Overview
Advisement is an essential component of successful and timely academic achievement. Students are strongly advised to seek advisement at the beginning of their program and and at least once each academic year. All on-duty faculty members are available for general advisement regarding academic requirements, course selection, and career opportunities in the biological sciences during faculty office hours. For graduation checks and reinstatements, students must make an appointment with the Principal Undergraduate Advisor. You can make an appointment with any of the full-time faculty members through the Biological Sciences Department Office in person or over the phone.
The Health Careers Advisement Office (HCAO) serves pre-health professional students who are interested in the following professions: medicine (allopathic, osteopathic and chiropractic), optometry, veterinary medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, podiatry, and physician assistant. Visit the HCAO website for more information.
Roadmaps to Graduation
Graduation Roadmaps are suggested academic plans designed to inform students about the sequence of courses needed to satisfy degree requirements. Linked below are roadmaps for both the quarter system and semester system. Four-year roadmaps are provided for freshman who are attending college full-time. Five-year roadmaps are provided for freshman who are working part-time while attending college. Two-year roadmaps are also provided for transfer students who have satisfied all the general education requirements before coming to Cal State LA.
For 2021 GE Catalog Year
Fall 2020 and Later
Program Forms (Fall 2020 or Later):
Other Forms
Below are a few additional forms that may be useful. You should not attempt to submit these forms without consulting with an academic advisor. You can make an appointment with any of the full-time faculty members through the Biological Sciences Department Office via email.
General Academic Petition Form
This form is used to petition undergrduate academic requirements which may occur under unusual circumstances. An example might be a subsitution of a course for the General Education requirements. Consult with an advisor before submitting this form.
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Academic Petition Form |
Request for Course Substitution
This form is used to request a course substitution in your undergraduate major or minor. Consult with an advisor before submitting this form.
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Request for Course Substitution |
Bachelor's Degree Worksheet
This form is used as a checklist of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree. Complete this form before you meet with the Principal Undergraduate Advisor for a graduation check.
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Bachelor's Degree Worksheet |
Grade Appeal & Academic Grievance Form
This form is used to file a formal grade appeal or academic grievance. Before filing this form you must attempt to resolve the dispute informally. You are strongly encouraged to read carefully Cal State LA's Grade Appeal/Academic Grievance Policy.
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Grade Appeal & Academic Grievance Form |
Fall 2016 to Fall 2019
Mathematics Requirements for Life Science Majors
The following chart summarizes the sequence:
| MATH 1050 or MATH 1081 + 1085 | MATH 2040 prerequisite & required for BIOL 1100 |
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| MATH 2040 | MATH 2050 prerequisite; requirement for BIOL BS & MICR BS |
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| MATH 2050 | Requirement for BIOL BS |
Note that certain math prerequisite courses can be met by exit exams (University Testing Center in Library South). Note that MATH 2110 and MATH 2120 can be substituted for MATH 2040 and MATH 2050, respectively. You'll need to see an advisor in biology for the necessary course substitution.
Math Advisement for Fall 2019 Biology and Microbiology Majors
The biology department has proposed some changes for their math sequence requirements, and as a result, Math 2040 and Math 2050 will disappear in the next academic year. For more information on what math classes to take beggining Fall 2020, please see our advisement guide:
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Math Advisement |
Math Exit Exams
Students who wish to test out of certain math courses may take an exit exam at the University Testing Center. This may be a viable option for students who want to demonstrate competency in the material covered by one of these classes because of previous coursework at a community college or elsewhere.
Roadmaps to Graduation
| BIOL BS Roadmaps for the Semester System (Fall 2016 to Fall 2019): | |
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Four-Year Roadmap for Biology Freshmen (semesters) |
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Roadmap for GE-Certified BIOL BS Transfer Students (semesters) |
| MICR BS Roadmaps for the Semester System (Fall 2016 to Fall 2019): | |
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Four-Year Roadmap for Microbiology Freshmen (semesters) |
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Roadmap for GE-Certified MICR BS Transfer Students (semesters) |
| BIOL MS Roadmaps for the Semester System (Fall 2016 to Fall 2019): | |
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Semester Programs
- University Catalog listing of BIOL BS program (F16 to F19)
- University Catalog listing of MICR BS program (F16 to F19)
- University Catalog listing of BIOL MS program (F16 to F19)