Biology
Biology
The Biological Sciences curriculum provides a foundation for further study and careers in multiple fields within the life sciences. Our generalized courses give students majoring in other subjects a broad and comprehensive experience in biology. Our specialized courses serve students transferring to four-year, graduate, or professional schools; upon transfer, these students will be prepared for further study in a variety of disciplines, including but not limited to Botany, Cell/Molecular Biology, Ecology, Health Sciences, Marine Biology, Pharmacology, and Zoology. Subsequent careers in biotechnology, dentistry, medicine, nursing, research, teaching, among others, all rely on a strong background in the Biological Sciences.
This lecture course provides the non-biology major with an introduction to living things and their environment. Students develop important critical thinking skills as they learn about the process of science, the building blocks of life, the role and regulation of DNA, how populations change over time, the movement of energy within and between life forms, and how species interact with each other and their surroundings. By the end of the course, students will be able to apply an understanding of biological concepts to current issues and their impacts on society.
This laboratory course provides the hands-on application of concepts learned in the Introduction to Biology lecture (BIOL C1001) for the non-biology major. Students use experimentation and investigation to develop important critical thinking skills. Students engage in the process of science to explore the building blocks of life, the role and regulation of DNA, how populations change over time, the movement of energy within and between life forms, and how species interact with each other and their surroundings. By the end of the course, students will be familiar with some of the equipment and techniques used by biologists.
This course is a survey of the basic biology and diversity of unicellular and multicellular organisms. The course examines the mechanisms of evolution and interactions between organisms and their environment. It emphasizes classification, structure, function, and evolutionary adaptations of organisms to their environments (including eubacteria, archaea, protists, plants, fungi, and animals).
This course will cover prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure and function, biological molecules, homeostasis, cell reproduction and its controls, molecular genetics, classical / Mendelian genetics, cell metabolism including photosynthesis and respiration, and cellular communication. The philosophy of science, methods of scientific inquiry and experimental design are foundational to the course.
This course is an examination and analysis of the biological sciences within the context of the interrelationship between human populations and their natural surroundings. The characteristics of natural systems are described and the effects and impacts of human activities on these systems are considered. The course introduces the principles of scientific inquiry and experimental methodology in the study of ecological concepts and environmental issues. Alternatives and approaches to deal with environmental problems are considered and evaluated.
This course an introduction to the principles of biology, with special emphasis on the structure and function of the human being. It provides a study of body systems and their relationship to health or disease as well as a discussion of the roles and effects of human beings in the biological world.
This course is designed to introduce students to the ecology, taxonomy, and natural history of the diverse ecosystems of California. Emphasis will be placed on the adaptation of organisms to their environment. Topics will include evolution, niche, population dynamics, community, ecosystems, energy flow, and terrestrial biomes. Field trips will stress the identification and classification of common plants and animals, and the impact of humans on these environments.
This course is an introduction to the basic principles of modern genetics with specific reference to the human being. Through the study of mechanisms of human inheritance, the origin and nature of human differences will be examined. Social, political and psychological ramifications of biological laws governing heredity and organic evolution will be emphasized.
This course provides an introduction to the diversity of marine organisms and the physical and biological processes that influence their life history, behavior, distribution, and anatomical structure. Topics also address the interactions of these organisms and processes in a variety of habitats, marine ecology, and marine conservation.
This laboratory course provides an introduction to the diversity of marine organisms and the physical and biological processes that influence their structure, life history, and behavior.
This course offers specialized study opportunities for students who wish to pursue projects not included in the regular curriculum. Students are accepted only by a written project proposal approved by the discipline prior to enrollment.