Field Biologist - Major #6083

Certificate of Achievement Program Map
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The program map below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program. Individual circumstances might require some changes to this path. It is always recommended that you meet with your pathway counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.


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 (Cal-GETC 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.


Upon completion of the program, students will:
  1. 1. Apply field sampling techniques that qualitatively and quantitatively measure and describe the role of a living organism in its environment.
  2. 2. Identify major habitat types and ecological phenomena in the field.
  3. 4. Correctly use various plant and animal taxonomic keys.
  4. 3. Describe the natural history of select plants, animals, and fungi of California.
Effective Term: 2026 Fall Semester

Term 1

9 units

BIOL 11A
Biology for Science Majors I

5 units
Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
The first of two introductory courses for biology majors, focusing on concepts in molecular and cellular biology, genetics, inheritance, and evolution. Intended for biology, pre-medical, pre-veterinarian, and pre-pharmacy majors. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
Course Details:
  1. Prerequisite: MATH 103
  2. Advisory: ENGL C1000

Select one of the following (7 units in total are required):

4 units

RECOMMEND GEOL 1

BIOL 14
Conservation Biology

3 units
Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
An introductory course in conservation biology. An exploration of phenomena influencing Earth's biological diversity with an emphasis on ecological principles and human impacts. A focus on natural resource use, management and future challenges for a growing human population. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
Course Details:
  1. Advisory: ENGL C1000

BIOL 15
Animal Biology

4 units
Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
Introductory course exploring biological concepts as they relate to animal structure and function, inheritance, ecology, and evolution. Recommended for non-biological science majors and liberal studies majors. Field trips required. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
Course Details:
  1. Advisory: ENGL C1000

BIOL 16
Plant Biology

4 units
Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
Introductory course exploring biological concepts as they relate to plant structure and function, inheritance, ecology, and evolution. Recommended for non-biological science majors and liberal studies majors. Field trips required. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
Course Details:
  1. Advisory: ENGL C1000

BIOL 71
Field Biology of the High and Eastern Sierra Nevada

1 unit
Effective Term: 2025 Spring Semester
Investigation of plants, animals, and fungi with an emphasis on the natural history and ecology of the High Sierra and its eastern slope. This is a short-term field-based course with required field trips. Multi-day camping and moderate hiking at high elevation are a part of this course. Additional costs for food, campground and entrance fees. (A, CSU)
Course Details:
  1. Advisory: BIOL 7

BIOL 72
Field Biology of the Central California Coast

1 unit
Effective Term: 2025 Spring Semester
Investigation of plants, animals, and fungi with an emphasis on the natural history and ecology of the Central California Coast. This is a short-term field-based course with required field trips. Multi-day camping and moderate hiking in the elements are a part of this course. Additional costs for food, campground and entrance fees. (A, CSU)
Course Details:
  1. Advisory: BIOL 7

GEOG 1
Physical Geography

4 units
Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
The Earth’s dynamic physical systems and processes. Topics include weather, climate, geomorphology, soils, and the biosphere. Emphasis on interrelationships among systems and processes and their resulting patterns and distributions. Tools of geographic inquiry include maps, remote sensing, graphic data, and models. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
Course Details:

    GEOG 10
    Introduction to GIS

    3 units
    Effective Term: 2023 Fall Semester
    Introduction to the fundamental concepts of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) including familiarization with commonly used GIS software, data sources, organization and input of data, display of spatial data, querying and methods of data analysis, and real-world applications of GIS to problem-solving. (A, CSU, UC)
    Course Details:

      GEOL 1
      Physical Geology

      4 units
      Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
      This course consists of an introduction to the principles and unifying concepts of earth science including geologic time, formation and internal structure of the Earth, plate tectonics, rock and mineral identification, weathering processes, landforms, earthquakes, volcanic activity, flooding and groundwater resources. Laboratory exercises will include rock and mineral identification, and interpretation of topographic and geologic maps. Optional field trips to classic geologic locations. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
      Course Details:

        GEOL 3
        Geology Field Studies

        1 unit
        Effective Term: 2025 Spring Semester
        This course consists of geology field studies of a classic geologic location, such as Death Valley, Eastern Sierra, Lassen, Kings Canyon, San Andreas Fault, etc. Required camping field trips. Additional costs for food, campground, and entrance fees. (A, CSU, UC)
        Course Details:

          GEOL 4
          Geology of California

          3 units
          Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
          This course is an introduction to the geologic setting and evolution of California using the concepts of plate tectonics, stratigraphy, and processes that have and are still shaping the landscape, including volcanism, earthquakes, and erosion. Optional field trips. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
          Course Details:

            Term 2

            13 units

            BIOL 7
            Field Biology

            5 units
            Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
            Field-based investigation of plants, animals, and fungi emphasizing natural history, taxonomy, and ecology of local species and methods of field study. Weekly required field trips with moderate hiking and a multi-day field trip are included. This is a required course for the Field Biologist Certificate at FCC. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
            Course Details:
              (
            1. Prerequisite: BIOL 3
              2. OR
            2. Prerequisite: BIOL 11A
              3. OR
            3. Prerequisite: BIOL 15
              4. OR
            4. Prerequisite: BIOL 16
              5. )

            BIOL 11B
            Biology for Science Majors II

            5 units
            Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
            The second of two introductory courses for biology majors, focusing on concepts surrounding the evolution and classification of Earth's biodiversity, the structure and function of organisms, and ecology. Intended for biology, pre-medical, pre-veterinarian, and pre-pharmacy majors. Field trips are included in this course. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
            Course Details:
              (
            1. Prerequisite: BIOL 11A
              2. AND
            2. Prerequisite: MATH 103
              3. )

            Select 3 units from the following (7 units in total are required):

            3 units

            BIOL 14
            Conservation Biology

            3 units
            Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
            An introductory course in conservation biology. An exploration of phenomena influencing Earth's biological diversity with an emphasis on ecological principles and human impacts. A focus on natural resource use, management and future challenges for a growing human population. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
            Course Details:
            1. Advisory: ENGL C1000

            BIOL 15
            Animal Biology

            4 units
            Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
            Introductory course exploring biological concepts as they relate to animal structure and function, inheritance, ecology, and evolution. Recommended for non-biological science majors and liberal studies majors. Field trips required. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
            Course Details:
            1. Advisory: ENGL C1000

            BIOL 16
            Plant Biology

            4 units
            Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
            Introductory course exploring biological concepts as they relate to plant structure and function, inheritance, ecology, and evolution. Recommended for non-biological science majors and liberal studies majors. Field trips required. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
            Course Details:
            1. Advisory: ENGL C1000

            BIOL 71
            Field Biology of the High and Eastern Sierra Nevada

            1 unit
            Effective Term: 2025 Spring Semester
            Investigation of plants, animals, and fungi with an emphasis on the natural history and ecology of the High Sierra and its eastern slope. This is a short-term field-based course with required field trips. Multi-day camping and moderate hiking at high elevation are a part of this course. Additional costs for food, campground and entrance fees. (A, CSU)
            Course Details:
            1. Advisory: BIOL 7

            BIOL 72
            Field Biology of the Central California Coast

            1 unit
            Effective Term: 2025 Spring Semester
            Investigation of plants, animals, and fungi with an emphasis on the natural history and ecology of the Central California Coast. This is a short-term field-based course with required field trips. Multi-day camping and moderate hiking in the elements are a part of this course. Additional costs for food, campground and entrance fees. (A, CSU)
            Course Details:
            1. Advisory: BIOL 7

            GEOG 1
            Physical Geography

            4 units
            Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
            The Earth’s dynamic physical systems and processes. Topics include weather, climate, geomorphology, soils, and the biosphere. Emphasis on interrelationships among systems and processes and their resulting patterns and distributions. Tools of geographic inquiry include maps, remote sensing, graphic data, and models. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
            Course Details:

              GEOG 10
              Introduction to GIS

              3 units
              Effective Term: 2023 Fall Semester
              Introduction to the fundamental concepts of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) including familiarization with commonly used GIS software, data sources, organization and input of data, display of spatial data, querying and methods of data analysis, and real-world applications of GIS to problem-solving. (A, CSU, UC)
              Course Details:

                GEOL 1
                Physical Geology

                4 units
                Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
                This course consists of an introduction to the principles and unifying concepts of earth science including geologic time, formation and internal structure of the Earth, plate tectonics, rock and mineral identification, weathering processes, landforms, earthquakes, volcanic activity, flooding and groundwater resources. Laboratory exercises will include rock and mineral identification, and interpretation of topographic and geologic maps. Optional field trips to classic geologic locations. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
                Course Details:

                  GEOL 3
                  Geology Field Studies

                  1 unit
                  Effective Term: 2025 Spring Semester
                  This course consists of geology field studies of a classic geologic location, such as Death Valley, Eastern Sierra, Lassen, Kings Canyon, San Andreas Fault, etc. Required camping field trips. Additional costs for food, campground, and entrance fees. (A, CSU, UC)
                  Course Details:

                    GEOL 4
                    Geology of California

                    3 units
                    Effective Term: 2025 Fall Semester
                    This course is an introduction to the geologic setting and evolution of California using the concepts of plate tectonics, stratigraphy, and processes that have and are still shaping the landscape, including volcanism, earthquakes, and erosion. Optional field trips. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
                    Course Details:
                      Total: 22 units