Biological Sciences

Overview

About the Program

In addition to general course work in the Biological Sciences program at California Polytechnic State University, you will choose a concentration focusing on your area of interest and career goals. For those hoping to pursue medicine or other health professions, you will learn about the structures and functions of tissues and organs in humans and other animals as well as molecular and cellular biology. Others can focus on ecology, evolution, biodiversity and conservation. Beyond your classroom and lab work, you will also have the opportunity to work directly with faculty members on real-world research using the latest technology, all as an undergraduate.

Learn by doing

Your time will be spent collecting and analyzing data or running experiments on modern equipment – not sitting at desks. The diverse habitat of California's Central Coast offers many opportunities for ecological fieldwork which allows you to learn to identify and understand organisms in the field and solve environmental problems. If medical school is in your future, our cadaver lab and other specialized anatomy classes give you hands-on experiences usually reserved for first-year med school students.

Career

Many of our graduates go on to Ph.D. and M.D. programs at prestigious universities throughout California and across the country. Graduates also pursue careers in teaching, laboratory technology, public health, biotechnology research and manufacturing, wildlife management, consulting, agriculture, park and forest services, and more.