Biological Sciences

www.csupomona.edu/~biology

Sepehr Eskandari, Chair

The Biological Sciences Department offers bachelor’s degree programs in Biotechnology, Environmental Biology, and Biology with subplans in Botany, General Biology, Microbiology and Zoology. In addition, minors in Botany, Plant Biotechnology, Plant Pathology, Microbiology, and Zoology are offered, and the department participates in interdisciplinary minors in Comparative System Analysis, Environmental Health Specialist, Physiology, and Quantitative Research. Concurrent enrollment in two of the majors offered by the Biological Sciences Department is not allowed.

Departmental facilities include molecular biology laboratories, greenhouses, controlled environmental units, a radiation biology laboratory, plant and animal collections, and an electron microscope facility. Interdisciplinary research and education in computational and experimental techniques applied to molecular and material modeling, surface science, and engineered materials are supported by the university-wide Center for Macromolecular Modeling and Materials Design (CM3D). Ecological studies are facilitated by accessibility to natural habitats on campus and by the university’s proximity to desert, mountain, and seashore areas. Courses in terrestrial marine and fresh water biology provide preparation for teaching, conservation, wildlife management, or graduate research in aquatic biology. Courses in marine biology interact with the Ocean Studies Consortium of the CSU. A variety of field biology courses utilize the CSU Desert Studies Center at Zzyzx, near Baker, California. Students majoring in biological sciences and who have at least a 3.0 GPA have the opportunity to join Beta Beta Beta, an honorary society in the Biological Sciences. In addition, students can join any of the other student organizations such as the Biological Sciences Club, Zoologists of Cal Poly, Microbiology Club, Pre-Pharmacy Club, and Journal Clubs.  For additional information contact the department office.

A cumulative 2.0 GPA is required in core courses in all Biological Sciences majors in order to receive a degree in that major.

Programs

• Biology, B.S. - Botany Subplan/Option: 180 units
• Biology, B.S. - General Biology Subplan/Option: 180 units
• Biology, B.S. - Microbiology Subplan/Option: 180 units
• Biology, B.S. - Zoology Subplan/Option: 180 units
• Biotechnology, B.S.: 183 units
• Environmental Biology, B.S.: 180 units

• Botany Minor
• Comparative Systems Analysis Minor
• Microbiology Minor
• Plant Biotechnology Minor
• Plant Pathology Minor
• Zoology Minor

• Biological Science, M.S.

Courses

NOTE: For all courses which have both a lecture and a laboratory component (e.g. ), both components are corequisites; that is, they must be taken concurrently.

When appropriate, the names of faculty associated with each course are specified; otherwise “Staff” is noted. 

• BOT 456/456L - Plant Tissue Culture (3/1)
• BOT 499/499A/499L - Special Topics for Upper Division Students (1-4/1-4/1-4)

NOTE: For all courses which have both a lecture component and a laboratory component (e.g. BIO 115/115A/115L ), both components are corequisites; that is, they must be taken concurrently.

When appropriate, the names of faculty associated with each course are specified, otherwise, “Staff” is noted. 

• MIC 201/201L - Basic Microbiology (3/1)
• MIC 299/299A/299L - Special Topics for Lower Division Students (1-4)
• MIC 301 - Germs and You (4)
• MIC 310/310L - Applied Microbiology (3/2)
• MIC 320/320L - Food Microbiology (3/1)
• MIC 330 - General Epidemiology (4)
• MIC 410/410L - Medical Bacteriology (3/2)
• MIC 415/415L - Immunology-Serology (3/2)
• MIC 425/425L - Medical Mycology (3/2)
• MIC 428/428L - Microbial Physiology (4/1)
• MIC 430/430L - General Virology (3/2)
• MIC 435/435L - Microbial Ecology (2/2)
• MIC 436/436L - Plant-Microbe Interactions (2/2)
• MIC 444 - Hematology (3)
• MIC 444L - Hematology Lab (1)
• MIC 445 - Immunohematology (3)
• MIC 445L - Immunohematology Lab (1)
• MIC 499/499A/499L - Special Topics for Upper Division Students (1-4/1-4/1-4)

For all courses which have both a lecture component and a laboratory component (e.g. ZOO 237/237L ), both components are co-requisites, that is, they must be taken concurrently.

When appropriate, the names of faculty associated with each course are specified; otherwise, “Staff” is noted. 

• ZOO 201/201L - Animal Biology (3/2)
• ZOO 234/234L - Human Anatomy (3/2)
• ZOO 237/237L - Introduction to Invertebrate Zoology (3/2)
• ZOO 238/238L - Introduction to Vertebrate Zoology (3/2)
• ZOO 299/299A/299L - Special Topics for Lower Division Students (1-4)
• ZOO 422/422L - Histology (2/3)
• ZOO 425/425L - Medical Parasitology (3/2)
• ZOO 426/426L - Entomology (3/1)
• ZOO 428/428L - Animal Physiology (4/1)
• ZOO 429/429L - Herpetology (3/2)
• ZOO 430/430L - Mammalogy (2/2)
• ZOO 435/435L - Ornithology (3/1)
• ZOO 439/439L - Evolutionary Ecomorphology (2/2)
• ZOO 441/441L - Ichthyology (2/2)
• ZOO 499/499A/499L - Special Topics for Upper Division Students (1-4/1-4/1-4)