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Biology Major

(Catalog Majors Fall 2006 and Later)

Major and Degree Requirements:

capuchin monkey!

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. If you receive a grade of D or F in two (2) core curriculum courses, either in separate courses or in repetitions of the same course, you are subject to dismissal from the major.

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.

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. Credit for 199 courses from other departments may not be applied.

Each course applied toward the UD major requirements must have a minimum of four (4) units. Courses with fewer than four units may be combined to equal one (1) course equivalent, IF they are applicable to the major (e.g., EE BIOL 180, EE BIOL 188). Thus, two (2) courses worth 2 units each (for a total of 4 units) could equal one course requirement on the major. A maximum of one (1) course on the major is allowed in cases where two 2-unit courses are combined to equal one course equivalent. A six-unit course counts as one course on the requirement for the major, e.g., EE BIOL C119 (4 units) and C119L (2 units), which must be taken together, count as one course. Only ONE of EE BIOL 191 (4 units) can be applied on the major.

All courses to be applied on the major must be taken for a letter grade. This includes all courses in the Life Science Core Curriculum and all UD major courses.

The College requires a total of 60 upper division units for graduation. Thus, you may be required to take additional UD courses (either within or outside of the major) to meet this requirement.

Departmental Honors

An overall GPA of 3.40 and a global GPA of 3.40 in the major are required for graduation with honors in Biology. Highest honors in Biology are awarded to students whose global and overall GPA are 3.60 at graduation and who have satisfactorily completed EE BIOL 198A & 198B. Students do not need to apply for departmental honors. All students are reviewed for honors following the receipt of final transcripts.

Life Science Core Curriculum:

  1. Life Sciences 1, 2, 3, and 4
  2. Chemistry 14A, 14B/BL, 14C/14CL, 14D
    OR Chemistry 20A, 20B/L, 30A/30AL, 30B/30BL
    (Students considering medical or pharmacy school who take the 20 series should also take 30C.)
  3. Mathematics 3A, 3B, 3C
    OR Mathematics 31A, 31B, 32A
    (If you are considering the EBE major, you should take the 31 series; some pharmacy schools also require the 31 series.)
  4. Physics 6A, 6B, 6C OR Physics 6AH, 6BH, 6CH
    OR Physics 1ABC, 4AL, 4BL
  5. Stats 13

Requirements for the Biology Major:

  1. Chemistry 153A and Chemistry 153L
  2. TWO COURSES (totaling at least 8 units) from the following list:
    Ecology & Evolutionary Biology 100, 109, 116, 120, 121
  3. TWO COURSES (totaling at least 8 units) of laboratory courses from the following list:
    Ecology & Evolutionary Biology 101, 103, 105, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113A, 114A, 115, 117, 128, 134A, 136, 162, 170, 181.

    Four (4) units from the Field Biology Quarter (FBQ) or Marine Biology Quarter (MBQ) may be applied, and one (1) course from the following list: Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics 101+101L; Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology 120+120L; Physiological Science 107, 166.
  4. TWO COURSES (totaling at least 8 units) from the following list:
    Ecology & Evolutionary Biology C119, 122, 129, 133, 135, 137, M139, 146, 151A, 154, 168, 198A and 198B [must take both], or 199 (4 units).
    Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology 138, 165A. Eight (8) units from the Field Biology Quarter (FBQ) or Marine Biology Quarter (MBQ) may be applied. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology courses not applied under Category 2 or 3 may be applied in this category.
  5. THREE COURSES (totaling at least 12 units) from the following list:
    Anthropology 120 and/or ONE of 124, 124P, 127P, 128A
    Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences ONE of 102, 103, 104, M105/EE BIOL M139, 130
    Biomathematics 110 and/or Biostatistics 100B
    Chemistry and Biochemistry (any upper division course EXCEPT 193A-199)
    Earth and Space Sciences 116
    Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (any upper division course EXCEPT 190, 192A, 192B, 194, 195, 196)
    Geography 112 and/or ONE of 108 or 111
    Human Genetics C144 or Life Sciences 100HA or 100HB or 100HC (only one from this group is allowed)
    Mathematics (any upper division course EXCEPT 105A, 105B, 106, 191-199)
    Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics (any upper division course EXCEPT 193-199C)
    Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology (any upper division course EXCEPT 188-199D)
    Neuroscience M101A, M101B, M101C, 102, M130, M148
    Physics (any upper division course EXCEPT 190-199)
    Physiological Science (any upper division course EXCEPT 191-199)
    Psychology 115
    Any course not applied under Category 2, 3 or 4 may be applied to this category.

NOTE: A maximum of eight (8) units of the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology 198-series or four (4) units of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology 199 may be applied toward the major. Credit for 199 courses from other departments may not be applied. 199 courses with faculty sponsors OUTSIDE the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology do NOT apply on the major unless approved by special petition AFTER the course is completed. Instructions for petitioning non-EE BIOL 199s are available in the Undergraduate Office.

Regarding classes offered by Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology or Physiological Science: As of FALL 2004 and thereafter, enrollment in ALL upper division (UD) Physiological Sciences courses will be restricted to their majors during first pass. You must consult the Phy Sci department about enrollment in courses during second pass for UD elective Phy Sci courses. Non-Phy Sci majors are restricted from enrolling in Phy Sci 107 at any time.

Enrollment in UD MCD BIO courses will be restricted to their majors during first pass and will be open to all students during second pass, space permitting. Non-MCDB majors are restricted from enrolling in MCD BIO 104 at any time.

 

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE AWARE OF THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED ON YOUR DPR
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS UP TO DATE!

Revised 06/23/06

Before Fall 1995  |  Fall 95 to Summer 2000  |  Fall 00 to Summer 06