Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Biological Sciences - Marine Biology, BS

The BS Marine Biology degree, offered by the Department of Biological Sciences , prepares students for careers in marine science and graduate programs. Students have the opportunity to take specialized, upper-division coursework on the SJSU Campus and at our affiliated Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in Monterey County.

Program Learning Outcomes

Summary of Degree Units

University Graduation Requirements	35
Major Preparation	27
Major Core	35
Major Electives	23
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 Note Abbreviations ).

Exceptions for University Graduation Requirements apply to this major.

Core Lower Division General Education (21 units)

Of the 39 units required by the university, 18 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.

Of the 39 units, the following 21 units are not satisfied in the major:

GE Area A1 3 unit(s)
GE Area A2 3 unit(s)
GE Area C1 3 unit(s)
GE Area C2 3 unit(s)
Additional Area C1 or C2 3 unit(s)
GE Area E 3 unit(s)
GE Area F 3 unit(s)

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 10 /AMS 11 ; 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 (27 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)
CHEM 8 - Organic Chemistry 3 unit(s)
CHEM 9 - Organic Chemistry Lab 1 unit(s)
MATH 30 - Calculus I 3 unit(s) (B4)
PHYS 2A - Fundamentals of Physics 4 unit(s) (B1+B3)

Complete one course:

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

Major Requirements (58 units)

Core Courses (31 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 161 - Introduction to Marine Ecology 4 unit(s)
BIOL 162 - Marine Biology and Oceanography 4 unit(s)

Biological Diversity (4 units)

Complete one course:

ZOOL 115 - Invertebrate Zoology and Natural History 4 unit(s)
ZOOL 116 - Vertebrate Evolution and Natural History 4 unit(s)
MS 112 - Marine Birds and Mammals 4 unit(s)
MS 113 - Marine Ichthyology 4 unit(s)
MS 124 - Marine Invertebrate Zoology I 4 unit(s)
MS 131 - Marine Botany 4 unit(s)

Major Electives (23 units)

Complete 23 units from:

BIOL 115 - General Genetics 4 unit(s)
BIOL 142 - Paleontology 4 unit(s)
BIOL 143 - Biogeography 3 unit(s)
BIOL 148 - Molecular Ecology 4 unit(s)
BIOL 155 - Hypothesis Testing 3 unit(s) If not taken above
BIOL 156 - Ecological Sampling Design and Analyses 3 unit(s) If not taken above
BIOL 163 - Conservation Biology 3 unit(s)
BIOL 164 - Ecological Field Methods 3 unit(s)
BIOL 180 - Individual Studies 1-4 unit(s)
CHEM 132 - Introductory Biochemistry 4 unit(s)
GEOL 137 - Introduction to GPS/GIS for Geologic Applications 4 unit(s)
GEOL 142 - Paleontology 4 unit(s)
MS 105 - Marine Science Diving 3 unit(s)
MS 112 - Marine Birds and Mammals 4 unit(s) If not taken above
MS 113 - Marine Ichthyology 4 unit(s) If not taken above
MS 124 - Marine Invertebrate Zoology I 4 unit(s) If not taken above
MS 131 - Marine Botany 4 unit(s) If not taken above
MS 135 - Physiological Ecology of Marine Algae 4 unit(s)
MS 141 - Geological Oceanography 4 unit(s)
MS 142 - Physical Oceanography 4 unit(s)
MS 143 - Chemical Oceanography 4 unit(s)
MS 180 - Independent Studies 1-4 unit(s)
ZOOL 115 - Invertebrate Zoology and Natural History 4 unit(s) If not taken above
ZOOL 116 - Vertebrate Evolution and Natural History 4 unit(s) If not taken above
Other upper-division non-GE BIOL/BOT/ZOOL/MICR/MS electives with prior advisor approval

About

Biological Sciences - Marine Biology, BS

University Requirements

Core Lower Division General Education (21 units)

Upper Division General Education (6 units)

American Institutions (6 units)

African American Studies (6 units)

Asian American Studies (6 units)

Chicana and Chicano Studies (6 units)

U.S. History and Government (6 units)

Complete One US1: US History Course

Complete One US23: US Constitution and California Government Course

Physical Education (2 units)

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Major Preparation (27 units)

Complete one course:

Major Requirements (58 units)

Core Courses (31 units)

Biological Diversity (4 units)

Major Electives (23 units)

Total Units Required (120 units)