Degree in Biology

CI is known for its interdisciplinary approach to learning and our biology program is no exception. You’ll gain a strong theoretical foundation that’s strengthened by extensive hands-on experiences. You’ll also benefit from:

Small classes so you get personalized attention from your professors

Laboratories with state-of-the-art technology

Electives selected from your area of interest

Student organizations like CI’s Biology Club

You can choose electives that provide the background and skills you’ll need for jobs in biotechnology, conservation, education, or for entry into certification programs in health-related fields such as medical imaging, clinical laboratory science, and public health microbiology.

Your biology degree from CI will prepare you to enter medical, dental, veterinary, or other health professional programs; graduate schools in all aspects of biology; or a career in business, industry or government.

Lower Division Requirements (8 units):

BIOL 200 Principles of Organismal and Population Biology (4)*
BIOL 201 Principles of Cell and Molecular Biology (4)*

Upper Division Requirements in the Major (39 units):

1. Required Biology Courses (14 units)

BIOL 300 Cell Biology (4)
BIOL 302 Genetics (4)
BIOL 303 Evolutionary Biology (3)
BIOL 499 Senior Capstone in Biology (3)

2. Electives in Biology (25 units)

Use the appropriate graduation roadmap for guidance in selecting a minimum of 25 units of biology courses from 300 and 400 levels, two of which must be lab courses.

BIOL 301 Microbiology (4)
BIOL 304 Comparative Animal Physiology (3)
BIOL 310 Vertebrate Biology (4)
BIOL 311 Plant Biology (4)
BIOL 312 Marine Biology (4)
BIOL 313 Conservation Biology - Cross-listed as ESRM 313 (4)
BIOL 315 Introduction to Biophysics - Cross-listed as PHYS 315 (4)
BIOL 316 Invertebrate Zoology (4)
BIOL 317 Parasitology (4)
BIOL 318 Medical Mycology (4)
BIOL 319 Plant Systematics and Identiftication (4)
BIOL 335 The Biosphere (3)
BIOL 345 Science and Public Policy - Cross-listed as POLS 345 (3)*
BIOL 389 The Science of Art and the Art of Science - Cross-listed as ART 389 (3)
BIOL 400 Molecular Biology (4)
BIOL 401 Biotechnology and Recombinant DNA Techniques (5)
BIOL 406 Evolutionary Biogeography (3)
BIOL 407 Behavioral Ecology (3)
BIOL 416 Radiobiology and Radionuclides - Cross-listed as PHYS 416 (3)
BIOL 420 Cellular and Molecular Immunology (4)
BIOL 421 Virology (3)
BIOL 422 Plant Physiology (4)
BIOL 423 Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (3)
BIOL 424 Human Physiology (3)
BIOL 425 Human Genetics (3)
BIOL 426 Hematology (4)
BIOL 427 Developmental Biology (4)
BIOL 428 Biology of Cancer (3)
BIOL 431 Bioinformatics (4)*
BIOL 432 Principles of Epidemiology and Environmental Health (3)*
BIOL 433 Ecology and the Environment (4)*
BIOL 434 Introduction to Biomedical Imaging - Cross-listed as HLTH 434, PHYS 434 (4)*
BIOL 450 Ichthyology: The Biology of Fishes (4)
BIOL 451 Ornithology (4)
BIOL 452 Entomology (4)
BIOL 453 Methods in Population and Community Ecology (4)
BIOL 464 Medical Instrumentation - Cross-listed as PHYS 464 (4)
BIOL 490 Special Topics (1-3)

Students may count 3-4 units from the following courses towards the 25 units of electives. UNIV Courses require Biology Program approval:

CHEM 250 Quantitative Analysis (3)
CHEM 251 Quantitative Analysis Laboratory (1)
CHEM 301 Environmental Chemistry - Atmosphere and Climate (3)
CHEM 302 Environmental Chemistry - Soil and Water (4)
CHEM 318 Biological Chemistry (3)
CHEM 460 Biochemistry I (4)
ESRM 328 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3)
GEOL 122 Historical Geology (3)
GEOL 321 Environmental Geology (4)
UNIV 391 United States Travel Study Experience (1-3)
UNIV 392 International Experience (1-3)
UNIV 398 Advanced Research Investigations (3)
UNIV 498 Faculty-Student Collaborative Research (3)

No more than 2 units taken from the following can be counted towards the 25 units of electives:

BIOL 492 Internship (2-3)
BIOL 494 Independent Research (1-3)
BIOL 497 Directed Study (1-3)

Required Supporting Courses (31 units):

1. Chemistry (16 units)

CHEM 121 General Chemistry I (4)*
CHEM 122 General Chemistry II (4)*
CHEM 311 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 312 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (1)
CHEM 314 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 315 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (1)
A year-long organic chemistry se quence with laboratory taken at a community college may be accepeted for the Biology major in lieu of CHEM 311, 312, 314, 315

2. Physics (8 units)

Select one of the following combinations: 
PHYS   100   Introduction to Physics I (4)*
PHYS   101    Introduction to Physics II (4)*
   or 
PHYS   200    General Physics I (4)*
PHYS   201    General Physics II (4)*

3. Statistics and Mathematics (7 units)

BIOL 203 Quantitative Methods for Biology (3)*
MATH 150 Calculus I (4)*

Additional General Education and other Graduation Requirements (42 units)

To graduate, students must complete 120 units minimum (40 units must be upper division) including all General Education (GE) and Graduation Requirements:
The following areas must be included:

Additional lower division A-E GE requirements not met within the major (for A3, recommend MATH 230 Logic and Mathematical Reasoning (Cross-listed as PHIL 230)

Nine units of Upper Division Interdisciplinary GE (UDIGE), courses numbered 330-349 or 430-449. Six units may be within the major, 3 units must be outside the major (C or better grades)

Multicultural Requirement (C or better grade)

Language Requirement (C or better grade)

Free electives as needed to meet minimum units for graduation

International Undergraduate Admission Requirements

The process for freshmen and transfer students is the same; however, as a transfer student additional criteria must be met. This additional criteria is marked with an *.

International Checklist & Application

To apply to CSU Channel Islands as an undergraduate, please submit an application and $55.00 application fee online through www.csumentor.edu 

International Freshmen Checklist  

International Transfer Checklist 

Financial Affidavit for Undergraduate applicants 

Submit all application documents to the Center for International Affairs. 

*Transfer Students: We are currently accepting applications from all community colleges in the U.S.  Please make sure that you have at least 60 units and have completed “Oral communication”, “Written communication”, “Critical thinking” and “College level mathematics/quantitative reasoning” with “C” or better.  Please note that the Nursing programs are closed for international students.  

English Score

Submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or other acceptable test (see below for list of tests).  Scores must be sent directly to CSUCI from testing agency.

Acceptable English Placement Exams

TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language with a minimum Paper-Based score of 500, a minimum Computer Based score of 173 or a minimum Internet Based score of 61.

IELTS – International English Language Test System with an overall band score of 6.0.