No transfer courses will substitute for courses in the major without prior departmental approval.
1 Only offered during Fall. See Biology Undergraduate Advisor to plan your coursework accordingly. Rev. 3/18/2020
UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES:
BIOLOGY – EMPHASIS IN CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
CHECKLIST
Visit the Biology Undergraduate Advising Center in LSN 102
Phone: (619) 594-6442 Email: bioundergrad@sdsu.edu
Preparation for the Major Coursework
Cell and molecular biology is the study of the macromolecules and mechanisms involved in basic biological processes. This
discipline crosses traditional boundaries between genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, physics and chemistry. Graduates will have
training appropriate for entry-level positions in the biotechnology industry, and the prerequisites for cell and molecular biology
graduate programs. Students should obtain research experience through Biology 497/499 Special Studies (discuss with professors).
Four Year Degree
To finish your degree in four years, all 9 sets of premajor courses listed below will need to be finished by the
end of your 4th semester, or the 5th at the latest
Impaction
Biology is impacted. After admission to SDSU, students are initially placed into the Biology premajor.
Premajors must meet department specific criteria in order to be admitted into the major. Admission to Biology
Major requires the following:
➢ Completion of all the preparation for the Major courses and a combined GPA of 2.8 or higher in these
courses (excluding Phys 180A, 180B, 182A, and 182B).
➢ A minimum of C or better in every course (Recommended A’s and B’s).
➢ Courses in the Preparation for the Major cannot be taken Cr/Nc.
After completing these requirements, you will be admitted to the Major automatically. If you are not admitted
automatically meet with the Undergraduate Biology Advisor as soon as possible.
Students who do not meet one or more requirements should meet with the Undergraduate Biology Advisor each
semester to determine an appropriate course of action
NOTE: Not all upper division Biology courses are offered every semester. Check the current class schedule for complete
course listings.
PREPARATION FOR THE MAJOR (37 units of lower division courses)
Biol 203 Princ. of Cell Molec. Biology
3
Chem 232 Organic Chemistry
3
Biol 203L Princ. of Cell Molec. Biology Lab
1
Chem 232L Organic Chemistry Lab
1
Biol 204 Princ. of Organismal Biology
3
Math 124 Calculus of Life Sciences
4
Biol 204L Princ. of Organismal Biology Lab
1
Phys 180A Fundamentals of Physics
3
Biol 215 Biostatistics
3
Phys 182A Physical Measurements
1
Chem 200 General Chemistry
5
Phys 180B Fundamentals of Physics
3
Chem 201 General Chemistry
5
Phys 182B Physical Measurements
1
No transfer courses will substitute for courses in the major without prior departmental approval.
1 Only offered during Fall. See Biology Undergraduate Advisor to plan your coursework accordingly. Rev. 3/18/2020
UPPER DIVISION MAJOR
(36 units)
Cumulative 2.0 GPA required in all upper division coursework applied to the major.
Required Core Coursework (21 units)
Biol 351 Genetics
3
3
3
Biol 366 Cell and Molecular Biology
3
2
4
Biol 352 Evolution
Biol 366L Biochem, CMB Lab
Biol 354 Eco. and the Environment
Biol 567 Advanced Biochem, CMB
Chem 365 Fundamentals of Biochemistry
3
------------------------------------------------------
Elective Coursework (15 Units Minimum)
Required: Two courses must be taken from this list.
Biol 350
Biol 464
Biol 480
Biol 490
Biol 510
Biol 528
Biol 549
Biol 554
Biol 556
Biol 557
Biol 562
Biol 567L
Biol 568
General Microbiology (4)L
Functional Genomics Laboratory (2)
Clinical Hematology (3)
Undergraduate Honors Research (3)
Molecular Evolution (3)
Microbial Ecology (3)L
Microbial Genetics and Physiology (3)
Molecular Virology (3)
Scanning Electron Microscopy Lab (2)L
Transmission Electron Microscopy Lab (3)L
Ecological Metagenomics (3)L
Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology
Lab II (2)L
Bioinformatics (3)
Biol 570
Biol 575
Biol 576
Biol 584
Biol 485
or 585
Biol 589
Biol 590
Bio/Chem
496 and/or 596
(Max. 3
units)
Neurobiology (3)
Molecular Basis of Heart Disease (3)
Developmental Biology (3)
Medical Microbiology (3)
Principles of Immunology (3)
Cellular and Molecular Immunology (3)
Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (3)
Physiology of Human Systems (4)
Experimental topics/Selected Topics in
Chemistry (1-3)
and/or
Special Topics in Biology/Advanced
special Topics in Chemistry (1-3)
Required: 2 Lab Courses (One class cannot fulfill both lab course requirements.)
1. Organismal Lab Requirement – select at least one Organismal lab in bold from below.
2. Lab Elective Requirement – select at least one additional lab course from below
Biol 350
Biol 354L
Biol 436
Biol 464
Biol 490
Biol 512
Biol 514
Biol 515
Biol 516A
Biol 516B
Biol 517
Biol 518
Biol 523
Biol 524
General Microbiology (4)
Experimental Ecology (2)
Human Physiology Lab (2)
Functional Genomics Laboratory
Undergraduate Honors Research (3)
Evolutionary & Ecology of Marine
Mammals (3)
Biology of Algae (4)
Marine Invertebrate Biology (4)
Marine Larval Ecology Research Pt.1 (4)
Marine Larval Ecology Research Pt.2 (4)
Marine Ecology (3)
Biology of Fishes (4)
Herpetology (3)
Ornithology (4)
Biol 525
Biol 526
Biol 527L
Biol 528
Biol 530
Biol 531
Biol 535
Biol 540
Biol 556
Biol 557
Biol 562
Biol 567L1
Biol 568
Mammalogy (3)
Terrestrial Arthropod Biology (4)
Animal Behavior Lab (1)
Microbial Ecology (3)
Plant Systematics (4)
Taxonomy of California Plants (4)
Plant Ecology (4)
Conservation Ecology (3)
Scanning Electron Microscopy Lab (2)
Transmission Electron Microscopy Lab (3)
Ecological Metagenomics (3)
Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology
Lab II (2)
Bioinformatics (3)
Custom Electives
• Customize your major by taking courses that you’re interested in that are upper division Biology courses
numbered 350-599 (except Biol 452) and upper division Chemistry courses (except Chem 300, 308, 497, 499,
560).
• Prior approval of the Biology Undergraduate Advisor (LSN-102) is needed and paperwork must be filed in
order to enroll in Biol 497, 499, and/or 490.
• A maximum of 6 units between Biol 497 and 499 may be applied to the major.
• Elective courses (including Chem 498, Biol and Chem 496 and 596) must be approved by the emphasis
Advisor.
No transfer courses will substitute for courses in the major without prior departmental approval.
1 Only offered during Fall. See Biology Undergraduate Advisor to plan your coursework accordingly. Rev. 3/18/2020
