Information and Policies
Introduction
The general biology bachelor of arts major permits flexibility, but demands careful attention to a student’s own interests and plans. Each student should select courses on the basis of up-to-date information in consultation with a biology faculty adviser whose interests reflect the student’s interests.
Academic Advising for the Program
Academic advising is available at the EEB undergraduate advising office and via email at eebadvising@ucsc.edu. The undergraduate webpages contain advice and information pertinent to students’ most frequently voiced questions. Each student should review the information posted on the website; for further assistance, contact an EEB undergraduate adviser at eebadvising@ucsc.edu. Transfer students should also review the Transfer Information and Policy Section.
Getting Started in the Major
Prerequisites
The introductory biology sequence is prerequisite to virtually all upper-division biology courses. BIOL 20A (offered by the Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology Department) has a prerequisite of CHEM 1A. Therefore, it is essential for students to start chemistry as soon as possible. Students who have not taken CHEM 1A may begin the introductory sequence with BIOE 20C. The entire introductory biology sequence should be taken the first and second year, concurrently with or following the general chemistry sequence. We also strongly recommend completing the lower-division physics requirements early in your academic career.
An online mathematics placement is required to enroll in a mathematics course. Students are expected to take this examination and are encouraged to work in the learning modules until they place into calculus. For more information see the mathematics placement website.
Advanced placement (AP) course equivalencies can be used to fulfill prerequisites.
Program Learning Outcomes
The undergraduate curriculum offered by the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) is designed to ensure that all students declared in any EEB sponsored major will achieve the following seven program learning outcomes.
- Students will demonstrate broad-based knowledge of the fundamentals of ecology, behavior, evolution and physiology and the relationships among these disciplines.
- Students will demonstrate skills in the observation and experimental study of organisms, using both field-based and laboratory-based approaches.
- Students will demonstrate skills in identifying, accessing, comprehending and synthesizing scientific information, including interpretation of the primary scientific literature. This includes understanding key questions and hypotheses, interpreting results and conclusions, and evaluating quality through critique.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to conceive and execute independent scientific research, including developing their own questions and hypotheses, designing an appropriate theoretical or empirical/experimental approach, executing that approach, and analyzing and interpreting data.
- Students will demonstrate an ability to understand and apply fundamental quantitative skills, including models and statistical analyses, so as to properly interpret published research and apply such skills in their own research.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate original scientific work in the form of a scientific paper, as well as in oral or poster presentations.
- Students will exhibit strong teamwork and problem solving skills. They will demonstrate the ability to make arguments from evidence and work together to find optimal solutions.
Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process
Major Qualification
All courses must be taken for a letter grade. The following qualification courses, or their equivalents, must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better:
All of the following courses:
Students with one grade of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in one of the qualification courses are eligible to declare after successfully repeating the same or an equivalent course with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
Students with two or more grades of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in the qualification courses are not eligible to declare.
Students with AP credit for any of the qualification course(s) are eligible to declare after successfully completing the remaining qualification courses.
Consult with an EEB undergraduate adviser when requesting to declare the major after the campus declaration deadline. Transfer students should also review the Transfer Information and Policy Section. For information on qualifying for the environmental studies/biology combined major, please see Environmental Studies in this catalog.
Appeal Process
Students who are not eligible to declare the major may appeal this decision after they have successfully completed the qualification courses by submitting an appeal letter to EEB undergraduate advising. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department will notify the student and college of the decision. For more information about the appeal process, see the appeal process website.
How to Declare a Major
Students may submit a petition to declare after successful completion of the qualification policy courses. Students who are enrolled in their final qualification policy course(s) may submit the petition, but will not be declared until grades have been posted. Information on major declaration can be found here. Additional questions may be directed to eebadvising@ucsc.edu.
Transfer Information and Policy
Transfer Admission Screening Policy
To be considered for admission to UC Santa Cruz as a proposed major in biology (B.A.), transfer students must pass equivalents of the following preparatory courses with a C (2.0) or better prior to transfer:
More information on qualifying for the major as a transfer applicant is here.
Getting Started at UCSC as a Transfer Student
Transfer students who satisfy the major screening requirements may declare the major at any time after matriculation only after their official transcripts have been posted to their MyUCSC student portal by the UCSC Office of Admissions.
Beginning in late June and early July (for fall transfer students) EEB Advising will review admitted students' reported transfer course work and determine how it applies to their major's requirements.
EEB Advising will contact admitted students via email. The email will include information on how students' transfer coursework fulfills major requirements. We will suggest courses for students' fall enrollment, and invite you to make an appointment to talk with EEB Undergraduate Advising or direct questions to eebadvising@ucsc.edu. Transfer students may also expect to receive regular email messages from EEB Advising in June, July, and August with additional information about the major.
Letter Grade Policy
All courses used to satisfy any major requirement must be taken for a letter grade.
Course Substitution Policy
To discuss the process for a course substitution, contact an EEB undergraduate adviser.
At least half of the upper-division courses (numbered BIOE 100–BIOE 179) required for each major must be taken in EEB at UC Santa Cruz not as transfer credits from another department or institution.
Transfer students are advised to contact an EEB undergraduate adviser before enrolling in numerous upper-division courses at other institutions. For more information on transferring courses to UC Santa Cruz, please consult the Transfer Student website. Additional information for transfer students is provided above in the “Transfer Students” section.
Only one upper-division course requirement may be met with a research-based independent study or graduate-level UC Santa Cruz biology course.
Double Majors and Major/Minor Combinations Policy
Students interested in pursuing multiple majors within the biological sciences may not declare any combination of Biology (B.A., B.S., or minor), Ecology and Evolution B.S., Marine Biology B.S., Plant Sciences B.S., or Environmental Studies/Biology B.A. combined major.
Study Abroad
The UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) offers qualified students unique opportunities to broaden their educational horizons. The EEB Department encourages interested students to participate. It is possible to satisfy major requirements abroad and graduate on time; consult with an EEB undergraduate adviser early in the planning process.
Many programs are in English-speaking countries or use English for advanced courses. Many programs offer small classes, extensive laboratories, and/or field research experience.
There are excellent programs in Costa Rica, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Germany, among others. The Costa Rica Tropical Biology Program is of note to students interested in tropical biology and ecology. Held spring and fall quarters at the Monteverde research station, this program gives students experience with hands-on field research and offers a homestay program. The University of Queensland (Australia) offers an intensive, full-semester marine science program, which includes stays at research stations on the Great Barrier Reef and in sheltered mangrove and seagrass habitats near Brisbane.
Students interested in study abroad need to get an early start on their introductory requirements, including chemistry, mathematics, and biology and must declare their major prior to going abroad. Visit the UCEAP office as soon as possible to begin planning and seek advice and approval for your UCEAP plan from an EEB undergraduate adviser prior to participation in UCEAP.
Honors
Honors in the biological sciences majors are awarded to graduating students whose academic performance demonstrates excellence at a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or above. Highest honors are awarded to those students whose performance demonstrates the highest level of excellence and results in a GPA of 3.8 or above.
Requirements and Planners
Course Requirements
Lower-Division Courses
Introductory Biology:
General Chemistry:
Statistics:
Choose one of the following options:
Physics:
Choose one of the following courses:
Upper-Division Courses
A total of eight upper-division biology courses, including electives, as follows:
Three core courses:
One of the following anatomy or physiology courses:
Electives
Four additional electives chosen from the following:
BIOE courses numbered 100-179 and
Note: Lecture/lab combinations count as a single course.
Some of these electives may have prerequisites that do not satisfy major or minor requirements.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division disciplinary communication (DC) requirement. The DC requirement for the biology bachelor of arts degree is satisfied by completing two of the following Ecology and Evolutionary Biology courses:
| BIOE108 | Marine Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE114 | Herpetology | 5 |
| BIOE114L | Field Methods in Herpetological Research | 2 |
| BIOE117 | Systematic Botany of Flowering Plants | 5 |
| BIOE120 | Marine Botany | 5 |
| BIOE120L | Marine Botany Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE122 | Invertebrate Zoology | 5 |
| BIOE122L | Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE127 | Ichthyology | 5 |
| BIOE127L | Ichthyology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE128L | Large Marine Vertebrates Field Course | 5 |
| BIOE129 | Biology of Marine Mammals | 5 |
| BIOE129L | Biology of Marine Mammals Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE137 | Molecular Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE141L | Behavioral Ecology Field Course | 5 |
| BIOE145 | Plant Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE145L | Field Methods in Plant Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE150L | Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE153C | Disciplinary Communication for Biologists | 5 |
| BIOE158L | Marine Ecology Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE159A | Marine Ecology Field Quarter: Marine Ecology with Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE161L | Kelp Forest Ecology Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE171 | Disciplinary Communication for Biologists | 5 |
| BIOE172 | Population Genetics | 5 |
| BIOE172L | Population Genetics Laboratory | 2 |
Note: Lecture and 2-credit lab combinations count as a single course.
Comprehensive Requirement
All majors in the biological sciences require completion of a comprehensive requirement. This requirement can be satisfied in one of the following ways:
- receiving a passing grade in an independent research course, or field/laboratory course listed below;
- completing a senior thesis;
- achieving a graduate record examination (GRE) score at or above the 50th percentile on the biology subject test or the biochemistry, cell, and molecular biology subject test. Reports of GRE scores must be submitted to the EEB undergraduate advising office before the last day of the graduating quarter;
- obtaining a medical college admission test (MCAT) score at or above the 50th percentile on the biological sciences section. Reports of MCAT scores must be submitted to the EEB undergraduate advising office before the last day of the graduating quarter.
Comprehensive courses offered by Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
| BIOE112L | Ornithology Field Studies | 2 |
| BIOE114L | Field Methods in Herpetological Research | 2 |
| BIOE117L | Systematic Botany of Flowering Plants Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE120L | Marine Botany Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE122L | Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE124L | Mammalogy Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE127L | Ichthyology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE128L | Large Marine Vertebrates Field Course | 5 |
| BIOE129L | Biology of Marine Mammals Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE131L | Animal Physiology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE133L | Exercise Physiology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE134L | Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE135L | Plant Physiology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE137L | Molecular Ecology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE141L | Behavioral Ecology Field Course | 5 |
| BIOE145L | Field Methods in Plant Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE150L | Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE151A
/ENVS 109A
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods | 5 |
| BIOE151B
/ENVS 109B
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE151C
/ENVS 109C
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Functions and Processes of Terrestrial Ecosystems | 5 |
| BIOE151D
/ENVS 109D
| Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Conservation in Practice | 4 |
| BIOE153A | Introduction to Arctic Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE153B | Arctic Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE153C | Disciplinary Communication for Biologists | 5 |
| BIOE155L | Freshwater Ecology Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE158L | Marine Ecology Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE159A | Marine Ecology Field Quarter: Marine Ecology with Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE159B | Marine Ecology Field Quarter: Ichthyology with Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE159C | Marine Ecology Field Quarter: Methods in Field Ecology | 5 |
| BIOE159D | Marine Ecology Field Quarter: Methods in Field Ecology Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE161L | Kelp Forest Ecology Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOE163L | Ecology of Reefs, Mangroves, and Seagrasses Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE172L | Population Genetics Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOE183W | Undergraduate Research in EEB--Writing | 2 |
Note: Lab courses may have associated prerequisite or corequisite lecture courses.
Comprehensive courses offered by Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology
| BIOL100L | Biochemistry Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOL105L | Eukaryotic Genetics Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOL109L | Yeast Molecular Genetics Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOL115L | Eukaryotic Molecular Biology Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOL120L | Development Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOL121L | Environmental Phage Biology Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOL186L | Undergraduate Research in MCD Biology | 5 |
| BIOL186R | Undergraduate Research in MCD Biology | 5 |
| BIOL189 | Health Sciences Internship | 3 |
Comprehensive courses offered in other departments
Planners
In addition to the specific courses shown in these planners, a student must complete courses satisfying the MF, TA, IM, PE, PR, CC, ER and C campus general education requirements.
Sample Frosh Planner
*Electives must be chosen to satisfy the Disciplinary Communication and Comprehensive requirements.
Additional Frosh sample planners may be found on the EEB website.
Sample Transfer Planner
*Electives must be chosen to satisfy the Disciplinary Communication and Comprehensive requirements.
Transfer student sample planner
For information on the general biology minor, see biology B.S. and minor.