Cal Poly students from other majors can minor in biology through the department. A minor in biology offers increased factual and conceptual knowledge in biology, an increased understanding of scientific methods and techniques used to study biology, and an increased ability to analyze biological topics in the news or on the job.
Biological issues are relevant in many careers, including those in health-related businesses, agriculture, engineering, city planning, teaching K-12 students, journalism, political science, psychology, and statistics. In addition, an enhanced biology background will help students become better-educated citizens able to evaluate a variety of controversial issues, including genetically-modified organisms in agriculture, human cloning, genetic discrimination, the pressures of population growth.
All students in the minor will take three introductory biology courses (see the Biology Minor form for details) and then select an additional 15-16 units of 300 or 400-level courses according to their interests and goals (for a total of at least 28 units). Students may choose to emphasize courses in environmental biology or in human biology and biotechnology, or may choose to take courses in both areas.
A minor in microbiology is offered through the College of Science and Mathematics. This minor is designed to give students from majors in which microbiology may be an important component increased exposure to factual information, concepts, and skills in order to provide those students a more complete understanding of the roles of microorganisms as they pertain to studies in their chosen major. The minor gives students in the allied health and related fields the opportunity to expand their breadth of knowledge in microbial diseases, transmission and prevention, and immunologic responses.
Through the minor, students in applied fields of agriculture study such as Food and Dairy Sciences can gain additional training in pertinent topics such as microbial involvement in water and wastewater treatment; the role of microorganisms in recycling of nutrients and soil fertility; microbial roles in food processing, spoilage, production; and disease transmission.
A minor in Environmental Studies offers students from other disciplines the ability to analyze, explain, and evaluate environmental issues from both scientific and technical perspectives as well as social, political, economic and ethical aspects. The minor emphasizes integrating and analyzing knowledge from multiple disciplines.
Students who minor in biotechnology take a core of required courses and restricted elective courses focusing on biotechnology. The Biotechnology Minor Form is available from the College of Science and Mathematics Dean’s Office or the Advising Center. The minor is open to undergraduate students (except students already majoring in biochemistry or microbiology, or students within the molecular and cellular biology concentration).