Biology Minor

Biology Minor

Tackling climate change, helping endangered animals, teaching fifth-grade science—with a degree in Biology, the possibilities are truly limitless. 

Let Saint Mary’s Biology Department be a launchpad for your unique aspirations. Using a balance of theoretical and experimental work, our program will provide you with a broad understanding of life science, including the basis for life, organism structures and functions, and evolutionary processes. All of this takes place within small, discussion-rooted classes, an integral part of the liberal arts tradition.

Guided by our renowned, approachable faculty, you’ll hone your ability to wrestle with unfamiliar problems and ethical issues, the tools to investigate topics in-depth, and the communication skills needed to share information with others. 

You will graduate from our program well-equipped for a career in research, medicine, education, agriculture, government service, and beyond.

 

Learn More About Our Program

Get to know our well-respected faculty and their academic specialties. Or explore scholarship opportunities and an array of research possibilities.

Biology, Minor

Requirements

Lower Division

  • The following lower-division courses are required for the minor.
  • Intro Cell Bio, Molecular Bio, & Biochem (5 units)
  • Intro to Cell Bio, Molecular Bio Lab
  • Introduction to Organisms and Evolution (5 units)
  • Intro to Organisms and Evolution Lab
  • General Chemistry I (4 units)
  • General Chemistry I Laboratory (1 units)

Upper Division

  • Take a minimum of 12 units of additional 300-level Biology courses from the following list, including at least one lab. Up to 4 units of 400-level BIOL courses may be petitioned to count for this requirement.
  • Genetics (5 units)
  • General Ecology (5 units)
  • Research Design and Biostatistics (5 units)
  • Biochemistry (5 units)
  • Molecular Biology (5 units)
  • Cell Biology (5 units)
  • Microbiology (5 units)
  • Immunology (5 units)
  • Special Topics in Cell and Molecular Bio (3-4 units)
  • General Botany (5 units)
  • Developmental Biology and Embryology (4 units)
  • Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4 units)
  • Comparative Animal Physiology (5 units)
  • Advanced Human Anatomy (5 units)
  • Advanced Human Physiology (5 units)
  • Special Topics in Organismal Biology (3-4 units)
  • Evolution (4 units)
  • Macrosystems Biology (3 units)
  • Conservation Biology (4 units)
  • California Flora & Communities (5 units)
  • Aquatic and Marine Biology (4 units)
  • Vertebrate Zoology (5 units)
  • Symbiosis (4 units)
  • Special Topics in Evolution and Ecology (3-4 units)
  • Field/Laboratory Research in Biology (1-4 units)

All Biology Courses

  • Introduction to Biology for Human Health (5 units)
  • Introduction to Biology for Human Health Lab
  • Protecting Biodiversity (4 units)
  • Introductory Microbiology (4 units)
  • Introductory Microbiology Lab
  • General Biology (5 units)
  • General Biology Laboratory
  • Human Biology (4 units)
  • Human Biology Lab
  • Biology of Women (4 units)
  • Biology of Women Lab
  • Introduction to Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (5 units)
  • Introduction to Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Lab
  • Introduction to Organisms and Evolution (5 units)
  • Introduction to Organisms and Evolution Lab
  • Human Anatomy for Kinesiology (5 units)
  • Human Anatomy for Kinesiology Lab
  • Human Anatomy (5 units)
  • Human Anatomy Laboratory
  • Human Physiology (5 units)
  • Human Physiology Lab
  • Anatomy and Physiology I (4 units)
  • Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
  • Anatomy and Physiology II (4 units)
  • Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
  • Genetics (5 units)
  • Genetics Lab
  • General Ecology (5 units)
  • General Ecology Lab
  • Research Design and Biostatistics (5 units)
  • Research Design and Biostatistics Lab
  • Biochemistry (5 units)
  • Biochemistry Lab
  • Molecular Biology (5 units)
  • Molecular Biology Lab
  • Cell Biology (5 units)
  • Cell Biology Lab
  • Microbiology (5 units)
  • Microbiology Lab
  • Immunology (5 units)
  • Immunology Lab
  • Special Topics in Cell and Molecular Biology (3-4 units)
  • General Botany (5 units)
  • General Botany Lab
  • Developmental Biology and Embryology (4 units)
  • Developmental Biology and Embryology Lab
  • Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4 units)
  • Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Lab
  • Comparative Animal Physiology (5 units)
  • Comparative Animal Physiology Lab
  • Advanced Human Anatomy (5 units)
  • Advanced Human Anatomy Lab
  • Advanced Human Physiology (5 units)
  • Advanced Human Physiology Lab
  • Special Topics in Organismal Biology (3-4 units)
  • Evolution (4 units)
  • Macrosystems Biology (3 units)
  • Macrosystems Biology Lab (2 units)
  • Conservation Biology (4 units)
  • California Flora and Communities (5 units)
  • California Flora and Communities Lab
  • Aquatic and Marine Biology (4 units)
  • Vertebrate Zoology (5 units)
  • Vertebrate Zoology Lab
  • Symbiosis (4 units)
  • Symbiosis Lab
  • Special Topics in Evolution and Ecology (3-4 units)
  • Research Writing in Biology (1 units)
  • Internship in Biology (1-4 units)
  • Independent Study in Biology (1-4 units)
  • Mentored Research (1-4 units)

School and Department Information