156/456 Programming for Biologists (3)
Cross-listed with CS156. See Computer Science listings for course description.
BY158/458 Bioinformatics I (4)
Prerequisites: One Statistics course from MA102 or MA122, and one prerequisite course from BY154 or CS156, or permission of instructor.
This is an introductory course in Bioinformatics. The course focuses on using various sequencing methodologies and algorithms, software tools, and packages in order to experiment and design protein sequence alignment and modeling from DNA and protein sequences. Students are introduced to the public DNA and protein databases and to common techniques and software tools used for protein analysis and modeling. Biology students and Computer Science students work in teams searching, classifying, constructing, comparing, analyzing, and interpreting sequences of proteins.
BY198/498 Research (1-3)
Prerequisites: BY001A/B.
Provides practical experience with biological research carried out
under close supervision of a faculty member. Includes experimental
design, library research, laboratory work, and presentation of results.
May be repeated for credit.
BY199 Independent Study in Biology (1-3)
Provides an opportunity for individual study or research under the
direction of an instructor. See Undergraduate
Policies and Procedures section on Independent Study.
BY199H Honors Thesis Research (2-4)
Provides a research opportunity for undergraduates who have completed
all requirements for the biology major and have demonstrated outstanding
promise.
CD198 Cooperative Education-Internship in Life Science (1-3)
Provides students with the opportunity to gain career-related experience. See Career Development
listings for course description.