Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 University Catalog 
    
2020-2021 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology, B.S.: 120 units


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Offered by: College of Science, Biological Sciences Department

The curriculum matrix for the degree program may be found here. The curriculum matrix is the alignment of courses (curriculum) with the desired goals and student learning outcomes of the program. It shows what is taught and how these outcomes are achieved through the completion of the degree program. 

Major Required: 56-58 units


Major Electives: 29-31 units


Students who take Elements of Organic Chemistry (CHM 2010 /CHM 2010L ) and Calculus for Life Science (MAT 1200 ) will need 31 units of Major Electives. Students who take both Organic Chemistry I (CHM 3140 /CHM 3140L ) and Calculus I (MAT 1140 ) will only need 29 units of Major Electives, whereas students who take only one of these courses will need 30 units of Major Electives.

Non-Emphasis Electives: 0-8 units


Up to 8 units of any 2000, 3000, or 4000-level courses from any department in College of Science or College of Engineering that are not listed under Major Required, as well as 3000-level GE courses offered by the Biological Sciences Department are allowed. A list of qualifying GE B5 area courses are listed below.

Note(s):


* If you plan to take Organic Chemistry I  and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I  (CHM 3140 /CHM 3140L ), you must also take Organic Chemistry II  (CHM 3150 - (3) ) lecture in order to take any Biochemistry course. Both CHM 3150  and CHM 3150L  (if taken) will count toward your Non-Emphasis Electives.

* If you take Biochemistry I  (CHM 3270 ), you will also be taking its co-requisite CHM 3270L - (1) , which will count toward your Non-Emphasis Electives.

* CHM 2210 /CHM 2210L  is required for the Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) programs and can be taken as an elective under this category.

Emphasis Electives: 21-31 units


Any combination of courses listed below will satisfy the required 21-31 units, except that at least 12 units must be at 4000-level or above. Emphases are listed to provide guidance for helping students to choose courses of interest that best fit your career goals, but there is no requirement for choosing a specific emphasis for fulfilling these units.

* Please note that up to 4 units combined from research supervisory, service learning, and internship courses can also count as electives under this category. These courses include BIO 2000  or BIO 4000 , BIO 4410 , BIO 4590S /BIO 4590AS , BIO 4610 , BIO 4620 , and BIO 4910S /BIO 4910AS .

* Please also note that all special topics courses listed as BIO 2990 /BIO 2990A /BIO 2990L  or BIO 4990 /BIO 4990A /BIO 4990L  are not included in any emphasis below but they can also count as electives under this category.

*Emphases with asterisks are recommended for pre-professional students in medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy.  In addition, one year of organic chemistry with laboratories are required. One year of biochemistry with laboratories are also required for pharmacy and highly recommended for medicine and dentistry programs. For updated and specific professional degree and school requirements, consult individual professional schools or the Pre-Professional advisor.

**Courses with double asterisks are required for the admission to the Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) programs.

Emphasis 1 - Integrative Biology


Other Electives

Consider selecting a variety of courses from emphases 2 to 6 listed below.

Emphasis 2 - Botany


*Emphasis 4 - Microbiology


*Emphasis 5 - Neuroscience and Physiology


Emphasis 6 - Zoology


Unrestricted Electives: 0-3 units


Select a sufficient number of courses so that the total from “Major Required”, “Major Electives”, “GE”, and “Unrestricted Electives” is at least 120 units.

General Education Requirements: 48 units


Students should consult the Academic Programs website https://www.cpp.edu/~academic-programs/general-education-course-listings.shtml for current information regarding this requirement. Unless specific courses are required, please refer to the list of approved courses under General Education Requirements, Areas A through E.

  Course Term Taken Grade
Area A. English Language Communication and Critical Thinking (9 units)
At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. Oral Communication      
2. Written Communication      
3. Critical Thinking      
Area B. Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning (12 units)
At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. Physical Sciences      
2. Life Sciences      
3. Laboratory Activity      
4. Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning      
5. Science and Technology Synthesis      
Area C. Arts and Humanities (12 units)
At least 3 units from each sub-area and 3 additional units from sub-areas 1 and/or 2
1. Visual and Performing Arts      
2. Literature, Modern Languages, Philosophy and Civilization      
3. Arts and Humanities Synthesis      
Area D. Social Sciences (12 units)
At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. U.S. History and American Ideals      
2. U.S. Constitution and California Government      
3. Social Sciences: Principles, Methodologies, Value Systems, and Ethics      
4. Social Science Synthesis      
Area E. Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (3 units)      

For an alternative and interdisciplinary way to complete some of their GE requirements, students may choose the Interdisciplinary General Education program, see below. 

Interdisciplinary General Education: 21 units


An alternate pattern for partial fulfillment of GE Areas A, C, and D available for students is the Interdisciplinary General Education (IGE) program.  Students should see an advisor for specific GE coursework required by their major.  Please refer to the University Catalog General Education Program section for additional information.

How IGE fulfills General Education Requirements:

Year Completion of IGE Courses Satisfies GE Requirements
Freshman IGE 1100 , IGE 1200   A2 and C2
Sophomore IGE 2100 , IGE 2200   C1 and C2
Junior IGE 2300 , IGE 2400   D1 and D3
Senior IGE 3100   C3 or D4

American Institutions: 6 units


Courses that satisfy this requirement may also satisfy GE Areas D1 and D2.

American Cultural Perspectives Requirement: 3 units


Refer to the University Catalog General Education Program section for a list of courses that satisfy this requirement.  Course may also satisfy major, minor, GE, or unrestricted elective requirements.

Graduation Writing Test


All persons who receive undergraduate degrees from Cal Poly Pomona must pass the Graduation Writing Test (GWT).  The test must be taken by the semester following completion of 60 units for undergraduates.

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