Program: B.S., Biology
Cell and Molecular Biology
Program Description
The Cell and Molecular option prepares students for graduate programs or careers as research associates in a variety of fields (e.g., medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural or biotechnology) in academic, governmental or industrial labs or in a variety of similar settings.
Program Requirements
Each student pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree must complete the designated core program, plus all required courses and the selective program of one of the options.
A. Core Requirements for All B.S. Options
1. Lower Division Courses (27 units)
BIOL 106 Biological Principles I (3)
BIOL 106L Biological Principles I Lab (1)
BIOL 107 Biological Principles II (3)
BIOL 107L Biological Principles II Lab (1)
CHEM 101 General Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 101L General Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHEM 102 General Chemistry II (4)
CHEM 102L General Chemistry II Lab (1)
MATH 255A Calculus for the Life Sciences I (3)
PHYS 100A General Physics I (3)
PHYS 100B General Physics II (3)
2. Upper Division Courses (9 units)
BIOL 322 Evolutionary Biology (3)
BIOL 360 Genetics (3)
BIOL 380 Cell Biology (3)
B. Cell and Molecular Biology Option Requirements
1. Required Courses (12 units)
BIOL 381 Cell Biology Lab (1)
CHEM 333/L Organic Chemistry I and Lab (4/1)
CHEM 334/L Organic Chemistry II and Lab (3/1)
PHYS 100AL General Physics I Lab (1)
PHYS 100BL General Physics II Lab (1)
(MATH 255B is highly recommended.)
2. Selective Program (30 units)
Select courses from the Biochemistry, Cells and Tissue, Molecular Genetics and Elective sections below for a total of at least 30 units. A student must take at least 7 units of lab courses (designated with an “L”) within the Selective Program.
a. Biochemistry (3-8 units)
Choose from the following:
CHEM 464 Principles of Biochemistry (3) (lab may be taken for credit in the Electives section)
or CHEM 461/L and CHEM 462/L Biochemistry I and II (8) (includes two lab units)
b. Cells and Tissues (6-8 units)
Choose two courses from the following:
BIOL 382/L Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 383/L Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 410/L Medical Microbiology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 411/L Animal Histology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 417/L Microbial Physiology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 437/L/BIOL 492V Biology of Fungi and Lab/Field Studies (2/1/1)
BIOL 441/L Embryology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 475/L Biological Imaging and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 476 Topics in Stem Cell Biology (3)
BIOL 477/L Cell and Tissue Culture and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 479 Endocrinology (3)
BIOL 480/L Cellular Physiology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 481/L Plant Physiology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 482/L Animal Physiology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 483/L Principles of Neurophysiology and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 485/L Immunology with Serology Lab (2/2)
BIOL 487/L Hematology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 489 Cellular Immunology (3)
BIOL 493 Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogenesis (3)
c. Molecular Genetics (6-7 units)
Choose two courses from the following:
BIOL 408/L Applied Microbiology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 442/L Developmental Biology and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 444 Biology of Viruses (3)
BIOL 461 The Molecular Genetics of Microorganisms (3)
BIOL 462 Molecular Genetics of Eukaryotic Organisms (3)
BIOL 464 Human Biochemical Genetics (3)
BIOL 466 Genetics of Bacteria and Their Viruses (3)
BIOL 468 Human Genetics (3)
BIOL 469 Molecular Diagnostics and Clinical Chemistry (3)
BIOL 470 Biotechnology (3)
BIOL 471A Molecular Diagnostics (3)
BIOL 472/L Recombinant DNA Techniques and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 473 Clinical Cytogenetics and Cancer Genetics (3)
d. Electives
Select additional courses from the Biochemistry, Cells and Tissues and Molecular Genetics sections above, or from the courses listed below for a total of at least 30 units:
BIOL 315/L Principles of Microbiology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 330/L Design and Analysis of Experiments and Lab (2/1)
BIOL 435/L Parasitology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 447/L Full Immersion Research Experience (FIRE) and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 490, BIOL 495, BIOL 499, BIOL 526 (no more than 3 units combined)
BIOL 502 Biometry (3)
BIOL 502L Biometry Lab (1)
BIOL 503/L Bioinformatics and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 551/L Computer Modeling in Biology and Lab (2/2)
CHEM 464L Principles of Biochemistry Laboratory (1)
MATH 255B Calculus for the Life Sciences II (3)
C. General Education (48 units)
Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog.
12 units are satisfied by the following courses in the major: CHEM 101 satisfies B1 Physical Science; BIOL 106 satisfies B2 Life Science; BIOL 106L satisfies B3 Science Laboratory Activity; MATH 255A fulfills Basic Skills B4 Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning; and BIOL 360 satisfies B5 Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning.
Total Units in the Major/Option: 78
General Education Units: 36
Additional Units: 6
Total Units Required for the B.S. Degree: 120
Contact
Department of Biology
Chair: Tim Karels
Chaparral Hall (CR) 5101
(818) 677-3356
Student Learning Outcomes
The Biology department has identified five learning outcomes to be achieved by its students as a result of completing one of its baccalaureate degree programs.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of (a) the structure and metabolism of cells, (b) the transmission and expression of genetic information, and (c) the immediate and long-term (evolutionary) consequences of interactions between organisms and their environment.
- Students will demonstrate specialized knowledge in one or more disciplines of biology.
- Students will be aware of and/or capable of using new and existing methods and technologies in these disciplines.
- Students must demonstrate facility in applying the methods of scientific inquiry, including observation, hypothesis testing, data collection and analysis.
- Students will have the ability to engage the biology literature and to communicate scientific information verbally and/or in writing.