Biology, Ecology 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 OR (MATH 101I AND MATH 1 ) ^[1] OR MATH 102 - Algebra and Elementary Functions Units: 4
GE Area E: Lifelong Learning SCI 100 - Becoming a STEM Professional in the 21st Century Units: 3
GE Area F: Ethnic Studies / DCG Domestic NAS 104 - Introduction to Native American Studies Units: 3
Major (Core) / GE Area B: Physical Science CHEM 109 ^[2] OR GE Area B: Life Science BOT 105 Units: 4-5

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

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

Semester 2 (17-18 Units)

GE Area A: 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 MATH 105 - Calculus for the Biological Sciences and Natural Resources Units: 3 ^{[2, 3]}
Major (Core) / GE Area B: Physical Science CHEM 109 OR GE Area B: Life Science BOT 105 Units: 4-5
GE Area A: Oral Communication COMM 100 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication Units: 3
GE Area D: Social Sciences Units: 3

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

Year 2

Semester 3 (16-19 Units)

GE Area A: 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 ^[3]
Lower Division GE Area C: Arts Units: 3 OR Major (Core) CHEM 110 - General Chemistry II Units: 5
American Institutions / GE Area D: Social Science
U.S. and California Government
Units: 3

^[4] If ENGL 104 was taken the previous semester take an elective, other GE or a major course in place of ENGL 103.

Semester 4 (14-16 Units)

Lower Division GE Area A: Critical Thinking Courses
Units: 3
Lower Division GE Area C: Arts
Units: 3 OR Major (Core) CHEM 110 - General Chemistry II Units: 5
Major (Core) STAT 109 - Introductory Biostatistics Units: 4
Major (Core) ZOOL 110 - Introductory Zoology Units: 4

Year 3

Semester 5 (17 Units)

Lower Division GE Area C: Humanities
Units: 3
Major (Concentration) BIOL 330 - Principles of Ecology Units: 4
Major (Concentration) CHEM 228 - Brief Organic Chemistry Units: 4
Major (Concentration) Major Elective Units: 3
Major (Concentration) UD Biological Sciences Units: 3

Semester 6 (15 Units)

Lower Division GE Area C: Arts
OR
Humanities
Units: 3
Major (Core) PHYX 106 - College Physics: Mechanics and Heat Units: 4
Major (Core) BIOL 340 - Genetics Units: 4
Major (Concentration) STAT 333 - Linear Regression Models/ANOVA Units: 4 OR STAT 406 - Sampling Design and Analysis Units: 4 OR other advisor approved course.

Year 4

Semester 7 (15-20 Units)

Upper Division GE Area C: Arts & Humanities
^{[5, 6]} Units: 3
Major (Concentration) BIOL 434 - Population and Community Ecology Units: 4
Major (Concentration) (BIOL 350 AND (BIOL 440 OR BIOL 450 )) OR BIOL 412 OR BOT 310 OR ZOOL 310 Units: 4-5
Major (Concentration) PHYX 107 - College Physics: Electromagnetism and Modern Physics Units: 4 OR PHYX 118 - College Physics: Biological Applications Units: 1
Major (Concentration) UD Biological Sciences Elective Units: 3-4

^[5] Take one upper division GE course that fulfills the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).

^[6] Take one course that double-counts for DGC.

Semester 8 (15-19 Units)

UD GE Area B / Major (Core) BIOL 307 - Evolution Units: 4
Major (Concentration) UD Biological Sciences Elective Units: 2-5
Major (Concentration) UD Biological Sciences Elective Units: 3-4
American Institutions
U.S. History
Units: 3
Upper Division GE Area D: Social Sciences
^{[5, 6]} Units: 3