Biology - Degrees

You are in the official 2009-2010 General Catalog for California State University, Fresno.

Department of Biology

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
Biology Major

The Bachelor of Science in Biology is a 120-unit program. Of the total, 51 units are required to satisfy the university's General Education Program and 22 units are required by the Department of Biology to satisfy the biology core. The core curriculum is a sequence of courses required for all biology majors. The core curriculum builds the foundation upon which further learning in biology will be based. Additional requirements, varying from 22-38 units depending upon the option choice the student selects, are specified courses from related fields outside the Department of Biology.

Each biology major must select one of the three option choices to complete the Biology Bachelor of Science requirements. All of the three option choices are flexibly designed. As a result, virtually any career goal in the life sciences and related fields can be accommodated by selecting the most appropriate option and by judiciously choosing specific courses within the option.

Students should meet with an adviser a minimum of once a semester so the adviser can review the student's program and progress.

Students planning for graduate and professional schools should be aware that entrance requirements for those programs will often exceed the minimal requirements for a Biology B.S., particularly in the ancillary fields of chemistry, physics, and mathematics. An adviser should be consulted for specific information on graduate and professional school requirements.

Biology Core

The biology core is required of all majors (see Advising Notes for all options.)

BIOL 1A, 1B, 101, 102, 104, 104, 105 (22 units)

In addition to the core, all majors must complete major and additional requirements in one of the three options described as follows:

Ecology, Evolutionary, and Organismal Biology Option

This degree program is intended for students who wish to study organisms, their evolutionary change, and their relationships with their environments. This option has a strong field component that takes full advantage of the outstanding natural environments conveniently located near our campus. Molecular and computer laboratory facilities are also available to study genetic variation among organisms. Students in this program acquire the skills to apply both theory and methods to important questions in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial systems. Students completing this option are well prepared for entry into a wide range of careers in governmental natural resource agencies and consulting firms. They are also well prepared for graduate programs leading to advanced degrees in biology and related natural and applied sciences. Students may obtain an emphasis in marine science by selecting electives offered at the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. Students must consult an adviser for help in selecting courses appropriate to their interests and career objectives.

Major requirements (42 units)

Biology Core (22 units)
Option requirements (20 units)

(Select at least one course from each of lines A-D for a total of 20 units. At least one botany [BIOL] or microbiology [BIOL] course must be selected from A-D.)

A. Physiology: BIOL 160, 161, 162 and 162L; MSCI 135

B. Organismal Biology: BIOL 120, 123, 124, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 174; MSCI 112, 113, 124, 125, 131**

C. Form and Classification: BIOL 122, 125, 130, 132, 140, 143, 178

D. Ecological Processes: BIOL 171, 172, 175, 176; MSCI 103, 144**

Additional requirements (22 units)

1. CHEM 3A, 8, and 150 (10 units)
2. MATH 70 or 75 (4 units)
3. MATH 101 or PSYCH 42 (4 units)
4. PHYS 2A (4 units)

General Education requirements (51 units)

Electives and remaining degree requirements (14 units)
(See Degree Requirements); may be used toward a double major or minor.

Total (120 units) *

________

* See Advising Note 1.

** MSCI courses are offered only at Moss Landing Marine Laboratory.

Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Option

This degree option is intended for students who wish to study the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular structure and function and the processes of organismal development. Molecular biology combines the knowledge and techniques of genetics, cell biology and biochemistry, forming a basis for in-depth inquiry into all aspects of biology. The option provides a solid foundation for graduate and professional studies emphasizing cellular and molecular processes, including the Master of Biotechnology and the Certificate of Advanced Studies in Biotechnology. Students preparing for the biotechnology certificate program should select a general microbiology course with laboratory and a general biochemistry laboratory course among their elective courses.

Major requirements (40 units)

Biology Core (22 units)
Option requirements (18 units)

A. Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics (5 units)
BIOL 150 and 151

B. Cell Structure and Development (3-4 units)
Select one from the following list: BIOL 140, 141 156, 172

C. Cellular/Molecular Physiology of Organisms/Organ Systems (3-4 units)
Select one from the following list: BIOL 123, 131, 157 160, 165, 166

D. Molecular/Cellular Techniques (2-4 units)
Select one from the following list: BIOL 152, 153, 157L 178

Note: A minimum of two laboratory experiences from B, C, and D are required.

E. Seminar (1 unit)
BIOL 181

F. Choose one additional course from above or any upper-division biology course, including independent study or research (0-4 units)

Additional requirements (37 units)
1. CHEM 1A-B, 128A-B, 129A, 150 or 155 (21 units)
2. PHYS 2A-B (8 units)
3. MATH 70 or 75 (4 units)
4. MATH 101 or PSYCH 42 (4 units)

General Education requirements (51 units)

Electives and remaining degree requirements (1 unit)
(See Degree Requirements); may be used toward a double major or minor.)

Total (120 units)*

__________

* See Advising Note 1.

Physiology and Anatomy Option

This degree program is designed to help students understand cellular to whole organism function in preparation for medical, clinical, academic or research careers that require physiology as a foundation. The ultimate goal of physiology is to understand, in physical and chemical terms, the mechanisms that operate in living organisms. This option encompasses three major branches of physiology: cellular, systemic, and whole organism. This option offers excellent preprofessional preparation for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, clinical lab science, various careers requiring physiology, and for advanced graduate study. Students planning to enter professional and graduate programs should elect CHEM 1A-B and 128A-B rather than CHEM 3A and 8, and should consult an adviser about additional mathematics requirements as well. Students interested in the Clinical Laboratory Science Program are required to take BIOL 120, 121, 157, and 164. They must also take CHEM 105, which is not included in this option. It is recommended that they take BIOL 160 and the chemistry courses for chemistry majors (e.g. CHEM 1A-B rather than CHEM 3A.) Please consult an adviser.

Major requirements (40 units)

Biology Core (22 units)
Option requirements (18 units)

A. Select one course from each of these three lines (10-13 units)
1. Anatomy: BIOL 120, 130, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144
2. Molecular and Cellular Biology: BIOL 133, 155, 156, 157, 157L
3. Organismal Physiology: BIOL 160, 161, 162 and 162L

B. Select two additional courses from the following list or from other courses listed in category A (5-8 units)
BIOL 64 or 65, 121, 150, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167

Additional requirements (29-38 units)
1. CHEM 3A or 1A-B, 8 or 128A-B, 129A, 150 or 155 (13-21 units)
2. PHYS 2A-B (8 units)
3. MATH 70 or 75 (4 units)
4. MATH 101 or PSYCH 42 (4 units)

General Education requirements (51 units)

Electives and remaining degree requirements (0-9 units)
(See Degree Requirements); may be used toward a double major or minor.

Total (120 units)*

_________

* See Advising Note 1.

Advising Notes for All Options
within the Bachelor of Science in Biology

The total of 120 units assumes biology majors in this option will maximize the 9 units of General Education requirements that also may be applied to major and additional required courses as follows: 3 units of CHEM 3A (Ecology, Evolutionary, and Organismal Biology Option) or CHEM 1A (Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Option and Physiology and Anatomy Option) in G.E. Breadth B1; 3 units of BIOL 1A in G.E. Breadth B2; and 3 units of MATH 75 in G.E. Foundation B4. Consult your major academic adviser for details.
B.S. biology majors who have taken introductory sequences other than BIOL 1A and 1B must consult with their faculty adviser or department chair for equivalency evaluation prior to beginning their upper-division coursework.
CHEM 1A may be taken as a substitute for CHEM 3A, and CHEM 128A and 128B may substitute for CHEM 8. The reverse substitutions are not permissible. Premedical students should take CHEM 1A and 1B and 128A and 128B instead of CHEM 3A and 8.
B.S. biology majors selecting options in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology or in Physiology and Anatomy can complete a Minor in Chemistry with the addition of CHEM 105. Consult the chemistry department chair for details (see Chemistry Minor).
No General Education Integration course offered by the Department of Biology may be used to satisfy the General Education requirements for biology majors.
CR/NC grading is not permitted in the biology major.
General Education, additional, and elective requirements may be used toward a double major or minor (see Double Major or departmental minor). Consult the appropriate department chair, program coordinator, or faculty adviser for additional information.

Suggested Sequence of
Courses for B.S. in Biology

The following comments on timing and sequence are intended for full-time students who plan to complete the B.S. in four years. Students with extensive extracurricular obligations should make appropriate timing adjustments to avoid overloads. See your adviser for assistance.

A total of 120 units must be completed for all biology B.S. options. In addition to courses required for the major, full-time students should add General Education requirements and electives to bring semester totals to 15-17 units.

During the first two years, resident students should complete some General Education requirements, BIOL 1A and 1B, all lower-division additional requirements for the option they have selected, and any lower-division electives that might be selected within that option. Students are advised to keep some General Education coursework for their junior and senior years. BIOL 101, 102, 103 and statistics should be completed as early as possible and preferably no later than the end of the third year. The remainder of the third and fourth years should be spent completing requirements for the selected option, for General Education, and for the electives in biology and other fields. BIOL 105 is a senior requirement and must be taken during the fourth year.

Biology Minor

The Minor in Biology may be earned by completing the 22-unit biology core:
BIOL 1A, 1B, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105.

Note: The Biology Minor also requires a 2.0 GPA and 6 upper-division units in residence.

Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences

Teaching Credential - Biology Option

The B.A. in Natural Sciences serves as a waiver program for the Single Subject Teaching Credential in Science. This degree program is designed for students who wish to become high school science teachers. Students may also complete the credential requirements while obtaining a B.S. in biology. This waiver program is currently under review by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and until program approval is secured, the appropriate CSET exams will be required to establish subject matter competency. Please contact Mr. Jaime Arvizu, College of Science and Mathematics counselor, for advising and more information at 278-5173. The B.A. in Natural Sciences with the Biology Option is as follows:

Core requirements (36 units)
Biology (12 units)
BIOL 1A, 1B, 101

Chemistry (10 units)
CHEM 1A, 1B

Geology (7 units)
EES 1 and 168

Natural Science (3 units)
NSCI 106

Physical Science (4 units)
PSCI 21

Biology Option (39-41 units)
CHEM 8 or 128A (3 units)
PHYS 2A, 2B (see note 1) (8 units)
MATH 75 (4 units)
MATH 101 or PSYCH 42 (4 units)
BIOL 102, 103, 104, 105 (10 units)
BIOL 120 (4 units)
Select one course: BIOL 122, 124, 125, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135, 136, 171, 172 (3-4 units)
Select one course: BIOL 160, 161, 162 and 162L, 163 (3-4 units)

General Education requirements (51 units) (See note 2)

Electives and remaining degree requirements (see notes 2,3)

(4-6 units)

Total (120 units)

Advising Notes for the Natural Sciences Major

Substitutions may be made with the permission of the appropriate department chair. PHYS 4A-B-C with labs 4AL, 4BL is recommended instead of PHYS 2A-B for those students well-prepared for physics.
This figure takes into account that 12 units required for the major are expected to count toward General Education as follows: CHEM 1A (3 units), BIOL 1A (3 units), EES 168 (3 units), and 3 units if MATH 75 is selected. Consult your major adviser for details.
Students should be sure to take sufficient upper-division units in their General Education courses and electives to satisfy the graduation requirements of 40 upper-division units and upper-division writing skills.

Graduate Programs

The Biology Department offers a research-intensive Master of Science in Biology with the opportunity for specialization in several areas of study. Among these areas are ecologically oriented field studies in fresh water, terrestrial, and marine environments; molecular, cellular, and developmental biology of plants, animals, and microbes; physiology of microbes, plants, and animals; entomology; microbiology; parasitology; botany; zoology; systematics; and animal behavior. The program also prepares candidates for teaching biological science disciplines at the secondary and community college education levels. The master's program provides a strong foundation for those seeking advanced education at universities offering the research doctorate (Ph.D.) or other professional degrees. The Biology Department has further informational materials available on request.

Master of Science Degree Requirements

The Master of Science degree program in Biology assumes preparation equivalent to a California State University, Fresno undergraduate major in biology. Students having undergraduate majors in fields other than the biological sciences may enter the program, but may reasonably expect additional requirements to produce equivalent preparation.

A master's candidate interested in pursuing marine science studies must meet California State University, Fresno Biology Department master's candidate requirements as well as those of MLML. Such candidates are encouraged to consult the Biology Department's MLML coordinator for information and to read the MLML information presented at the end of the graduate information.

There are five steps that must be completed for the Master of Science degree in Biology:

Admission to the university as a postbaccalaureate student
Admission to classified graduate standing (constitutes admission to the department program)
Advancement to candidacy (formalizes thesis committee and research project)
Completion of a thesis and associated requirements
Completion of all additional requirements for award of master's degree

Normal progress toward the Master of Science degree in Biology requires that classified graduate standing be achieved in the first semester of graduate study and that advancement to candidacy be granted the following semester. Completion of the thesis and all other program requirements will normally require two additional semesters of study. Procedures for completing these steps are outlined in the following sections. Students should meet with the departmental graduate coordinator at the earliest possible date. Students are personally responsible for ensuring that all graduate degree requirements have been met in sequence; therefore, each student should read the procedures thoroughly to be sure all requirements are understood.

Admission to Graduate Standing

Admission to the university is handled through the Graduate Admissions Office of California State University, Fresno. For admission as a postbaccalaureate student to the university, a student must have completed a four-year college program and hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 in the last 60 units.

To be considered for graduate classified standing in biology, the following additional steps are required of students planning to enter the biology graduate program.

Submit current scores (within the last five years) for the General Graduate Record Exam.
Contact the graduate coordinator in the Biology Department prior to registration for assignment of a temporary faculty adviser who will assist in the planning of initial courses. Students may request the assignment of any biology faculty member to serve in this capacity.
Meet with the temporary adviser prior to registration and develop an approved initial program of at least 9 units that is mutually agreeable to the student and the adviser. These courses are to be entered on the "Approved Preliminary Program" form (available from the Biology Office) and signed by the student, temporary adviser, and departmental graduate coordinator. This will constitute the Approved Initial Graduate Program. These courses may or may not be included on your Advancement to Candidacy Application; make-up classes, for example, are not included. All students are required to have the "Approved Preliminary Program" form approved and on file prior to registration. Upon completion of all prerequisites, the student must file for classified standing.

Admission to Classified Graduate Standing

Admission to classified graduate standing constitutes official admission into the graduate program in the Department of Biology and requires the approval of the Biology Department. Classified standing must be attained no later than the semester in which a student completes 10 units, including transfer and postbaccalaureate credit, to be used toward the master's degree; students should attempt to obtain classified graduate standing as early as possible in their graduate careers to avoid possible loss of units. Normal progress toward the degree requires that this be accomplished in the first semester of graduate work.

Students applying for classified standing should be sure they have submitted an "Approved Preliminary Program" form to the departmental graduate coordinator.

Admission to classified graduate standing must be recommended by the graduate coordinator in consultation with the Graduate Committee of the Biology Department. To be recommended, the student must demonstrate competency in verbal or written communication, quantitative analytical skills and disciplinary knowledge.

Competencies may be demonstrated in the following manner:

For verbal or written communication, students must achieve one of the following: (1) 60th percentile or better on the verbal portion of the general GRE, (2) a grade of B or better in an upper-division writing course, (3) a score of 4.5 or better on the writing portion of the General GRE, or (4) 80% or better on the Upper-Division Writing Exam. In exceptional cases the Graduate Committee may consider alternative evidence of verbal or writing skills.
For quantitative analytical skills, students must achieve either (1) a quantitative GRE score of 60th percentile or better or (2) a B or better in a mathematics class at least at the level of MATH 70 (introductory calculus).
For disciplinary knowledge, students must achieve at least one of the following: (a) A score on the subject Biology test of the GRE of 60th percentile or better. (b) No less than a grade of B in the following upper-division core courses or their equivalents: genetics, evolution, either cell biology or ecology, and one other upper-division or graduate course appropriate to the student's specialty. Evaluation of coursework will be conducted by the graduate coordinator in consultation with faculty teaching the core courses at California State University, Fresno. (c) No less than a grade of C in each of the courses listed in (b) above, as well as an overall GPA of 3.0 or better for at least 25 semester units of upper-division lecture or lecture/laboratory courses in natural science.

On recommendation, students will be assigned to one of the following two categories:

Classified graduate standing will be assigned to students meeting the standards in verbal written communication, quantitative analytical skills, and disciplinary knowledge.
Conditional classified standing will be assigned to students meeting a majority of the classification standards yet having specific identifiable deficiencies that may be easily corrected within two semesters. While this classification gives students the opportunity to remedy identified deficiencies, those remedial courses taken to correct deficiencies may not be applied to the graduate program.

Students recommended for classified graduate standing may proceed with the completion of requirements for advancement to candidacy, the next step in the graduate program. Students granted conditional classified status will not have been admitted to the graduate program in biology and must remedy their deficiencies in order to be recommended for classified standing. The graduate coordinator will provide further information on how this may be accomplished.

When any requirements for a change in graduate standing have been completed, the student must see the graduate coordinator and file appropriate forms with the graduate division.

Advancement to Candidacy

Acceptance to classified graduate standing indicates that the student's academic background and perceived ability are sufficiently high to merit admission into the biology graduate program. Advancement to candidacy signifies that the student has developed a coherent program of study for the Master of Science degree that meets with the approval of the Biology Department. Advancement to candidacy requires passing the Graduate Student Writing Requirement, the establishment of the Thesis Committee, identification of the thesis topic, and the approval of all coursework that must fit within the following framework:

Courses in 200-series (17 units)
Electives (May be 100- or 200-series) (9 units)
Thesis (BIOL 299) (4 units)
Total (30 units)

No less than 18 units of the approved coursework must be in the biological sciences. Nine units must be completed prior to advancement to candidacy. The Biology Department also requires that at least 10 units of approved coursework be completed after advancement to candidacy.

Units completed during the semester that advancement is achieved will be considered to have been completed after advancement to candidacy. Before students may advance to candidacy, they must satisfactorily complete the Biology Department Graduate Student Writing Requirement. Students must submit a formal paper demonstrating writing skill at the graduate level. This graduate-level paper may be a research proposal, a literature review in their field, a paper from a graduate directed research project, or another paper. Detailed writing requirement regulations are available from the departmental graduate coordinator. Normal degree progress requires that advancement to candidacy be achieved in the semester following admission to classified standing. A student must be advanced to candidacy, possess a GPA of 3.0 or better, and file a Thesis Committee Assignment Form before enrolling in thesis (BIOL 299).

A complete list of the steps required for advancement to candidacy is available from the departmental graduate coordinator.

Completion of a Thesis

The Master of Science in Biology requires completion of a research thesis (BIOL 299). The thesis must show originality, appropriate organization, clarity of purpose, critical analysis, and accuracy and completeness of documentation where needed. Critical and independent thinking are required. The finished thesis must meet standards appropriate for publication in the scholarly journals of the field. A colloquium is required of all students at least seven days prior to the last day of instruction of the spring or fall semester, or by June 30 of the summer session. Additional information and regulations on the colloquium and on thesis completion are available from the department's graduate coordinator.

Completion of All Requirements for Award
of Master of Science Degree in Biology

In addition to the above requirements, in order to receive the Master of Science in Biology the student must:

Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better in all graduate coursework undertaken from the date of embarking on the first course of the approved program. Students wishing to explore other academic areas without jeopardizing this grade point average should attempt to use the CR/NC grade option for this purpose.
File an application for the granting of the Master of Science degree and pay the diploma fee. Applications should be submitted during the first two weeks of the semester (or the first week of a summer session) in which the degree is to be completed and are available from the Division of Graduate Studies, Thomas Administration, Room 132.

Master of Science in Marine Sciene
Degree Requirements

This degree program to be offered as an interdepartmental degree in cooperation with Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML) provides the opportunity for students to acquire a practical and theoretical education in the marine sciences to prepare them for careers as marine specialists, scientists, and teachers. The program at Moss Landing provides extensive field and laboratory work for advanced study in the marine sciences, which is not duplicated on individual CSU campuses.

The Master of Science in Marine Science degree program is administered through MLML and a consortium campus with emphasis on biology, geology, or other departments, depending on the choice of the student. The prospective student must meet the entrance requirements for the home campus department and will be accepted into classified or conditionally classified status by normal procedures at that campus (see previous information for biology procedures summary). Conditionally classified students must become classified by home campus procedures. MLML may impose additional requirements for classification.

The graduate writing requirement will be fulfilled according to the regulations set by the host campus, and must be met prior to advancement to candidacy. Please contact the Biology Department graduate coordinator for details.

The Thesis Committee will be composed of at least three members, including one faculty member from MLML (who is ordinarily the thesis adviser) and, at the discretion of the home campus, a representative of that campus. The other member or members of the Thesis Committee may be from MLML, the home campus, or elsewhere with the approval of the thesis adviser.

Additional MLML Degree Requirements Including Coursework. A student becomes eligible for the master's degree in marine science after the following requirements have been satisfied:

Courses in 100-series (requires any three of the following five courses: MSCI 103, MSCI 141, MSCI 142, MSCI 143, MSCI 144) (12 units)

Courses in 200-series (including 2 units of MSCI 285T and 4 units of MSCI 299) (15 units)

Electives (course[s] in the 100- and/or 200-series) approved by Thesis Committee (3 units)

Total (30 units)

Note: Quantitative Marine Science, MSCI 104, does not count toward the degree.

Upper-Division Course Numbers

Biology Department upper-division course numbers provide information on course level. Courses with higher numbers have more prerequisites. Courses with numbers less than 120 are not intended for use on biology majors. Numbers in the range 120 to 149 are third year courses requiring only lower-division prerequisites; 150 to 169 courses require some part of the upper-division core as prerequisite; and course numbers 170 or greater are more specialized fourth year courses.