Why Biology at SDSU?

The Department of Biology at San Diego State University has excellent degree programs with courses taught by over 40 full-time, research-active faculty members. We serve and mentor approximately 1,300 undergraduate majors in Biology and Microbiology, 80 minors, 150+ graduate students, and thousands of students from other departments. SDSU offers various coursework in cellular and molecular biology, ecology, evolution, and related fields. In a typical semester, undergraduates have access to over 50 courses. Nearly all of these classes are small, with fewer than 30 students, or have associated laboratory sections with fewer than 25 students.

Major Areas of Study

Bacteriophages under electron microscope

Cell & Molecular Biology

Investigate how cells and microorganisms interact.

Cactus flower blooming in desert

Ecology

Protect ecosystems and their inhabitants.

Students examine a collection of beetles at the Biodiversity Museum Open House

Evolutionary Biology

Identify when new species diverged from their relatives.

Bioinformatics

Analyze big data to pinpoint important genetic variation.

Scott snorkeling in Indonesia

Marine Biology

Explore aquatic environments and their role in climate change.

Night lizard head

Zoology

Observe animal behaviors and spatial distributions.

Develop Hands-On Skills

A student with a beard, glasses and tattoos holds up a block of cement with four living abalone shells on it

Work with Living Organisms

Students walk along rocks on San Diego coastline to visit tide pools Photo Credit: Ric DeSantiago

Explore San Diego's Unique Ecosystems

Lab benches with fish-eye lens in the Viromics Center

Access Cutting-Edge Research Facilities

Prepare for a Plethora of Professions

Because of our emphasis on laboratory courses, hands-on activities, and research opportunities, our alumni are uniquely prepared for various careers in health care, biotechnology, research, and teaching.

Orange and purple patches across the thawing Alaskan tundra

Inform Environmental Policies

Students in masks and scrubs wait to distribute medicines in Lima, Peru

Reduce Health Disparities

Marine organism called ascidians

Solve Mysteries of Life

Announcements

Pardon the Dust, We Just Launched our New Website

Welcome! Pardon the dust as we unveil our brand-new website! We’re delighted to have you explore our updated online home. If you’re searching for something specific, please check the menu, which now features enhanced navigation to assist you in finding information more efficiently. Exciting new features and content are on […]

Cristal Zuniga Recognized at U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Scientists Awards

Funding for the Early Career Research Program (ECRP) Supports the Next Generation of America’s Scientific Workforce The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of 91 early career scientists from across the country who will receive a combined $138 million in funding for research covering a wide range of topics including […]