General Biology
Bachelor of Arts, Minor
About this program
The Bachelor of Arts in General Biology invites you to explore all areas of life through the different fields of biology: genetics, cell biology, physiology, ecology, and organismal and evolutionary biology. You learn how science connects with society and gain skills in critical thinking and lab work. This program suits those heading to careers in teaching, health fields or further study in diverse areas of biology.
Program Curriculum and Requirements
Program Scope
The curriculum in General Biology provides breadth of exposure to fundamental areas of biology. Since basic principles of physical science are central to many biological concepts, course work in physics and chemistry is included in the lower division requirements.
The General Biology degree should be taken by students intending to obtain a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Sciences (Concentration in Biological Science). Students who are considering teaching life sciences should see a credential advisor in the Department of Biology before planning the major. Students are required to complete additional courses that specifically prepare them to teach in the California secondary school system (BIOL 337 Evolution and CHEM 216 General Chemistry II Laboratory, are both REQUIRED; in addition, courses covering geology, astronomy, oceanography and meteorology are REQUIRED). The program is subject to changes imposed by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC).
Program Learning Outcomes
- Understanding the Process of Science: Students will demonstrate how a theory is supported or can be rejected based on data from experiments.
- Quantitative Reasoning: Students will be able to create graphs and perform simple statistical tests to determine whether or not differences between groups are significant.
- Relationship Between Science and Society: Students will be able to explain a biological process or phenomenon as it relates to a societal issue.
- Evolution: Students will be able to understand the fundamental concepts of evolution, role of selective pressures, and how genes change.
- Relationship Between Structures and Function: Students will be able to describe how variation in the structure of an organ in a plant or animal contributes to variation in its function.
- Information Flow and Storage: Students will be able to explain the transmission of heritable traits.
- Core Concept - Pathways and transformation of matter and energy: Students can explain how a carbon molecule flows through a biological process or system.
- Core Concept - Systems (i.e. living systems are interconnected and interacting): Students can predict the consequences of how a change in one aspect of a biological or complex system will affect other.
Minor in General Biology
The Minor in General Biology helps you dive into core biological ideas and systems. You’ll study genetics, evolution, chemistry, and how life works at different scales. You'll practice the scientific process, weigh technology’s impact on society, and learn how genes pass information. The minor builds strong lab and analytical skills. It’s a great fit if you're headed toward health careers, want to deepen science knowledge, or plan to complement your major with biology understanding.
Learn more about the Minor in General Biology