Nov 26, 2024

2023-2024 Academic Catalog

2023-2024 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biological Sciences - Ecology and Evolution, BS

The BS Ecology and Evolution degree, offered by the Department of Biological Sciences , prepares students for careers in conservation and wildlife management, entomology, zoology, and plant biology for jobs at environmental consulting firms, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the US Forest Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, water districts, biotechnology companies, and national parks. The program includes several hands-on, field-oriented classes, which prepare students with practical experiences in the field.

Program Learning Outcomes

Summary of Degree Units

University Graduation Requirements	38
Major Preparation	31-37
Major Core	38
Major Electives	7-13
Total	120

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums).

Major-Specific Graduation Requirements

Students in this major must complete all lower division courses in the Requirements of the Major with a “C- or better” to graduate.

Prerequisite Requirements

Enrollment in any chemistry course requires that the prerequisite courses be passed with a grade of “C or better” (C- not accepted). Exceptions may be made only with instructor consent or if not explicitly stated in the course description. Refer to the SJSU Course Catalog for specific information regarding course prerequisites.

University Requirements

Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Abbreviations ).

Core Lower Division General Education (24 units)

Of the 39 units required by the university, 15 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3, B4, or F must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Consult with a major advisor for details.

Upper Division General Education (6 units)

Of the 9 units required by the university, 3 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with a major advisor for details.

American Institutions (6 units)

Complete one 6-unit sequence of American Institutions (US123) courses, which also satisfies GE Area D. Students may also satisfy the American Institutions Requirement with other courses, but these may not satisfy other GE areas.

The American Studies sequence (AMS 1A /AMS 1B ; 12 units) or Humanities Honors course (HUM 2B ; 6 units) satisfies the American Institutions Requirement and additional GE Areas (see course descriptions for details).

Consult with a major advisor to select the appropriate sequence.

U.S. History and Government (6 units)

Complete One US1: US History Course

AMS 10 - Stories that Make America 3 unit(s) (C2+US1)
HIST 15 - Essentials of U.S. History 3 unit(s) (D+US1)
HIST 170S - Topics in American History: American Identities and Institutions 3 unit(s) (S+US1)

Complete One US23: US Constitution and California Government Course

AMS 11 - Visions of Democracy 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 15 - Essentials of U.S. & California Government 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 16 - Power and Ideas in American Politics 3 unit(s) (C2+US23)
POLS 170V - American Politics in Global Perspective 3 unit(s) (V+US23)

Physical Education (2 units)

All SJSU undergraduate students, regardless of major, have an opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills in physical activities. To accommodate students’ needs and interests, the university offers a diverse selection of activity courses .

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

At SJSU, students must pass a Writing in the Disciplines (100W) course with a grade of C or better (C- not accepted) to meet graduation requirements. For this major, the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) is satisfied by a course in the major.

Major Preparation (31-37 units)

BIOL 100W - Scientific Communication Workshop 3 unit(s) (R+WID)
CHEM 1A - General Chemistry 5 unit(s) (B1+B3)
CHEM 1B - General Chemistry 5 unit(s) (B1+B3)
PHYS 2A - Fundamentals of Physics 4 unit(s) (B1+B3)
PHYS 2B - Fundamentals of Physics 4 unit(s) (B1+B3)

Statistical Analysis (3 units)

Complete One Course From:

BIOL 155 - Hypothesis Testing 3 unit(s)
BIOL 156 - Ecological Sampling Design and Analyses 3 unit(s)

Organic Chemistry (4-8 units)

Complete One Sequence From:

CHEM 8 - Organic Chemistry 3 unit(s)
CHEM 9 - Organic Chemistry Lab 1 unit(s)
OR
CHEM 112A - Organic Chemistry 3 unit(s)
CHEM 112B - Organic Chemistry 3 unit(s)
CHEM 113A - Organic Chemistry Lab 2 unit(s)

Calculus Concepts (3-5 units)

Complete One Course From:

MATH 19 - Precalculus 5 unit(s) (B4)
MATH 30 - Calculus I 3 unit(s) (B4)

Major Requirements (45-51 units)

Core Courses (38 units)

BIOL 30 - Principles of Biology I 4 unit(s) (B2+B3)
BIOL 31 - Principles of Biology II 4 unit(s) (B2+B3)
BIOL 106 - Physiological Ecology 3 unit(s)
BIOL 106L - Physiological Ecology Lab 1 unit(s)
BIOL 113 - Principles of Systematics 3 unit(s)
BIOL 118 - Evolution 4 unit(s)
BIOL 160 - Ecology 4 unit(s) (R)
BIOL 163 - Conservation Biology 3 unit(s)
BOT 165 - Plant Communities of California 4 unit(s)

Biological Diversity (8 units)

Complete Two Courses From:

BOT 104 - Plant Taxonomy 4 unit(s)
ENT 101 - Insect Diversity 4 unit(s)
ZOOL 115 - Invertebrate Zoology and Natural History 4 unit(s)
ZOOL 116 - Vertebrate Evolution and Natural History 4 unit(s)

Major Electives (7-13 units)

Complete 7-13 units from:

BOT 104

, ENT 101
, ZOOL 115 and ZOOL 116 (whichever weren’t taken above),

BIOL 111 - Fire Ecology 4 unit(s)
BIOL 115 - General Genetics 4 unit(s)
BIOL 124 - Systems Physiology 3 unit(s)
BIOL 148 - Molecular Ecology 4 unit(s)
BIOL 155 - Hypothesis Testing 3 unit(s)
BIOL 161 - Marine Ecology and Biology 4 unit(s)
BIOL 162 - Introduction to Biological Oceanography 4 unit(s)
BIOL 164 - Ecological Field Methods 3 unit(s)
BIOL 180 - Individual Studies 1-4 unit(s)
BOT 104 - Plant Taxonomy 4 unit(s)
CHEM 132 - Introductory Biochemistry 4 unit(s)
CHEM 135 - General Biochemistry 4 unit(s)
ENT 101 - Insect Diversity 4 unit(s)
ENT 106 - Forensic Entomology 3 unit(s)
GEOL 137 - Introduction to GPS/GIS for Geologic Applications 4 unit(s)
GEOL 142 - Paleontology 4 unit(s)
MICR 101 - General Microbiology 5 unit(s)
ZOOL 115 - Invertebrate Zoology and Natural History 4 unit(s)
ZOOL 116 - Vertebrate Evolution and Natural History 4 unit(s)
ZOOL 143 - Biogeography 3 unit(s)
Other upper-division non-GE BIOL/BOT/ENT/ZOOL/MICR/MS electives with prior advisor approval

Total Units Required (120 units)

Students must obtain a prior advisor approval for electives and for choice of courses within categories.