CSUEB Catalog 2008-2009: Biological Science (Graduate)

Biological Science

	Department Information
	M.S. in Biological Science
	Other Degree Requirements
	Certificate in Biotechnology
	Graduate Courses
	Footnote

Department Information

Department of Biological Sciences
College of Science
Office: North Science 429
Phone: (510) 885-3471
Website: http://www.sci.csueastbay.edu


Professors Emeriti Stephen C. Benson, Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara Beverly A. Dixon, Ph.D. University of Georgia Richard A. Symmons, Ph.D. University of California, Davis Professors Christoph W. Baysdorfer, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley Donald A. Gailey, Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles Michael S. Hedrick, Ph.D. University of British Columbia Christopher L. Kitting, Ph.D. Stanford University Carol R. Lauzon, Ph.D. University of Vermont Maria C. Nieto, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley Susan B. Opp, Ph.D. University of Massachusetts Associate Professors Caron Y. Inouye, Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles Erica L. Wildy, Ph.D. Oregon State University Assistant Professors Kenneth Curr, Ph.D. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York Maria E. Gallegos, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin, Madison James Murray, Ph.D. University of Washington Claudia Uhde-Stone, Ph.D. University of Bielefeld (Germany) Lecturer David C. Rosen, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley

Graduate Coordinator: Susan B. Opp

Please consult the 2009-2010 online catalog for any changes that may occur.

M.S. in Biological Science

The Master of Science degree in Biological Science offers students the opportunity to obtain advanced academic and research experience in specialized areas of biological science.

Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with an M.S. in Biological Science from Cal State East Bay will be able to: (1) use the scientific method to examine questions about the natural world; specifically, they will be able to formulate testable biological hypotheses, analyze empirical data, and synthesize the results of the analysis; (2) present the design and results of an observational or experimental analysis in a well-organized manner using the scientific paper format; (3) orally communicate the design and results of an observational or experimental study in an effective manner; (4) evaluate primary scientific literature and judge the value of the information presented in relation to particular biological questions.

Career Opportunities
Biological Science is a fast-changing, exciting field offering students numerous options for rewarding careers and future advancement. Examples of M.S. study areas in the department are environmental biology, general ecology, population biology, marine ecology, insect ecology, plant and animal ecology, physiological biology, cell and molecular biology, plant and animal physiology, microbiology, genetics, and immunology.

Faculty
The Biological Science faculty is comprised of 13 full-time professors at Cal State East Bay. The faculty are committed to excellence in teaching and research, and many of the faculty have federal, state, and private research grant support.

Related Programs
The Biotechnology Certificate Program within the department is a post-baccalaureate program emphasizing molecular and cellular techniques. With careful planning, this certificate may be combined with an M.S. in Biological Science degree. Contact the Biological Sciences Department for application forms and deadlines for this program.

The M.S. degree in Marine Science is offered at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML), located on Monterey Bay, for students from Cal State East Bay and seven other California State University consortium schools. Graduate students from Cal State East Bay majoring in other areas of study may also take such courses at Moss Landing as are appropriate for their degree objectives. Contact the Biological Sciences Department for application forms and deadlines for this program. For more information on the M.S. in Marine Sciences refer to the Marine Science chapter in the graduate section of this catalog.

Research Facilities
Department facilities for student research and study include invertebrate, vertebrate, and entomology museums; herbarium; greenhouse; insectary; radiation hot lab; microbiology facilities; cell culture facilities; animal rooms; molecular biology labs; microscope facilities including phase, differential interference contrast and fluorescence microscopy; and DNA sequencing and cell storage facilities. Local field opportunities may be found at a wetlands field station at the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the brackish and salt water marshes of the Hayward Regional Shoreline of San Francisco Bay, and a 35-acre oak-grassland preserve located immediately adjacent to the Hayward Hills campus and contiguous with Garin Regional Park (one of the East Bay Regional Parks).

Research Support
Research space is available to all "Classified Graduate" students, usually in the major advisor's research lab. Limited funds for graduate research supplies are available each year from the department budget. Graduate research grants are available annually on a competitive basis through Academic Programs and Graduate Studies and can be used to purchase supplies or pay travel expenses for graduate research. In addition, research assistantships are available for some students through faculty research grants. Teaching assistantships may become available for a given quarter. As financial aid within the department is limited, you may want to contact the Financial Aid Office regarding other assistance from the University Work-Study Program, loans, scholarships, etc.

Admission Requirements


1.	The M.S. degree program in the Department of Biological Sciences is open to graduates of accredited institutions who have a four-year baccalaureate degree in any field of the biological sciences and who have achieved a GPA of at least 2.75 in all undergraduate work and an average of 3.00 in all biological science courses taken as an upper division student. Normally, all applicants should have completed undergraduate courses equivalent to those required of all biological science majors at Cal State East Bay. Applicants must have taken basic courses in biological and physical sciences and mathematics/statistics; areas omitted, if any, will be treated as course deficiencies and must be completed by the time of classification (see below).
2.	In addition to filing the university application and fee, students must apply to the Department of Biological Sciences for admission to graduate standing in the M.S. degree program. Application forms are available through the department office or by accessing the Biology Department website. In addition to the GPA requirements for admission mentioned in #1, the department requires that the following be sent directly to the Department of Biological Sciences:
		•	departmental application
		•	GRE General Test Scores (target scores are in the upper 30th percentile; significant deviation from target scores may be grounds for denial of admission)
		•	three letters of reference
		•	statement of purpose
	Applicant files will not be reviewed or processed until the application file is complete; this is the applicant's responsibility. During the admission process, students are encouraged to obtain information about research interests of the faculty and to contact faculty members who could potentially serve as thesis advisors.
3.	All students admitted to the program will be admitted as "Conditionally Classified Graduate" students.
4.	Those students applying for admission to the program with the intent of obtaining an M.S. degree in Marine Sciences from work done at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories must gain admission into "Conditionally Classified Graduate" status as stated above. However, the classification procedures as stated below WILL NOT apply for these students; instead, once admitted to the program as "Conditionally Classified Graduate" students, they will follow MLML's classification procedures (see the Marine Science chapter in the graduate section of this catalog).
5.	Any student not admitted to the program because of incomplete application, deficiency, or failure to meet deadlines is urged to enroll in the university as an "Unclassified Post-baccalaureate" student pending completion and/or reconsideration of the application for classification.
6.	No more than 13 quarter units of courses applicable toward the master's degree completed before admission to the program may be counted toward the degree.

Note: Although not an admission requirement, satisfaction of the University Writing Skills Requirement (UWSR) must begin during the first quarter of admission to the program and must be completed before a student can become a fully "Classified Graduate" student.

Degree Requirements
A "Conditionally Classified Graduate" student must become a fully "Classified Graduate" student in the program as set forth in 1, 2, 3, and 4 below, if applicable, within four quarters of acceptance into the Master's program or the "Conditional Classification" will expire and the student will be placed in "Unclassified Post-baccalaureate" status. It is the responsibility of the student to make sure these requirements are met within the specified time limits.


1.	Establish a graduate advisory committee if planning to do a Plan A or Plan B thesis (See Curricular Requirements below), or inform the Department of Biological Sciences in writing if planning to do a Plan C comprehensive examination. For Plan A or Plan B thesis students, two faculty members from the Department of Biological Sciences will serve as members of the graduate advisory committee. One faculty member from the department will normally be the major advisor in guiding the student in graduate training. One to two other members of the committee will be chosen in consultation with the major advisor. The committee will advise on and approve the student's final program including any work and research units counted toward the degree. This advisory committee will also administer the oral examination at the completion of the thesis.
2.	Complete basic course deficiencies. If the student lacks basic courses in biological or physical sciences, or mathematics/statistics, these courses must be completed by the end of the fourth quarter following admission to the program. In addition, the student's advisory committee may also determine that there are other course deficiencies that need to be satisfied.
3.	Research proposal. Students wishing to be a fully "Classified Graduate" must submit a formal research proposal to the departmental Graduate Committee for either Plan A or Plan B. The department office or Graduate Coordinator has examples of these proposals and their format. The proposal must be approved by the student's advisory committee (item 1 above) and submitted to the Graduate Coordinator by the first day of the quarter in which the student wants to begin taking thesis units. If the work is to be done in an off-campus location, a letter of agreement must be included that indicates a mutual understanding and responsibility between the off-campus supervisor, Cal State East Bay, and the student.
4.	University Writing Skills Requirement. The University Writing Skills Requirement must be satisfied. (See Graduate and Post-baccalaureate Studies chapter at the beginning of the graduate section of this catalog.)

Advanced to Candidacy


The student must have:
	1.	attained "Classified Graduate" standing
	2.	completed at least 12 quarter units of satisfactory work beyond the baccalaureate degree suitable for inclusion in an M.S. program in Biological Science as approved by the student's graduate advisory committee. At least 3 quarter units of graduate level coursework in residence at Cal State East Bay must be included. (You must maintain a 3.00 GPA in your degree coursework to remain in good standing.)
	3.	received approval from his or her advisory committee of either a Plan A or Plan B individual research program, or indicated in writing to the Department his or her intention to complete a Plan C.

Curricular Requirements
The M.S. programs in biological science provide for the degree to be obtained under either Plan A (University Thesis), Plan B (Departmental Thesis), or Plan C (Comprehensive Examination).


Plan A, University Thesis (45 units) A total of 45 quarter units is required beyond the baccalaureate with a GPA of 3.0 or above and no grade lower than "C" in courses included in the program, and with specific requirements as follows:
	1.	University Thesis (9 units) Complete copies of the University Thesis must be submitted, in accordance with the rules set forth by the Office of the Associate Vice President, Curriculum and Academic Programs and the Dean of Graduate Programs, to the chair of the candidate's advisory committee by the sixth week of the quarter at the end of which the degree is desired.
	2.	Graduate courses (14-36 units) in area of special concentration option or in areas related to it as approved by the student's advisory committee; included must be at least one graduate seminar in the area of special concentration. (May include a maximum of 4 units of Independent Study (BIOL 6900); in certain circumstances exceptions may be granted by the departmental Graduate Committee.)
	3.	Upper division undergraduate courses (0-22 units) taken as a graduate student and approved by the advisory committee as appropriate to the student's objective.
	4.	An oral examination administered by the advisory committee covering the candidate's area of specialization and thesis research. This examination will be publicized and open to all faculty.
Plan B, Departmental Thesis (45 units) A total of 45 units is required beyond the baccalaureate with a GPA of 3.0 or above and no grade lower than "C" in courses included in the program, and with specific requirements as follows:
	1.	A review paper satisfactory to the advisory committee based on intensive study and analysis of the scientific literature on a topic approved by the major professor, with or without supplementary field or laboratory work. Not more than 4 units of Departmental Thesis (BIOL 6909) for preparation of the paper may be included in the program approved by the advisory committee for the degree. (The final copy of the paper must be circulated among the members of the advisory committee at least two weeks prior to the oral examination.)
	2.	Graduate courses (19-41 units) in area of special concentration or in areas related to it as approved by the student's advisory committee; included must be at least one graduate seminar in the area of the concentration.
	3.	Upper division courses (0-22 units) taken as a graduate student and approved by the advisory committee as appropriate to the student's objective.
	4.	An oral examination administered by the advisory committee covering the candidate's area of the option and review paper. This examination will be publicized and open to all faculty.
Note: The following standards will apply to BIOL 6909 for use as a Plan B requirement:
	Format: Typewritten and referenced in appropriate scientific fashion; a title page with the student's advisory committee's signatures must be included; specific format used is up to the discretion of the major advisor. Binding: Bound in fiberboard or other satisfactory binders for permanent storage. Records: The department will retain a copy of the Departmental Thesis in its files. Technical: Typed on 16-pound white paper and with general "thesis" quality, i.e., no strike-overs, etc. Sufficient left-hand margins (1 1/2") should be left for binding. Approval: Form and style--department; content--advisory committee.
Plan C, Comprehensive Examination (45 units) A total of 45 units is required beyond the baccalaureate with a GPA of 3.0 or above and no grade lower than "C" in courses included in the program, and with specific requirements as follows:
	1.	Graduate courses (21-43 units) in area of special concentration as approved by the graduate committee, including at least one, but no more than two, graduate seminar(s) in Biological Sciences (BIOL 6801, 6811, 6821, 6831 and/or 6841);
	2.	BIOL 6901 Comprehensive Examination Preparation (2 units) (taken in spring quarter in the final year of the program).
	3.	Upper division courses (0-22 units) in area of special concentration taken as a graduate student and approved by the graduate committee as appropriate to the student's objective.
	4.	Successful completion of comprehensive written examination in Biological Sciences (taken at the end of spring quarter in the final year of the program) covering the candidate's area of special concentration.

Granting the Degree
Upon successful completion of the above requirements for the degree under Plan A (including completion of the University Thesis) or under Plan B (including completion of the Departmental Thesis), or under Plan C (including successful completion of the comprehensive examination), the department will recommend that the candidate be granted the degree.

Other Degree Requirements

In addition to departmental requirements, every student must also satisfy the university requirements for graduation which are described in the Graduate and Post-baccalaureate Studies chapter at the beginning of the graduate section of this catalog. These requirements include the 32-unit residence requirement, the five-year rule on currency of subject matter, the minimum number of units of 6000-level courses, the 3.00 GPA, and the University Writing Skills Requirement (UWSR). For information on meeting the University Writing Skills Requirement, see the testing Web site at www.testing.csueastbay.edu or call 510.885.3661.

Certificate in Biotechnology

This certificate program consists of 34 units and is designed to give recognition to students who complete a curriculum emphasizing cellular and molecular techniques. This is an appropriate capstone for biology or chemistry students and is preparatory for careers in industrial and academic biological research, development, and production. The Biotechnology Certificate Program requires 34 units of advanced work. The laboratory courses, important to this program, emphasize a "hands-on" approach with close faculty supervision. In addition to experimental techniques, safety standards and quality control are also stressed. Courses are scheduled in a non-conflicting pattern so that a full-time student entering this program can complete the requirements in one academic year. There are over 300 biotechnology companies in the Bay Area with a growing demand for employees skilled in the technical subjects herein outlined. Seven faculty members from the Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry share the responsibility for this program and play an active role in arranging employment interviews for students who successfully complete this certificate program.

Admission to the Program
The Certificate Program in Biotechnology is open to undergraduates and graduates of accredited institutions who have a degree major in any field of biological sciences or chemistry and who have achieved a GPA of at least 2.75 in the major and at least 3.0 in the prerequisite courses. Applicants failing to meet these criteria may petition the Biotechnology Committee for a waiver of these requirements.

Prerequisites
Applicants must have majored in biology or chemistry, and have completed the courses listed below or their equivalents. Participants in this program will be selected by the Biotechnology Committee of the Department of Biological Sciences Biotechnology Committee.



	BIOL 3121 Principles of Genetics (taken within last 3 years) BIOL 3405 Microbiology BIOL 4455 Molecular Cell Biology (taken within last 3 years) CHEM 4411 General Biochemistry

Continued Participation in the Program
Students must achieve a minimum grade of "B" in each required course for continued participation and pass a comprehensive written examination upon completion of the program.

Students who have a baccalaureate degree and wish to combine the Biotechnology Certificate with an M.S. in Biological Science should be aware that only 13 units earned prior to admission to the Master's Program may be applied to a graduate degree. Students wishing to pursue the M.S. degree in Biological Science must also complete the application process to be considered for the M.S. degree.

Curricular Requirements


	Required Courses (34 units)
	BIOL 4450 Cell Culture Techniques (4) BIOL 4485 PCR, DNA Sequencing and Fragment Analysis (4) BIOL 4490 Bioinformatics (4) BIOL 6141 Advanced Molecular Techniques (4) BIOL 6147 Functional Genomics (4) BIOL 6151, 6152 Cell and Molecular Biology I, II (5, 5) CHEM/BIOL 6430 Protein Chemistry Techniques (4)

Graduate Courses


Biology Courses The course prefix for the following courses is BIOL.
6141	Advanced Molecular Techniques (4) A laboratory course covering the theory, practice and application of advanced techniques in molecular biology through guided research projects and discussions of the primary literature. Techniques include current methods in recombinant DNA construction, nucleic acid isolation and gene expression analysis. Prerequisites: BIOL 4455, 4456 and 4485 or consent of instructor. Two hrs. lect., 6 hrs. lab.
6147	Functional Genomics (4) Laboratory course covering genome-wide analysis of gene function, including data-mining, mutant analysis, and expression profiling; discussion of original literature. Prerequisites: BIOL 6151, 6152 or consent of instructor. Two hrs. lect., 6 hrs. lab.
6151, 6152	C ell and Molecular Biology I, II (5, 5) The cellular and molecular biology of eucaryote cells emphasizing membrane structure and function, structure of genetic material, control of gene expression, and protein synthesis, cell division and differentiation. Prerequisites: BIOL 4455 or equivalent, and at least one quarter of biochemistry.
6160	Community and Ecosystem Ecology (4) Structure, dynamics and distributional aspects of ecological communities and energy flow relations in whole ecosystems. Lectures and intensive field work in selected communities, with emphasis on those of central California. Prerequisite: BIOL 3110 or equivalent. Recommended: advanced taxonomic courses in zoology. Two hrs. lect., 6 hrs. field (or lab).
6175	Population Biology (4) Study of the sizes and distributions of plant and animal populations. Processes affecting reproduction, age structure, density and population fluctuations. Recommended for students interested in ecology, conservation, or environmental biology. Required project, designed, implemented and analyzed by student. Not open to those with credit for BIOL 4175. Prerequisites: BIOL 3110 or equivalent and statistics or consent of instructor. Three hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab.
6340	Environmental Microbiology (4) Key positions that microorganisms occupy in nature and their effects on global ecosystems; includes bioremediation, disease transmission/public health, biogeochemical cycling, plant-animal-insect-microbe interactions. Required project, designed, implemented and analyzed by student. Prerequisite: BIOL 3405. Not open to those with credit for BIOL 4340.
6350	Conservation Biology (4) Principles and theories of conservation biology, including biodiversity, extinction, habitat fragmentation, captive-breeding programs, restoration ecology, role of humans in western U.S. Graduate project required. Not open to those with credit for BIOL 4350. Prerequisites: BIOL 1401, 1402, 1403; BIOL 3110 or equivalents. Two hrs. lect., 6 hrs. lab.
6430	Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory (4) (See CHEM 6430 for course description.)
6500	Quantitative Methods in Physiology (2) Quantitative treatment and analysis of physiological data using modern methods including applied statistics, spread sheets, graphical methods and data presentation. Not open to those with credit for BIOL 4500. Prerequisites: BIOL 3151, STAT 3031, or consent of instructor.
6504	Comparative Physiology (4) Physiology of metabolic, respiratory, circulatory, excretory, muscle, and nervous systems of vertebrate and invertebrate animals with an emphasis on physiological diversity and adaptation. Required project, designed, implemented and analyzed by student. Not open to those with credit for BIOL 4504. Prerequisite: BIOL 3151 or consent of instructor.
6506	Animal Physiology Laboratory (3) Examination of regulatory mechanisms of animal organ systems using controlled laboratory experiments, with an emphasis on experimental design and data analysis. An independent research project and oral presentation of these results will be required. May be taken concurrently or following BIOL 6504 or BIOL 6516. Not open to those with credit for BIOL 4506. Prerequisite: BIOL 3151 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. One hr. lect., 6 hrs. lab.
6516	Environmental Animal Physiology (4) An examination of the physiological adaptations that animals use to cope with their environments, emphasizing the physiological responses of species to extreme environments. Students to present (in oral and written format) and lead discussion on recent research on certain topics in environmental physiology. Not open to those with credit for BIOL 4516. Prerequisite: BIOL 3151 or equivalent, or consent of instructor.
6520	Mammalian Physiology Laboratory (3) Advanced treatment of regulatory mechanisms in mammalian organ systems. Laboratory techniques of anesthesia, surgery, instrumentation and data analysis. Emphasis on cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and gastrointestinal physiology. Terminal project required. Not open to those with credit for BIOL 4520. Prerequisites: BIOL 3151 or equivalent. One hr. lect., 6 hrs. lab.
6530	Ecological Methods (4) Methods of design and analysis of ecological studies, including sampling techniques, field and laboratory measurements, and computer-aided data analysis including introductory modeling. Required ecological field project, designed, implemented and analyzed by student. Prerequisites: BIOL 1401, 1402, 1403 or equivalents; BIOL 3110, and graduate standing. Recommended: statistics course. Three hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab/field.
6801	Graduate Seminar-Ecology (3) A seminar in ecology, with a different theme or subject area to be chosen each year. Course based on papers presented by students enrolled. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: graduate standing in biology or consent of instructor.
6811	Graduate Seminar-Physiology (3) A seminar course dependent upon papers presented by students enrolled. The specific subject area of physiology will be chosen each year. Prerequisite: graduate standing in biology or consent of instructor. May be repeated once for additional credit.
6821	Graduate Seminar in Cell and Molecular Biology (3) A seminar course involving presentation and discussion of current research literature in cell and molecular biology. The specific subject matter will be at the discretion of the instructor. Prerequisite: graduate standing in biology or consent of instructor. May be repeated once for additional credit.
6831	Graduate Seminar in Microbiology (3) A seminar course based on papers presented by students enrolled. A different subject area in microbiology will be chosen each quarter of offering. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor.
6841	Graduate Seminar in Neuroscience (3) Presentation and discussion of current research in neuroscience. The specific subject area of neuroscience will be chosen each quarter. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisites: BIOL 4510; graduate standing in Biology, or consent of instructor.
6898	Cooperative Education (1-4) Supervised work experience in which student completes academic assignments integrated with off-campus paid or volunteer activities. May be repeated for up to 8 units, 4 units of which are applicable to a biology graduate degree. Prerequisites: at least 3.0 GPA; departmental approval of activity.
6900	Independent Study (1-4)
6901	Comprehensive Examination Preparation (2) Preparation for graduate comprehensive examination. Directed readings and review of sample questions. CR/NC grading only. May not be repeated for credit. Classified graduate student in Biological Sciences. Declared Plan C.
6909	Departmental Thesis (1-4) Development and writing of a research paper for submission to the department which specifies its format. Supervision by a departmental committee, at least one of whom must be a Cal State East Bay faculty member. Oral defense normally required. CR/NC grading only. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
6910	University Thesis (1-9) Development and writing of a formal research paper for submission to the university in the specified bound format. Supervision by a departmental committee, at least one of whom must be a Cal State East Bay faculty member. Oral defense normally required. CR/NC grading only. Prerequisite: graduate standing. Maximum of 9 units per student. (See also "University Thesis Writing Guide," available in WA 859.)
6999	Issues in Biological Science (2-4) Readings, discussion, and research on contemporary and/or significant issues in biological science. May be repeated for credit when content varies.
Marine Science Courses See the Marine Science chapter for descriptions of the following courses. (The course prefix for the following courses is MSC.) Offered at the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
6202	Oceanographic Instrumentation (6)
6204	Sampling and Experimental Design (6)
6206	Molecular Biological Techniques (6)
6208	Scientific Methods (6)
6211	Ecology of Marine Birds and Mammals (6)
6212	Advanced Topics in Marine Vertebrates (6)
6221	Advanced Topics in Marine Invertebrates (6)
6231	Biology of Seaweeds (6)
6233	Advanced Topics in Marine Ecology (1.5-6)
6234	Advanced Biological Oceanography (6)
6271	Population Biology (4.5)
6272	Subtidal Ecology (6)
6273	Marine Environmental Studies of the Gulf of California (6)
6274	Advanced Topics in Oceanography (1.5-6)
6280	Scientific Writing (3)
6285	Graduate Seminar in Marine Science (3)
6900	Independent Study (1.5-6)
6910	University Thesis (1.5-6)

Footnote

Courses listed under Marine Science at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories are offered on a semester basis in the fall and spring. Semester units have been converted to quarter units.