Academic Programs Catalog

College of Natural Science

Department of Integrative Biology

Undergraduate Programs
Zoology - Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts in Zoology degree is designed for students pursuing careers in scientific application areas such as public policy, technical sales, law, and communications. This degree combines study in zoology with a significant amount of course work outside the sciences. Students are strongly encouraged to extend their knowledge and skills through experiential opportunities and a supplemental minor.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Zoology

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Zoology.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Zoology major is met by completing both of the following courses: Integrative Biology 355L and 445.  Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.

    Students who are enrolled in the College of Natural Science may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Science that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
  2. The requirements of the College of Natural Science for the Bachelor of Arts degree.

    The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
  3. The following requirements for the major:
    a.   One of the following groups of courses (9 or 10 credits): 
    (1) BS 161 Cell and Molecular Biology 3
       BS  162 Organismal and Population Biology 3
       BS  171 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory 2
       BS  172 Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory 2
    (2) BS  181H  Honors Cell and Molecular Biology 3
       BS  182H  Honors Organismal and Population Biology 3
       BS  191H  Honors Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory 2
       BS  192H  Honors Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory 2
    (3) LB  144 Biology I: Organismal Biology 4
       LB  145 Biology II: Cellular and Molecular Biology 5
    b.  One of the following groups of courses (5 or 6 credits):
    (1) CEM 141 General Chemistry 4
       CEM  161 Chemistry Laboratory I 1
    (2) CEM  181H  Honors Chemistry I 4
       CEM  185H  Honors Chemistry Laboratory I 2
    (3) LB  171 Principles of Chemistry I 4
       LB  171L  Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I 1
    c.  Complete the following course (4 credits):  
    CEM    143 Survey of Organic Chemistry 4
    d.  One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    PHY  183 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I 4
    PHY 221 Studio Physics for Life Scientists I 4
    PHY  231 Introductory Physics I 3
    LB  273 Physics I 4
    PHY  193H  Honors Physics I-Mechanics 4
    e.  One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    LB  118 Calculus I 4
    MTH  124 Survey of Calculus I 3
    MTH  132 Calculus I 3
    MTH  152H  Honors Calculus I 3
    f. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits): 
    LB  119 Calculus II 4
    MTH  126 Survey of Calculus II 3
    MTH  133 Calculus II 4
    MTH  153H  Honors Calculus II 4
    STT  201 Statistical Methods 4
    STT  224 Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Ecologists 3
    STT  231 Statistics for Scientists 3
    STT  421 Statistics I 3
    g.  All of the following courses (11 credits):
    IBIO  341 Fundamental Genetics 4
    IBIO  355 Ecology 3
    IBIO  355L  Ecology Laboratory (W) 1
    IBIO  445 Evolution (W) 3
    h. Three additional courses in 300-400 level Integrative Biology courses.  Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor to identify courses which match their career goals.  Courses from other departments may be applied to this requirement with the approval of the student’s academic advisor.
    i. Complete one course from each of the following three groups of courses (9 to 11 credits): 
    (1) Writing (3 credits):
       CSUS 433 Grant Writing and Fund Development 3
       WRA  320 Technical Communication (W) 3
       WRA  331 Writing in the Public Interest (W) 3
       WRA  453 Grant and Proposal Writing 3
    (2) Communications (3 or 4 credits):
       COM  100 Human Communication 3
       COM  225 An Introduction to Interpersonal Communication 3
       COM  240 Introduction to Organizational Communication 4
       COM  275 Effects of Mass Communication 3
       COM  300 Methods of Communication Inquiry 4
    (3) Computer Systems (3 or 4 credits):
       CMSE 201 Computational Modeling and Data Analysis I 4
       CSE  231 Introduction to Programming I 3
       FW  419 Applications of Geographic Information Systems to Natural Resource Management 4
       GEO  221 Introduction to Geographic Information 3
       and
       GEO  221L  Introduction to Geographic Information Laboratory 1
       GEO  324 Remote Sensing of the Environment 4
       GEO  325 Geographic Information Systems 3
    Both Geography 221 and 221L must be completed to satisfy this requirement.
    j. Six credits in 300–400 level courses offered by the Colleges of Arts and Letters or College of Social Science beyond the credits that are counted toward the University’s Integrative Studies requirement.  Credits from relevant courses completed from item 3.i. may be counted toward this requirement. Courses used to fulfill this requirement must be approved by the student’s academic advisor.
    k. Additional credits in 300-400 level Integrative Biology courses as needed to meet the requirement of at least 33 credits. Students also may complete more than one course, or pair of courses, from item 3.i.  Additional courses completed from item 3.i. may be counted as Integrative Biology electives toward the 33 credits. Courses beyond those taken to satisfy item 3.i. may come from other departments with the approval of the student’s academic advisor.