An undergraduate student in biology prepares for graduate work, for laboratory and field research and technical work, for health professions, and for K-12 teaching. This degree is also a good general college education for someone who does not plan to work as a biologist, because it prepares graduates to face challenges in environmental management and in incorporating new discoveries in molecular biology into such fields as medicine and agriculture. Graduate students prepare for careers in specialized scientific areas and in community college teaching. Employers and professional and graduate programs continually tell us how important communication and people skills are for today's scientists. The department also offers an unusually strong program in basic computer skills.
All programs require strong support in chemistry, physics, math and communication courses.
State and San Francisco State Universities received a large multiyear grant from the National Science Foundation to strengthen the education of prospective K-12 science teachers. The BA - Biology can be tailored through electives to meet virtually any career goal. It is a broad introduction to all life sciences, with focus upon the breadth aspects of education. There is a special emphasis within the BA for students who want to become high school science teachers. The Bachelor of Science concentrations are technically more demanding, with more courses required in the lab or in the field.