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

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.

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Students must satisfy the specific degree requirements for their undergraduate major and fulfill the following University degree requirements:

Academic (program total units with an average 2.0 GPA - “C” or better)
General Education (GE) (34 Lower Division + 9 Upper Division)
American Institutions (AI) (0-6 units) (may be satisfied in GE Areas 3B, 4, UD 3, UD 4)
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) (3 units)
Physical Education (PE) (0-2 units)
Units in Residence (30 units, including 24 upper division and 12 in major)
Upper Division Units (40 units, including 12 upper div in major for BA, 18 upper div in major for BS)
Undergraduate Policies & Procedures
Apply for Graduation
Information about the Commencement Ceremony and Conferral of the Degree

Exceptions for University Graduation Requirements including exemptions and waivers, are approved for specific majors and on a case-by-case evaluation only.

Summary of Degree Units

Core Lower Division GE: 15 (10 units may be satisfied by major coursework: Areas 5A, 5B, 5C, 2; 3 units Area 1B waived)

6 required units of American Institutions/US123 may be satisfied by selecting applicable GE courses in Areas 3B and/or 4

Upper Division GE: 6 (3 units satisfied by major coursework: UD Areas 2or5)

Physical Education: 2

GWAR / WID: 0 (3 units may be satisfied by BIOL 100W )

Major Preparation: 27

Major Requirements: 58

Science Electives: 3

University Electives: 3

Total: 120

2. Major Preparation (27 units)

BIOL 100W - Scientific Communication Workshop 3 unit(s) (WID + GE UD Area 2/5 / Formerly Area R)
CHEM 1A - General Chemistry 5 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
CHEM 1B - General Chemistry 5 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
CHEM 8 - Organic Chemistry 3 unit(s)
CHEM 9 - Organic Chemistry Lab 1 unit(s)
MATH 30 - Calculus I 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
PHYS 2A - Fundamentals of Physics 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)

Complete one course:

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

3. Major Requirements (58 units)

Core Courses (31 units)

BIOL 30 - Principles of Biology I 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5B and 5C / Formerly Area B2 and B3)
BIOL 31 - Principles of Biology II 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5B and 5C / Formerly Area B2 and 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)
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

4. Science Electives (3 units)

Science electives selected from any of the following departments and/or in consultation with a major advisor: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Forensic Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics and Statistics, Meteorology and Climate Science, Moss Landing Marine Labs (MS), Physics and Astronomy, Public Health, and Science Education.

5. University Electives (3 units)

University electives selected in consultation with a major advisor.

About

Biological Sciences - Marine Biology, BS

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Summary of Degree Units

2. Major Preparation (27 units)

Complete one course:

3. Major Requirements (58 units)

Core Courses (31 units)

Biological Diversity (4 units)

Major Electives (23 units)

4. Science Electives (3 units)

5. University Electives (3 units)

Total Units Required (120 units)