B.S. in Marine Biology, 2024-2025 Catalog

Four Year Degree Worksheet for:

This degree worksheet is intended to help you develop a balanced course schedule while completing your degree within 4 years. The same sequence of courses (with fewer courses each semester) is also recommended for students completing their degree in 5 or 6 years.

This worksheet is not intended to replace academic advising with your assigned advisor. ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ should consult with their assigned advisor to determine the appropriate sequence of required courses and electives based on their academic goals.

ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Enrollment Services prepares the Academic Requirements Report, which is the official graduation verification.

Major-Specific Degree Requirements

Major-Specific Degree Requirements are listed as an "MSDR" in the notes column. These courses must be completed in order to declare your major. All students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher in the STEM MSDR suite. For more information, please see: Major-Specific Degree Requirements for ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ.

Pre-Biology first-time freshmen must complete CHEM 111A and MATH 119A or higher within one year of matriculation. Some students may need to take courses during Summer Session to meet these requirements. ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ who have not met the requirements by the required semester must either declare another major or meet with an Academic Advisor to determine if the student's performance in the courses merits an additional semester to complete.

Additional Notes

ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ should take the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement Placement Examination (GPE) after Year 1.

The "elective (1)" entries below are placeholders for the extra units needed for graduation if only the listed courses are taken. All students should make sure they take at least 120 units to meet graduation requirements.

Year 1 - Semester 1

Courses to Take in Year 1 - Semester 1
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
MATH 119A (area B4)Survey of Calculus I (3)Appropriate placement, MATH 112B and 113MSDR
CHEM 111AGeneral Chemistry (5)CPT score of 24 or higher, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 112A or 112B or higher, CHEM 95 if neededMSDR
GE (area A2)Written Communication (3) MSDR
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  
NSCI 190AExperience Success Program 1 (1) Fall only

Year 1 - Semester 2

Courses to Take in Year 1 - Semester 2
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 153Introduction to Marine Biology (3)Pre/Corequisite: GE Written Communication (A2), MATH 119A or 122 (B4) 
BIOL 211Introduction to Evolution and Diversity (5)CHEM 111AMSDR
CHEM 111BGeneral Chemistry (5)CHEM 111A, MATH 112B or higherMSDR
GE (area A3)Critical Thinking (3) MSDR

Year 2 - Semester 3

Courses to Take in Year 2 - Semester 3
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 212Introduction to Cell and Molecular Bio. (4)BIOL 211, CHEM 111A, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 111B 
BIOL 260Biostatistics (3)BIOL 211, MATH 111, 113, 119A, or 122 
CHEM 227;
OR
CHEM 220A
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry(3);
OR
Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 111A, recommended 111B;
OR
CHEM 111B, Corequisite: CHEM 223A
227 usually recommended
CHEM 223A
(if 220A taken)
Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)Corequisite: CHEM 220A 
GE (area A1)Oral Communication (3) MSDR
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)Other Exploration (3) 

Year 2 - Semester 4

Courses to Take in Year 2 - Semester 4
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 213Introduction to Ecology and Physiology (4)BIOL 211 and 212, CHEM 111B 
BIOL 340Molecular Cell Biology (3)BIOL 211 and 212 
CHEM 220B
(if 220A taken)
Organic Chemistry II (3)CHEM 220A; Corequisite: CHEM 223B 
CHEM 223B
(if 223A taken)
Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)Corequisite: CHEM 220B 
PHYS 100A;
OR
PHYS 151
 
General Physics (4);
OR
Mechanics and Heat (4)
 
MATH 109, 113, 119A, or 122;
OR
Pre/Corequisite: MATH 122, 123, or 224
 
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  

Year 3 - Semester 5

Courses to Take in Year 3 - Semester 5
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 345 & BIOL 345LComparative Animal Physiology (3) & Comparative Animal Physiology Lab (1)BIOL 211, 212, 213 &
Pre/Corequisite: BIOL 345
 
BIOL 350General Ecology (3)BIOL 211, 212, 213, 260 and MATH 119A or 122 
BIOL 353Marine Biology (3)BIOL 153, 211, 212, 213, and 260 
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  

Year 3 - Semester 6

Courses to Take in Year 3 - Semester 6
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 312Evolutionary Biology (3)BIOL 211, 212, 213, 260 
BIOL 370General Genetics (4)BIOL 211, 212, and 260 
BIOL 419Ichthyology (3)BIOL 211, 212, 213, and 260 
GE Upper Division (area C-UD, D-UD)Upper Division (3)GE Foundation 
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  

Year 4 - Semester 7

Courses to Take in Year 4 - Semester 7
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 313Invertebrate Zoology (4)BIOL 211, 212, and 213, consent from instructor requiredFall only
ElectiveMarine Biology Elective (3)  
GE Upper Division (area C-UD, D-UD)Upper Division (3)GE Foundation 
ElectiveMarine Biology Elective (3)  

 Year 4 - Semester 8

Courses to Take in Year 4 - Semester 8
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 480Seminars (1)Must take in last semester, department consent required 
ElectiveMarine Biology Elective (3)  
ElectiveMarine Biology Elective (3)  
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  
ElectiveElective (3)