Program Overview

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Introduction to the Biology Major

The Biology major is designed to provide students with a broad knowledge of science, as well as prepare them for careers in the health sciences. This major is suitable for students who would like to obtain a comprehensive understanding of life and physical sciences.

Major Requirements

Undergraduates in the Biology major are expected to meet a standard set of requirements, which include introductory Life Science classes and upper division electives. The courses build on each other to give students a well-rounded education in Biology.

Lower Division - Major Required Courses

To fulfill the lower division requirements, students must select one sequence from the following options:

• Life Science: LS7A, 7B, 7C, 7L
• Math: LS30A & 30B or MATH 31A, 31B, & 32A or MATH 3A, 3B, & 3C
• Chemistry: CHEM 14A, 14B, 14BL, 14C, 14D or CHEM 20A, 20B, 20L, 30AL, 30A, 30B
• Physics: PHYSICS 5A, 5B, & 5C or PHYSICS 1A, 1B, 1C, 4AL, 4BL
• Statistics: STATS 13 or LS40

Upper Division Major Requirements

Students must complete 2 courses from each of the following 5 core principles for a total of 10 courses:

1. Principle of Evolution & Genetics
2. Principle of Information Flow
3. Principle of Structure Function
4. Principle of Transformation of Energy & Matter
5. Principle of Systems

Principle of Evolution & Genetics

Select 2 courses from the following options:

• Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: 103, 104, 108, 109, 109L, 110, 111, 112, 113A, 113AL, 114A, 115, 117, 118, 120 (or 185), 121, C126, 129, 130, C135, 136, 140, 143, 144, M145 (same as EPSS M118), C146, 149, 150, 158, 160, 169, 171, C174, CM173, 175, 181, 184, 185, 186
• Anthropology: 120, 124P, 124Q, 124S, 128P
• Earth & Planetary Sciences: 116
• Life Science: 107
• Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics: CM156, 158
• Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology: 138, CM156
• Society & Genetics: M142

Principle of Information Flow

Select 2 courses from the following options:

• Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: 100, 100L, 116, 120 (or 185), 121, 122, C126, 129, 132*, 134B, C135, 136, 137, 143, C146, 149, 150, 153, 156, 162, 162L, 169, 170, 171, C172, C174, 176, M178 (same as C&S BIOL M186), C179, 180A, 180B, 183
• Anthropology: 124P, 128P
• Chemistry: C100, 153A, 166
• Life Science: 107
• Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics: 101, 103AL, 103BL, 109AL, 109BL, 123, 132, CM156, 158, C185A
• Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology: 100, 138, 143, 144, C150, 150AL, CM156, 165B, 168, M175A, M175B, M175C, 187AL
• Neuroscience: M101A, M101B, M101C, 102
• Physiological Sciences: M106, 111A, 111B, CM123, 124, C126, C127, 128, C130, 136, 138, M140, C144, M145, 146, 147, 149, C152, 154, 155, 165, 166, 167, 173, 174, 175, M176, 177, M180A, M180B, M180C

Principle of Structure Function

Select 2 courses from the following options:

• Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 109, 109L, 110, 111, 112, 113A, 113AL, 113B, 114A, 114B, 115, 117, 118, 121, 122, 123A, 123B, 124A, 125, M127, M127L, 128, 129, M131 (same as GEOG M117), 136, 140, 144, M145 (same as EPSS M118), 147, 148, 151A, 151B, 152, 155, M157, 160, 161, 162, 162L, 163, 164, 165, 166, 169, 170, 171, C174, 181, 184
• Chemistry: C105, 153A, 153D, 153L
• Earth & Planetary Sciences: 116
• Geography: 108, 111, 112
• Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics: 101, 103AL, 103BL, 109AL, 132, CM156, 158, 168, C185A
• Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology: 100, 138, M140, C141, 143, 144, C150, 165A, 165B, 168, M175A, M175B, M175C
• Neuroscience: M101A, M101B, M101C, 102
• Physiological Sciences: 107, 108, 111A, 111B, 120, 121, 122, CM123, 124, C126, C127, 128, C130, 136, 138, M140, C144, M145, 146, 147, 149, C152, 153, 154, 155, 165, 166, 167, 173, 174, 175, M176, 177, M180A, M180B, M180C

Principle of Transformation of Energy and Matter

Select 2 courses from the following options:

• Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: 103, 109, 109L, 123A, 123B, 124A*, M131 (same as GEOG M117), M139, 143, M151A, 153, 161, 162, 162L, 170, 184
• Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences: 102, 103, 104, M105, 130, 145
• Chemistry: 103, 110A, 110B, 114, C123A, C123B, 136, C143A, C143B, 144, C145, 153A, 153B, 153C, 153D, 153L, 154, C159, C164
• Environmental Health Sciences: 100
• Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics: 101

Principle of Systems

Select 2 courses from the following options:

• Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: 101, 102, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 110, 111, 112, 113A, 113AL, 113B, 114A, 114B, 115, 116, 117, C119A, C119B, 120 (or 185), 122, 123A, 123B, 124A, 124B, 125, C126, M127, M127L, 128, 129, M131 (same as GEOG M117), 132, 133, 136, 137, M139, 140, 142, 144, C146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151A, 151B, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 158, 160, 161, 162, 162L, 163, 164, 165, 166, 169, 170, C172, 176, C177, M178 (same as C&S BIOL M186), C179, 180A (2 units), 180B, 182, 183, 184
• Anthropology: 124P, 128P
• Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences: 102, 103, 104, M105, 130, 145
• Biostatistics: 100B
• Chemistry: 103, 153A, 153L
• Environmental Health Sciences: 100
• Earth & Planetary Sciences: 116
• Geography: 108, 111, 112
• Life Science: 107, M174
• Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics: 101, 103AL, 103BL, 105, 109AL, 109BL, 123, 132, C134, 158, 168, 180A, 180B, C185A
• Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology: 100, 138, M140, C141, 143, 144, 146, C150, 150AL, CM156, 160, 165A, 165B, 168, M175A, M175B, M175C, 187AL
• Neuroscience: M101A, M101B, M101C, 102
• Physiological Sciences: 100, M106, 107, 108, 111A, 111B, 120, 121, 122, CM123, 124, C126, C127, 128, C130, M135, 136, 138, M140, C144, M145, 146, 147, 149, C152, 153, 154, 155, 165, 166, 167, 173, 174, 175, M176, 177, M180A, M180B, M180C
• Psychology: 115, 133B
• Society & Genetics: M142

Rules for the Biology Major

The following rules apply to the Biology major:

• All Life Science Core Curriculum courses must be passed with a letter grade of C- or better and must be completed with an overall GPA of 2.00 (C) or better.
• For the upper division (UD) major requirements, you must pass each course with a letter grade of D- or better. However, in order to graduate, you are required to maintain a global GPA (UD major requirements) of 2.00 or better.
• A maximum of four (4) units of graduate work may be applied on the major, BUT only if approved by the department.
• Two courses from each Core Principle are required.
  • Courses applied to the upper division (UD) major requirements may be applied to ONE Core Principle only.
  • Minimum of 5 Upper Division courses for the major must be taken within the EE BIOL Department.
  • Minimum of 2 lab courses must be taken toward the degree, including a minimum of 1 Upper Division EE BIOL lab course.
    • In order to receive lab credit for EEB 100L, 109L, 113AL, or 162L, the corresponding lecture course (EEB 100, 109, 113A, and 162, respectively) must be completed, either as a pre-requisite or as a co-requisite.
    • MIMG 101 + MIMG 100L – in order to receive lab credit for MIMG 100L, MIMG 101 must also be completed, either as a pre-requisite or as a co-requisite.
• Credit deductions: students cannot take the following pairs of courses:
  • EE BIOL 120 & 185
  • EE BIOL 170 & PHYSCI 166
  • MCD BIOL 100 & 165A
• FBQ/MBQ instructors determine which Core Principles their courses will help complete Upper Division requirements for the major (up to 4 requirements total).
• A maximum of four (4) units of EE BIOL 199 OR eight (8) units of EE BIOL 198A & 198B may be applied to the major.
  • Each Primary Investigator (PI) will sign off on a form stating which Core Principle the student’s research course should count for, after the student’s work and quarter are completed.
  • The research course must be for a minimum of 4 units.
• Regarding classes offered by Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology and Physiological Science (Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, IBP): enrollment in ALL upper division (UD) Physiological Science courses will be restricted to their majors during first pass. You must consult the IBP department about enrollment in courses during second pass for UD elective Physiological Science courses. Non-Physiological Science majors are restricted from enrolling in PHYSCI 107 and 111A/B at ALL TIMES.