Bachelor of Science in Biology: Concentration in Microbiology Roadmap
120 Total Units Required
Minimum Number of Units in the Major: 60
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.
| First Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 115 | General Chemistry I (Major Lower-Division Core) | 4 |
| ENG 114 | Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice (A2) 1 | 3 |
| MATH 226 | Calculus I (Major Lower-Division Core, B4) 2 | 4 |
| GE Area A 3 | 3 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BIOL 230 | Introductory Biology I (Major Lower-Division Core) | 5 |
| BIOL 231 | Advising for Success as a Biology Major (Major Lower-Division Core) | 1 |
| CHEM 215 | General Chemistry II (Major Lower-Division Core) | 4 |
| GE Area A | 3 | |
| GE Area E | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| BIOL 240 | Introductory Biology II (Major Lower-Division Core) 4 | 5 |
| Select One (Major Lower-Division Core): 5 | 3 | |
| General Organic Chemistry | ||
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
| PHYS 111 & PHYS 112 |
General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory (Major Lower-Division Core, B1, B3) |
4 |
| GE Area D | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| Select One (Major Lower-Division Core): 5 | 3 | |
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| PHYS 121 & PHYS 122 |
General Physics II and General Physics II Laboratory (Major Lower-Division Core) |
4 |
| GE Area C - Take Two | 6 | |
| GE Area D | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| BIOL 355 | Genetics (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| BIOL 401 & BIOL 402GW |
General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory - GWAR (Major Upper-Division Core) |
6 |
| GE Area C | 3 | |
| GE Area F ± | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| Select One (Major Upper-Division Core): | 3 | |
| Biochemistry I | ||
| General Biochemistry | ||
| GE Area UD-D: Upper-Division Social Sciences | 3 | |
| U.S. and California Government | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two | 6 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Seventh Semester | ||
| BIOL 337 | Evolution (Major Upper-Division Core) | 3 |
| Major Upper-Division Electives (11 Units Total) 6 | 6 | |
| GE Area UD-C: Upper-Division Arts and/or Humanities | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Eighth Semester | ||
| Major Upper-Division Electives (11 Units Total) 6 | 5 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Three | 9 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Total Units | 120 | |
- 1
ENG 114 can only be taken if you complete Directed Self-Placement (DSP) and select ENG 114; if you choose ENG 104/ENG 105 through DSP you will satisfy GE Area A2 upon successful completion of ENG 105 in the second semester; multilingual students may be advised into alternative English courses.
- 2
To determine the best B4 course option, students should complete the online advising activity at mathadvising.sfsu.edu. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 3
To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major.
- 4
GE Area B2 (Life Science) is satisfied upon completion of BIOL 240.
- 5
CHEM 233 is a prerequisite for CHEM 335. If students plan to take CHEM 335, they must take CHEM 233.
- 6
Electives in Microbiology
Select 11 units from the following courses, including at least two laboratory courses. Consult an advisor to select electives that best align with your interests and future career goals. Any course taken as an elective that does not appear on this list will not be counted towards the completion of the Microbiology degree requirements unless it is approved by an advisor prior to enrolling in the course. Students who intend to apply for admission to Clinical Laboratory Science programs after graduation are strongly advised to speak with a Microbiology advisor for help in choosing their elective classes.
BIOL 420 General Virology (3 units)
BIOL 425 Emerging Diseases (3 units)
BIOL 430 Medical Microbiology (3 units)
BIOL 435 Immunology (3 units)
BIOL 442 Microbial Physiology (3 units)
BIOL 446 Microbial Genomics (4 units)
BIOL 453 General Parasitology (3 units)
BIOL 490 Ecology of Infectious Diseases (4 units)
BIOL 638 Bioinformatics and Sequence Analysis (4 units)
BIOL 644 LEADerS Service Learning Course: Learners Engaged in Advocating for Diversity in Science (4 units)
Select two laboratory courses from the following:
BIOL 431 Medical Microbiology Laboratory (2 units)
BIOL 436 Immunology Laboratory (2 units)
BIOL 443 Microbial Physiology Laboratory (2 units)
BIOL 454 Parasitology Laboratory (1 unit)
BIOL 625 Hematology (3 units)
BIOL 699 Independent Study in Biology (1-3 units)
CHEM 343 Biochemistry I Laboratory (3 units)
or CHEM 336 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (2 units)
- ±
Given catalog rights, fall 2023 transfer students do not need to complete an Area F course.