Undergraduate Requirements: Geobiology Track
Program Overview
Introduction to the Geobiology Track
The Geobiology track is designed for students with an interest in geobiology, offering options to be associated with either the Biology and Biological Engineering or the GPS division. This association affects some of the course requirements needed to satisfy the undergraduate degree.
Program Requirements
In addition to the core requirements, a GPS major with a Geobiology track must include the following courses:
- Ch 41abc
- Ch/Bi 110a or Ch/Bi 110b
- Bi 8 and Bi 9
- At least 9 units of laboratory instruction selected from the following: Bi 10, Ch 7, Ch 8, Ch 15, Ge 116, Ge 120a, Ge 120b
- Any 6 electives from the geobiology core courses: Bi 117, Bi 122, ESE/Bi 166, ESE/Bi 168, Ge/ESE/Bi 178, Ge 112, Ge/ESE 143, Ge 124a, Ge 124b
- 9 additional units in Ge, Bi, Ch, or ESE
Typical Course Schedule
The typical course schedule for the Geobiology track is as follows: | | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Ma 2 & other | Sophomore mathematics | 9 | 9 | | Ph 2 a, c | Sophomore physics | 9 | | 9 | | Ge 11 abc | Intro. to Earth and Planetary Sci. | 9 | 9 | 9 | | Bi/BE 24 | Writing and oral presentation | | | 6 | | Bi 8 | Introduction to Molecular Biology | | 9 | | | Bi 9 | Cell Biology | | | 9 | | Bi 10 | Cell Biology Laboratory | | | 6 | | | HSS electives | 9 | 9 | 9 | | | Total units: | 36 | 36 | 48 |
Third Year
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ch/Bi 110a | Intro. to Biochemistry | 12 | ||
| Ge 124 ab | Paleomagnetism | 15 | ||
| Scientific Writing | 3 | |||
| Ch 41 abc | Organic Chemistry | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| HSS electives | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
| Geobiology electives | 9 | |||
| Total units: | 30 | 30 | 42 |
Fourth Year
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESE/Bi 166 | Microbial Physiology | 9 | ||
| ESE/Bi 168 | Microbial Metabolic Diversity | 9 | ||
| Ge/ESE/Bi 178 | Microbial Ecology | 9 | ||
| Ge 143 | Organic Geochemistry | 9 | ||
| Bi 122 | Genetics | 9 | ||
| Ge 112 | Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | 12 | ||
| Ge 116 | Analytical Laboratory Techniques | 9 | ||
| HSS electives | 9 | 9 | 9 | |
| Geobiology electives | 9 | |||
| Total units: | 39 | 27 | 36 |
Academic Performance
Passing grades must be earned in a total of 486 units, including courses listed above. Any student whose grade-point average in science and mathematics courses is less than 1.9 at the end of an academic year may be refused permission to register in the geological and planetary science options.