Biology, Cellular/Molecular Biology Concentration, B.S. MAP

Major Academic Plans

Major Academic Plans (or MAPS) show the courses you might take each semester to meet your degree requirements in 4 years. Students at Cal Poly Humboldt follow many different paths to graduation. Your educational and career goals, as well as personal interests all contribute to determining the courses you take. We encourage you to discuss course options with an advisor.

The General Education and All-University Requirements in this MAP are in effect for students entering Cal Poly Humboldt with the catalog year of 2023-24. Refer to your degree audit for details on your major and GE catalog year.

Set yourself up for academic success in challenging classes. Add a 1-unit Supplemental Instruction (SI) session.

Explore the Supplemental Instruction

options to see if there’s a match with a class you are taking.

Year 1

Semester 1 (13-15 Units)

GE Area B: Mathematics MATH 101 - College Algebra Units: 3 (MATH 101I - College Algebra with Integrated Support Units: 3 AND MATH 1 - Support for College Algebra Units: 1 ) ^[1] OR MATH 102 - Algebra and Elementary Functions Units: 4
Lower Division GE Area E: Lifelong Learning & Self-Development Units: 3
GE Area F: Ethnic Studies and DCG Domestic NAS 104 - Introduction to Native American Studies Units: 3
Major and GE Area B:BOT 105 - General Botany Units: 4 OR CHEM 109 - General Chemistry I Units: 5 ^[2]

^[1] Credit earned for math support course (MATH 1) does not count toward unit requirements for graduation, GE or major.

^[2] Prerequisite of math placement category I, II or III.

Semester 2 (16-20 Units)

GE Area A2: Written Communication ENGL 102 - Composition and Rhetoric A Units: 3 OR ENGL 104 - Accelerated Composition and Rhetoric Units: 3
Optional: ENGL 110 - Academic Literacies Support and Seminar Units: 2
Major Prerequisite or Major (Core) MATH 101T - Trigonometry Units: 3 OR MATH 105 - Calculus for the Biological Sciences and Natural Resources Units: 3 ^{[2. 3]}
Major and GE Area B BOT 105 - General Botany Units: 4 OR CHEM 109 - General Chemistry I Units: 5
GE Area A1: Oral Communication COMM 100 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication Units: 3
Lower Division GE Area D: Social Sciences Units: 3

[3] If already completed MATH 105, adjust plan in consultation with advisor.

Year 2

Semester 3 (16-18)

GE Area A2: Written Communication ENGL 103 - Composition and Rhetoric B Units: 3 [4]
Optional: ENGL 110 - Academic Literacies Support and Seminar Units: 2
Major (Core) BIOL 105 - Principles of Biology Units: 4
Major (Core) MATH 105 - Calculus for the Biological Sciences and Natural Resources Units: 3 ^{[2, 3]}
Lower Division GE Area A: Critical Thinking
Units: 3
Major: CHEM 110 - General Chemistry II Units: 5 OR
Lower Division GE Area C: Arts
Units: 3

^[4] If ENGL 104 was taken last semester, take another GE or major course in place of ENGL 103.

Semester 4 (15-16 Units)

American Institutions/GE Area D: Social Science U.S. and California Government OR U.S. History Units: 3
Major STAT 109 - Introductory Biostatistics Units: 4
Major: CHEM 228 - Brief Organic Chemistry Units: 4 OR (CHEM 324 and CHEM 324L )
Major ZOOL 110 - Introductory Zoology Units: 4

Year 3

Semester 5 (18-19 Units)

Major (Core) BIOL 340 - Genetics Units: 4
Major (Concentration) CHEM 228 - Brief Organic Chemistry Units: 4 OR (CHEM 324 AND CHEM 324L )
Major (Core) PHYX 106 - College Physics: Mechanics and Heat Units: 4
Lower Division GE Area C: Arts
OR Humanities Units: 3
Lower Division GE Area C: Humanities
Units: 3

Semester 6 (17 Units)

Major PHYX 107 - College Physics: Electromagnetism and Modern Physics Units: 4 OR (PHYX 118 - College Physics: Biological Applications Units: 1 AND Elective Units: 3)
Major (Concentration) CHEM 325 - Organic Chemistry II Units: 3 ^[4]
Major (Concentration) CHEM 325L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory Units: 2 ^[4]
Major / UD GE Area B BIOL 307 - Evolution Units: 4
Major (Concentration) BIOL 350 - Cell Biology Units: 3
Major (Concentration) CHEM 323 - Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) Techniques Units: 1 ^[4]

^[4] If CHEM 228 was taken in the previous semester, choose a different major or GE class instead of CHEM 325. CHEM 325L and CHEM 323.

Year 4

Semester 7 (12-17 Units)

Major (Concentration) Physiology Elective BOT 310 OR ZOOL 310 OR ZOOL 312 Units: 4
Major (Concentration) BIOL 440 - Molecular Genetics Lab Units: 2 OR BIOL 450 - Cell Biology Laboratory Units: 2
Major (Concentration) UD Restricted Elective ^[5]Units: 2-4
Major (Concentration) UD Restricted Elective^[5]Units: 1-4
Upper Division GE Area C: Arts & Humanities
^[6] Units: 3

^[5]Upper Division Restricted Elective: Complete 12 units from: BIOL 412 , BIOL 426 , (BIOL 440 OR BIOL 450 if not already taken) BIOL 544L BIOL 544 BIOL 564 (BIOL 490 OR BIOL 499 limited to 2 units), CHEM 434 CHEM 434L CHEM 435 CHEM 435L CHEM 438 ZOOL 476

^[6] Take one GWAR approved course. There are double-count upper division GE/GWAR options.

Semester 8 (12-18 Units)

Major (Concentration) UD Restricted Elective ^[5]Units: 1-4
Major (Concentration) UD Restricted Elective ^[5] Units: 1-4
Major (Concentration) UD Restricted Elective ^[5]Units: 1-4
American Institutions
U.S. and California Government
Units: 3
Upper Division GE Area D: Social Sciences
^[6] Units: 3