Program: B.S., Biology
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Overview
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Option II) of the B.S. degree prepares graduates for employment in positions such as ecologist or wildlife preserve manager; for positions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Land Management, National or State Parks and other government agencies and private organizations; or for consulting positions in formulating environmental impact reports. A modified version of this option is appropriate for students seeking a teaching credential (see Credential Programs section of this Catalog). This option also prepares the student for advanced graduate study.
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/L Biological Principles I and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 107/L Biological Principles II and Lab (3/1)
CHEM 101/L General Chemistry I and Lab (4/1)
CHEM 102/L General Chemistry II and Lab (4/1)
PHYS 100A General Physics I (3)
PHYS 100B General Physics II (3)
MATH 255A Calculus for the Life Sciences I (3)
2. Upper Division Courses (9 units)
BIOL 322 Evolutionary Biology (3)
BIOL 360 Genetics (3)
BIOL 380 Cell Biology (3)
B. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Option Requirements
Areas of interest: Before electing Upper Division courses in the Selective Program, each student should consult an advisor in his or her area of interest to select a program of courses appropriate to the student’s goals.
1. Required Courses (7-13 units)
BIOL 330/L Design and Analysis of Experiments and Lab (2/1)
or BIOL 502/L Biometry and Lab (3/1)
CHEM 235/L Introductory Organic Chemistry and Lab (3/1)
or CHEM 333/L and CHEM 334/L Principles of Organic Chemistry I and II and Labs (4/1) and (3/1)
2. Selective Program (32 units)
Select 32 additional Upper Division units from the following lists.
a. Ecology (11-13 units)
Choose three from the following:
BIOL 407/L/492N Plant Ecology (2/1/1)*
BIOL 422/L Physiological Ecology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 423/492F Field Ecology (2/2)
BIOL 424/L/492G Ecological Modeling (2/1/1)
BIOL 426/L/492P Biology of Deserts (2/1/1)
BIOL 427/L/492H Principles of Ecology (2/1/1)
BIOL 428/L/492W Wildlife Ecology and Management (2/1/1)
BIOL 507/L/592S or BIOL 492S Tropical Ecology and Conservation (2/1/2)
BIOL 509/592U Tropical Biodiversity and Field Study (2/1)
BIOL 514/L/592A Avian Ecology (2/1/1)**
BIOL 528/L/592B Behavioral Ecology (2/1/1)
BIOL 529/L/592I Marine Ecology (2/1/1)
BIOL 533/592C Conservation Biology (3/1)
b. Botany (4-5 units)
Choose one from the following:
BIOL 316/L Plant Biology and Lab (3/1)
BIOL 403/L Plant Morphology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 406/L/492K Flowering Plant Systematics (2/1/1)
BIOL 409/L/492J Non-Flowering Plants (2/1/1)
BIOL 407/L/492N Plant Ecology (2/1/1)*
BIOL 481/L Plant Physiology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 504/L/592P Phycology (2/1/1)
BIOL 506/L/592R or 492R Tropical Botany (2/1/2)
c. Zoology (3-5 units)
Choose one from the following:
BIOL 312/L/392F Vertebrate Biology (2/1/1)
BIOL 313/L/392B Invertebrate Zoology (2/1/1)
BIOL 415/L/492M Mammalogy (2/1/1)
BIOL 433/L Biology of Marine Tetrapods and Lab (2/1)
BIOL 508/L/592T or 492T Biology of Tropical Vertebrates (2/1/2)
BIOL 512/L/592E Herpetology (2/1/1)
BIOL 513/L/592F Entomology (2/1/1)
BIOL 514/L/592A Avian Ecology (2/1/1)**
BIOL 525 Animal Behavior (3)***
BIOL 530/L/592J Ichthyology (2/1/1)
*Plant Ecology (BIOL 407/L/492N) may be used to fulfill the Botany requirement or the Ecology requirement, but not both.
**Avian Ecology (BIOL 514/L/592A) may be used to fulfill the Zoology requirement or the Ecology requirement, but not both.
***An optional field course in animal behavior, BIOL 592D, is listed under electives.
d. Electives (9-14 units)
- Select one additional course from the Botany or Zoology sections above.
- Select additional courses from the Ecology, Botany or Zoology sections above or from the courses listed below for a total of 32 Upper Division units in the Selective Program. Other courses may be substituted with the approval of an Environmental Biology advisor.
BIOL 315/L Principles of Microbiology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 419/L/492C Microbial Ecology and Lab and Field Studies (2/1/1)
BIOL 421/L/492B Marine Biology (2/1/1)
BIOL 437/L/492V Biology of Fungi and Field Studies (2/1/1)
BIOL 435/L Parasitology and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 490, 495, 499, 526 (no more than 3 units combined)
BIOL 510 Seminars on Topics in Tropical Biology (3)
BIOL 511/L Molecular Markers in Evolutionary Studies and Lab (2/2)
BIOL 527/L/592L Biology of Pelagic Organisms (2/1/1)
BIOL 560 Advanced Topics in Evolution (3)
BIOL 592D Animal Behavior Field Studies (1)****
GEOL 508/L Invertebrate Paleontology and Lab (3/1)
or GEOL 513/L Micropaleontology and Lab (2/2)
****BIOL 592D requires concurrent enrollment in BIOL 525; see listing under Zoology.
C. General Education (48 units)
Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog. Basic Skills Mathematics and the entire Natural Sciences section are fulfilled by required courses in the major.
Total Units in Option II: 75-81
General Education Units: 36
Additional Units: 3-9
Total Units Required for the B.S. Degree: 120
Contact
Chair: Larry Allen
Chaparral Hall (CR) 5101
(818) 677-3356
www.csun.edu/biology
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.