Information and Policies
Introduction
Biology has entered into an exciting new era in which phenomena that once seemed insoluble mysteries—such as embryonic development, the functions of the brain, and the dynamics of ecosystems—are now yielding their secrets as the technology to study them becomes more and more sophisticated. From molecular biology, with its potential to revolutionize medicine and agriculture, to ecology, with its lessons for the sustainable management of the environment, biologists are fully engaged in meeting the challenges of the future, helping to improve the quality of human life and to preserve habitats and biodiversity. Thus, it is no surprise that biology is at the heart of many of today’s most pressing intellectual and social concerns. The Biology B.S. degree program gives students a rigorous education in modern biology, while allowing a student the opportunity to select from a wide array of upper-division elective courses offered by the departments of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. With proper advance planning, a student with virtually any degree can prepare a competitive application for medical school or health care professional school. Check the Health Careers webpage for more information on how you can academically prepare for a career in health care. Additional information is available at the UCSC Career Center.
Academic Advising for the Program
Students should take full advantage of academic advising and should keep in frequent contact with the advisers to stay informed about late announcements of courses, changes in scheduling, and opportunities for special study. Transfer students should also consult the Transfer Information and Policy Section. For additional advice and information:
MCD Advising
142 Jack Baskin Engineering
mcdadvising@ucsc.edu
Getting Started in the Major
Prerequisites
Due to the demanding nature of the major, students must begin their science coursework as early as possible. CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B and CHEM 1C, and BIOL 20A, BIOE 20B, and BIOL 20L must be taken during the first and second years in order for students to qualify for admission to MCD biology-sponsored majors, including the biology B.S., human biology B.S., molecular, cell and developmental biology B.S. and neuroscience B.S. majors. Students are strongly encouraged to take STAT 5 or STAT 7/STAT 7L and begin, if not complete, other requirements including calculus. For an overview of prerequisites and getting started in the major, please visit our biology B.S. site.
An online mathematics placement examination is required to enroll in a math course. Biological science majors 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.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the Biology major will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of how biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology are used to elucidate both the function of cells and their organization into tissues,
- Recognize that biology has a basis in chemistry, physics, and mathematics,
- Describe how scientific method is used to explain natural phenomena,
- Use effective oral and written language skills to communicate scientific data and ideas,
- Understand safe laboratory practices and perform basic molecular biology techniques
- Generate hypotheses, evaluate data, and design experiments to investigate a scientific problem, and
- Present broad knowledge in biochemistry, genetics, evolutionary biology, cell biology, developmental biology, physiology and ecology.
Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process
Major Qualification
The Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology has a qualification policy that applies to the biology B.S., molecular, cell and developmental biology B.S., and neuroscience B.S. majors.
To qualify for any of these majors, students must pass (with a grade of C or better) the following courses or their equivalents:
All qualification courses must be completed by the campus major declaration deadline.
Students with two or more grades of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in the policy courses are not qualified to declare.
When assessing qualification:
- All courses must be taken for a letter grade, see Letter Grade Policy.
- Students with AP credit for BIOL 20A, BIOE 20B, and/or CHEM 1A, need only pass the remaining qualification policy courses.
- Students with grades of I or IP in any of the policy courses will not be eligible to declare until a grade has been assigned.
- Every student who satisfies the major qualification requirements and who petitions to declare the major by the campus major declaration deadline (i.e., before enrolling in their 3rd year or the equivalent) will be admitted to the major. Students enrolled in their final qualification policy course at the major declaration deadline may submit the petition, but will not be declared until satisfactory grades have been posted. Students who satisfy the major admission requirements, but who petition to declare the major after the campus major declaration deadline will be considered on a case-by-case basis for admission to the major; admission is not guaranteed.
Appeal Process
Students who are informed that they are not eligible to declare the major may appeal this decision by submitting a letter to the Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology faculty adviser within 15 days from the date the notification was mailed. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department will notify the student and their college of the decision. See our appeal process for more information.
How to Declare a Major
You may declare a major as early as you would like, if you have decided which major to pursue and have satisfied prerequisites or qualification requirements (if any) for the major. Students who enter UC Santa Cruz as frosh are required to be formally declared in a major before enrolling in their third year (or equivalent). Upper-division transfer students must complete the major qualification courses before entering UCSC.
Each major/minor advising office has a process for declaring. To initiate the process to declare, please complete the online declaration petition located on the Department of MCD Biology website. For assistance, please contact MCD biology advising at mcdadvising@ucsc.edu.
Transfer Information and Policy
Transfer Admission Screening Policy
MCD Biology encourages applications from transfer students in the biological sciences. In fall 2012 the department established a Major Qualification Policy that limits access to the program to those students who have successfully completed a subset of foundational coursework. Transfer students are held to similar criteria when being assessed for admission to UC Santa Cruz as an MCD-sponsored major. See qualifying for the major as a transfer applicant for more information.
To be considered for admission as a proposed major in biology B.S., transfer students must complete courses equivalent to CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B, CHEM 1C, BIOL 20A, and BIOE 20B with a grade of C or better in each course prior to transfer.
In addition to the required coursework for admission, students should complete courses equivalent to the lower-division calculus (MATH 11A or MATH 19A and MATH 11B or MATH 19B; statistics (STAT 5 or STAT 7 and STAT 7L and organic chemistry (CHEM 8A, CHEM 8B and CHEM 8L) requirements. Students who transfer without having completed these recommended courses may have difficulty enrolling in courses and may require more than two years to complete their MCD-sponsored degree. Students are also encouraged to complete all general education requirements prior to transfer. Please see our preparing to transfer as an MCD major for more complete information.
Getting Started at UCSC as a Transfer Student
Transfer students who have met the major qualification requirements are encouraged to declare the major immediately upon arrival. Students who are proposed in a different major and have advanced standing when they come to UC Santa Cruz require permission from the department to change into the major. Admission to the major is not guaranteed.
Transfer students should complete the required courses in genetics (BIOL 105), biochemistry (BIOL 100) and molecular biology (BIOL 101 and BIOL 101L) by the end of their first year at UCSC since they are prerequisites for the majority of other required courses.
Letter Grade Policy
All courses that are taken to satisfy any major requirement must be taken for a letter grade.
Course Substitution Policy
At least half of the upper-division courses (numbered Biology 100–Biology 190) required for the major must be taken through the biological sciences program at UC Santa Cruz, not as transfer credits from another department or institution. If a student plans to transfer to UCSC from another institution, the student is advised to contact a MCD Biology Department adviser at UC Santa Cruz before enrolling in upper-division courses at the student’s institution or any institution other than UCSC. This advising will help students understand the limitation of transferring upper-division courses from other institutions to UCSC. For more information on transferring courses to UC Santa Cruz, please consult the undergraduate website.
Once matriculated, a student must receive permission from the department to satisfy the BIOL 20A, BIOL 100, BIOL 105, BIOL 101 or BIOL 110 requirements with courses taken at other institutions. Students who wish to receive credit toward the major for these or other courses taken either at UCSC or at another institution should contact a department adviser.
Double Majors and Major/Minor Combinations Policy
Students interested in pursuing multiple majors within the biological sciences may NOT declare the following combination of majors:
- Biology (B.A., B.S., or minor) AND any other biological sciences major
Should a student choose to double major, they must qualify for and complete the disciplinary communication and comprehensive requirements for each of the majors.
Study Abroad
The UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) offers qualified students unique opportunities to broaden their educational horizons. The MCDB Department encourages interested students to participate. 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.
Students interested in study abroad need to get an early start on their basic science requirements, including chemistry, mathematics, and introductory biology and must declare their major prior to applying to go abroad. Visit the EAP office as soon as possible to begin planning; you must seek advice about your EAP plan for major courses at UC Santa Cruz from a department adviser and/or faculty adviser and receive their approval for your plans.
Honors
Honors in the 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.
Medical and Professional School Admission
Medical and professional school admissions requirements vary; students should verify that their coursework will satisfy the admissions requirements of the programs to which they plan to apply.
Requirements and Planners
Course Requirements
Lower-Division Courses
All of the following courses:
BIOL 20L is waived for junior transfer students
Plus one of the following options:
Plus one of the following options:
Plus one of the following options:
Note: PHYS 7A/PHYS 7B and PHYS 6L may not satisfy the physics prerequisite for admission to all medical schools; be sure to check the requirements at all schools where you wish to apply.
Upper-Division Courses
Choose one of the following options:
Plus all of the following courses:
Laboratory requirement:
Students must complete two upper-division courses that include regular laboratory or fieldwork:
Choose one of the following courses:
Plus one additional laboratory or field course (any upper-division BIOE or BIOL course identified with an “L”).
If the additional laboratory course is BIOL 103L, BIOL 105L, BIOL 109L, BIOL 115L, BIOL 120L or BIOL 121L, it will also satisfy the disciplinary communication requirement.
Electives
Students must complete three additional upper-division electives (5-7 credits each) chosen from below:
Note: Some of the following courses fulfill the DC requirement.
Note: Lecture/lab combinations count as one course.
Students must complete three additional upper-division electives (5-7 credits each) chosen from below:
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
The DC requirement in the biology B.S. degree can be satisfied either by completing two BIOE lab courses or by completing one 5-credit BIOL lab.
For the BIOE option, choose two Ecology and Evolutionary Biology courses from this group:
Note: Lecture/lab combinations count as one course.
| 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 |
For 2-credit BIOE lab courses taken concurrently with 5-credit lectures, both courses must be passed to receive one half of the DC requirement.
For the BIOL option, choose one course from this group:
| BIOL103L | Toxic RNA Lab III | 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 |
Comprehensive Requirement
All majors have a comprehensive requirement. For the Biology B.S., this requirement is satisfied via the completion of the above laboratory requirement.
Planners
Sample Biology B.S. Frosh Four-Year Planner
Additional frosh sample planners
The following general education requirements will be fulfilled by the major requirements listed in the above planner: MF, SI, and SR. In addition to the GE requirements satisfied by the above courses, a student will also need to complete courses satisfying the CC, ER, IM, TA, PE, and PR general education requirements.
Sample Biology B.S. Transfer Two-Year Planner
Additional transfer student sample planners
This planner assumes that a student has completed all UC Transfer Pathway courses: