Curriculum Related FAQs

Curriculum sheets list all course requirements for a particular major. Roadmaps allow you to plan semester-to-semester for graduation in 4 years. The Curriculum sheets and Roadmaps for each major are posted on the University website
University Catalog (course information, prerequisites, corequisites, and programs)

Students should follow the curriculum year in which they first enrolled, or the year they graduate. To change to the latter, students should file the “Curriculum Year Change Request Form” linked from the Registrar’s Office Forms.
If a student changes majors, he/she must follow the curriculum year in which they changed majors, or the year they graduate.

See the document Projected Course Offerings on the Biology Department website for the most updated version.
There are many factors which may change when a course is offered. Always check the schedule of classes on BroncoDirect.

If the lecture and lab courses are co-requisites, you must take both during the same semester. You must register for both—put both in your cart—before you approve (submit) your registration on-line.

Check here or the catalog for pre-requisites before registering for a course. Success in a course depends upon your having taken the pre-requisite course(s).
If you attempt to register for a course but have not taken the pre-requisites that are listed in the catalog, you will receive a message that says “Requisites not met” and you will not be able to register for that course. If you have a compelling reason that you could take the course without the pre-requisites, please contact the instructor directly. Only the instructor on record can override the pre-requisite requirement.
If a pre-requisite has been satisfied by a transfer course that was missing on your CPP record, you may bring your proof (your transcript & Assist.org report or a petition form) to the Department Office to request a permission number. The Department Office will help verify the pre-requisite(s), but not override the missing pre-requisite(s).

1000 and 2000 level courses are considered lower division courses, and should be completed before taking upper division courses (3000 and 4000 level) courses.
Undergraduates may take a graduate (5000 level) course for undergraduate credit if they have senior status, have a 2.75 upper division GPA, meet the pre-requisites, and have permission from the instructor. No more than 9 units of 5000 level courses may be counted towards a B.S. degree.

HST 2202 and PLS 2010 satisfy both GE Area D1 and D2, respectively, as well as the 6-unit requirement for American Institutions; HST 2202 also satisfies the 3-unit American Cultural Perspectives requirement.
A list of approved GE courses in each category is found in the on-line catalog. You may also search its availability in a particular term under BroncoDirect “Search for Classes” tab using the “Course Attribute” (e.g. C) and “Course Attribute Value” (e.g. C1).
Quarter v. Semester General Education Tool link: https://www.cpp.edu/~semester/for-students/general-education/index.shtml

Electives provide the opportunity to specialize, to take courses that are of interest to you, and to explore other areas of biology
Emphasis electives are 2000 or higher level BIO courses that are specific to your major. Elective courses are sorted under different emphases. There is no need to officially declare your emphasis. Students can take courses from different emphases to learn the breadth of biology, or focus on one emphasis to be more specialized. However, please be aware that at least 12 units must be at 4000-level or above.
Non-emphasis electives include courses at 2000-level or above from any departments in the College of Science. The requirements may vary by the major. Please read the description in your curriculum sheet carefully.
May I Apply BIO 4990 Courses to my Electives? Yes, if your electives have no restricted list of courses. If the BIO 4990 course topics fit to your discipline well, it is likely that it could count toward your restricted electives. Please verify that with your major faculty advisor before taking the course. To move an advisor-approved course to the electives in your DPR, please see a department staff advisor or a faculty advisor.

For Biology and Biotechnology majors, up to 4 units combined from research supervisory, service learning, and internship courses can count as electives under emphasis electives. These courses include BIO 2000 or BIO 4000, BIO 4410, BIO 4590S/AS, BIO 4610, BIO 4620 and BIO 4910S/AS. An “Application for Enrollment in Supervisory Courses” form must be completed with professor’s signature.
For Environmental Biology majors, up to 2 units of the above courses can count toward the emphasis electives.

Curriculum Resources