B.S. in Biology: Option in Zoology, Botany, and Ecology, 2024-2025 Catalog

Four Year Degree Worksheet for:

This degree worksheet is intended to help you develop a balanced course schedule while completing your degree within 4 years. The same sequence of courses (with fewer courses each semester) is also recommended for students completing their degree in 5 or 6 years.

This worksheet is not intended to replace academic advising with your assigned advisor. Students should consult with their assigned advisor to determine the appropriate sequence of required courses and electives based on their academic goals.

好色先生 Enrollment Services prepares the Academic Requirements Report, which is the official graduation verification.

Major-Specific Degree Requirements

Major-Specific Degree Requirements are listed as an "MSDR" in the notes column. These courses must be completed in order to declare your major. All students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher in the STEM MSDR suite. For more information, please see: Major-Specific Degree Requirements for 好色先生 Students.

Pre-Biology first-time freshmen must complete CHEM 111A and MATH 119A or higher within one year of matriculation. Some students may need to take courses during Summer Session to meet these requirements. Students who have not met the requirements by the required semester must either declare another major or meet with an Academic Advisor to determine if the student's performance in the courses merits an additional semester to complete.

Additional Notes

Students should take the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement Placement Examination (GPE) after Year 1.

The "elective (1)" entries below are placeholders for the extra units needed for graduation if only the listed courses are taken. All students should make sure they take at least 120 units to meet graduation requirements.

Year 1 - Semester 1

Courses to Take in Year 1 - Semester 1
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
MATH 119A;
OR
MATH 122
(area B4)
Survey of Calculus I (3);
OR
Calculus I (3)
Appropriate placement, MATH 112B or 113;
OR
MATH 111 and either 112B or 113
MSDR
CHEM 111AGeneral Chemistry (5)Appropriate Placement, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 112A or 112B or higher, CHEM 95 if neededMSDR
GE (area A2)Written Communication (3) MSDR
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  
NSCI-190AExperience Success Program 1 (1) Fall only

Year 1 - Semester 2

Courses to Take in Year 1 - Semester 2
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 211Introduction to Evolution and Diversity (5)Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 111AMSDR
CHEM 111BGeneral Chemistry (5)CHEM 111A; MATH 112B or higherMSDR
GE (area A1)Oral Communication (3) MSDR
GE (area A3)Critical Thinking (3) MSDR

Year 2 - Semester 3

Courses to Take in Year 2 - Semester 3
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 212Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (4)BIOL 211, CHEM 111A 
BIOL 260Biostatistics (3)BIOL 211, MATH 111, 113, 119A, or 122 
CHEM 227;
OR
CHEM 220A
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (3);
OR
Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 111A, recommended 111B;
OR
CHEM 111B, Corequisite: CHEM 223A
227 usually recommended
CHEM 223A
(if 220A taken)
Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)Pre/Corequisite: 220A 
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  
ElectiveElective Requirement (1)  

Year 2 - Semester 4

Courses to Take in Year 2 - Semester 4
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 213Introduction to Ecology and Physiology (4)BIOL 211 and 212, CHEM 111B 
CHEM 220B;
OR
CHEM 448
(if 227 taken)
Organic Chemistry II (3);
OR
Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry (3)
CHEM 220A, Corequisite: CHEM 223B;
OR
CHEM 227 or 220B
 
CHEM 223B
(if 220B taken)
Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)CHEM 220A and 223A, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 220B 
PHYS 100A;
OR
PHYS 151
General Physics (4);
OR
Mechanics and Heat (4)
MATH 109, 111, 112A, 113, 119A, or 122;
OR
Pre/Corequisite: MATH 122, 123, or 224
 
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  

Year 3 - Semester 5

Courses to Take in Year 3 - Semester 5
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 312Evolutionary Biology (3)BIOL 211, 212, 213, and 260 
BIOL 345 & BIOL 345L;
OR
BIOL 447
Comparative Animal Physiology (3) & Comparative Animal Physiology Lab (1);
OR
Molecular Plant Physiology (3)
BIOL 211, 212, 213 & Pre/Corequisite: BIOL 345;
OR
BIOL 340, 370
447 is Spring only
Upper Division Biology CourseOrganismal Diversity course (3) OR Ecology/Evolution and Physiology Course (3)  
GE (area C,D,E)Other Exploration (3)  
GE (area C,D,E)Other Exploration (3)  

Year 3 - Semester 6

Courses to Take in Year 3 - Semester 6
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 350General Ecology (3)BIOL 211, 212, 213, 260, MATH 119A or 122 
BIOL 370General Genetics (4)BIOL 211, 212, and 260, MATH 119A or 122 (B4), GE Foundation 
Upper Division Biology CourseOrganismal Diversity Course (4)    
GE Upper Division (Area C-UD, D-UD)Upper Division (3)GE Foundation 

Year 4 - Semester 7

Courses to Take in Year 4 - Semester 7
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
PHYS 100B;
OR
PHYS 152
General Physics (4);
OR
Electricity and Magnetism (4)
PHYS 100A or 151, MATH 109, 111, 112A, 113, 119A, or 122;
OR
PHYS 151, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 123
 
Upper Division Biology CourseOrganismal Diversity Course (3 or 4)  
Upper Division Biology CourseOrganismal Ecology/Evolution and Physiology Course (3)  
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  
GE Upper Division (area C-UD, D-UD)Upper Division (3)GE Foundation 

Year 4 - Semester 8

Courses to Take in Year 4 - Semester 8
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 480Seminars (1)Must take in last semester; department consent required 
Upper Division Biology CourseOrganismal Ecology/Evolution and Physiology Course (3)  
Upper Division ElectiveBiology (3)  
400 Level ElectiveBiological Science (3)  
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  
ElectiveElective (3)