The Marine Biology Major

The focus of the MARINE BIOLOGY major is the study of marine organisms and their environment.

Students in the Marine Biology major are required to participate in the Marine Biology Quarter (MBQ). The MBQ provides the opportunity for undergraduates to live the life of a marine biologist. Under the guidance of department faculty and graduate assistants, the students design their own research projects, reside and collect data at a field station, conduct experiments to test their hypotheses, and present their work at the end of the quarter. Moreover, some of our undergraduates have had their research published in major peer-reviewed journals.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

  • (for requirements for previous years, click here)

To plan your 4 year plan, please meet with a full time counselor and review the following pathways using this link: https://lifesciences.ucla.edu/biology-curriculum-options/.

Please select one sequence:

Chemistry : CHEM 14A, 14B, 14BL, 14C, 14D or CHEM 20A, 20B, 20L, 30A, 30AL, 30B

Life Science: LS 7A, 7B, 7C, 23L

Math : LS30A & 30B or MATH 31A, 31B, & 32A or MATH 3A, 3B, & 3C

Statistics : STATS 13 or LS40

Physics : PHYSICS 5A, 5B, & 5C or PHYSICS 1A, 1B, 1C, 4AL, 4BL

Earth, Planetary and Space Science 15 OR Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences 1

TRANSFER STUDENTS ONLY: Students admitted to UCLA as an EEB transfer student can satisfy the one year of math requirement by completing the equivalent of MATH 31A + MATH 31B at their semester system community college and will not be held to completing MATH 32A. However, students who have placed out of UCLA’s Math 31A course based on AP/IB credit may be required to complete UCLA’s Math 3C, 32A or an equivalent course after transfer.

Students must complete courses from each of the following categories:

Category 1: Required Background (2 courses)

Category 2: Laboratory Courses (1 course)

Category 3: Marine Organismic Biology or Physiology (1 course)

Category 4: Ecology or Behavior (1 course)

Category 5: Evolution (1 course)

Category 6: Field Quarter (1 course)

Category 7: Elective (1 course)

Please be sure to review the rules for the major for further information on upper division major requirements

Note: Some department restrict their courses to their declared students for first and second pass. If a class is listed under the major requirements, it does not mean that you will be able to enroll into the course for priority, first, or second pass. We recommend utilizing the class notes to determine when you are eligible to enroll into another department’s course. The class notes can be found by selecting the triangle shape icon with an exclamation point in the center on the schedule of classes.

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology 109 and 109L

*Both courses required

Select 1 course:

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: EE BIOL 101, 105, 110, 112, 136, 170, 181

Select 1 course:

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: EE BIOL 101, 105, 107, 112, 128, 140,142, 170*, C174, 184,

Physiological Science 166*

*Students cannot take both EE BIOL 170 and PHYSCI 166.

Select 1 course:

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: EE BIOL 100, 116, C119A, C119B, 122, C126, 128, 129, M131 (same as Geography M117), 133, 136, 137, 140, 142, 151A, 152, 154, 155, 161, 162, 170*, 184

Anthropology 128P (formerly numbered Anthropology 128A)

*Students with credit for PHYSCI 166 cannot take EE BIOL 170

Select 1 course:

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: EE BIOL 116, 120*, 121, 130, 133, C135, 140, 144, 149, 150, CM173 (same as Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences CM173), C174, 175, 184, 185*, 186

Life Sciences 107 (only for students who have completed Life Sciences 7A, 7B, 7C; not available for credit for students who completed Life Sciences 4)

Society and Genetics M142 (same as Anthropology M128S)

*Students cannot take both EEB 120 and EEB 185.

Marine Biology Quarter (MBQ) or pre-approved equivalent.

Select 1 course:

Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences: A&O SCI 102, 103, 104, M105 (same as EE BIOL M139), 130

Chemistry: CHEM 103, 153A (strongly recommended)

Earth, Planetary, & Space Sciences: EPS SCI 100, 116, 119, C141, 153

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: EE BIOL M131 (same as Geography M117), 153, 198A/B (both courses must be taken), 199

Geography: GEOG 100, 101, M106 (same as A&O Sci M106), 123, 130, 169

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering 103, 150A

Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology 172

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 (Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology):

As of FALL 2004 and thereafter, enrollment in ALL upper division (UD) Physiological Science courses will be restricted to their majors during first pass. You must consult the IB&P 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, 111ABC, and 111L at ALL TIMES.

Enrollment in Upper Division 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 104AL at ALL TIMES.

MAJOR & DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

  • 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. Students receiving a grade below C- in two core curriculum courses, either in separate courses or repetitions of the same course, 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.
  • Courses applied to the upper division (UD) major requirements may be applied to ONE category only. Courses listed in multiple categories MAY NOT be applied to multiple categories simultaneously.
  • 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), which would need to be determined via a course substitution petition. 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 requirements for 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.

An overall GPA of 3.400 and a global GPA of 3.400 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 3.600 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.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE AWARE OF THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED ON YOUR DPR/DAR AND TO VERIFY THAT IT IS UP TO DATE!

ECOLOGY & EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY UNDERGRADUATE OFFICE 101 Hershey Hall, (310) 825-1680 Questions? Send them via MyUCLA Message Center. Please include your UID in all correspondence.