Program Pathways

Field Biologist - Major #6083
Certificate of Achievement
2024 Fall Semester
The Field Biologist Certificate is a program designed to provide students with education and training in various aspects of field biology in preparation for 1) entry level employment in the environmental consulting field or government agencies 2) entry level field research assistant and 3) continuing education in biology. A certificated field biologist may work in the field doing plant and animals surveys, threatened and endangered species surveys, sensitive habitat delineation, biological construction monitoring or scientific data collection, all under the direction of qualified professional biologists. Students planning for a career in biology in most cases will need to earn at least a Bachelor’s Degree. Therefore biology students are strongly encouraged to meet with a counselor about transfer requirements (IGETC/CSU certification) early in their program. Biology students should also meet with biology faculty about course/program offerings as soon as possible in order to complete the program in a timely manner.

Term 1

Units: 9.0
BIOL 11A
Biology for Science Majors I (Active)
5.0
Select one of the following (7 units in total are required):
4.0

RECOMMEND GEOL 1

ANTHRO 16A
Field Archaeology I (Active)
2.0
BIOL 14
Conservation Biology (Active)
3.0
BIOL 15
Animal Biology (Active)
4.0
BIOL 16
Plant Biology (Active)
4.0
BIOL 71
Field Biology of the High and Eastern Sierra Nevada (Active)
1.0
BIOL 72
Field Biology of the Central California Coast (Active)
1.0
GEOG 1
Physical Geography (Active)
4.0
GEOG 10
Introduction to GIS (Active)
3.0
GEOL 1
Physical Geology (Active)
4.0
GEOL 3
Geology Field Studies (Active)
1.0
GEOL 4
Geology of California (Active)
3.0

Term 2

Units: 13.0
BIOL 7
Field Biology (Active)
5.0
BIOL 11B
Biology for Science Majors II (Active)
5.0
Select 3 units from the following (7 units in total are required):
3.0
ANTHRO 16A
Field Archaeology I (Active)
2.0
BIOL 14
Conservation Biology (Active)
3.0
BIOL 15
Animal Biology (Active)
4.0
BIOL 16
Plant Biology (Active)
4.0
BIOL 71
Field Biology of the High and Eastern Sierra Nevada (Active)
1.0
BIOL 72
Field Biology of the Central California Coast (Active)
1.0
GEOG 1
Physical Geography (Active)
4.0
GEOG 10
Introduction to GIS (Active)
3.0
GEOL 1
Physical Geology (Active)
4.0
GEOL 3
Geology Field Studies (Active)
1.0
GEOL 4
Geology of California (Active)
3.0
Total: 22.0