Biological Sciences, Division of
STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICE
1128 Pacific Hall
(858) 534-0557
For undergraduate questions, email: question@biology.ucsd.edu
FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
1610 Urey Hall, Revelle College
http://www-biology.ucsd.edu/
Professors
Courses
Division of Biological Sciences Required Review of Student Progress
Freshmen
Entering students who have indicated the desire to major in biology
(with the exception of bioinformatics) will be admitted directly
to the biology major of their choice. To remain in good standing
the student must complete a minimum of eight of the following courses
(or equivalent) during their first five quarters at UCSD:
BILD 1, BILD 2, BILD 3
Chemistry 6A-B-C
Math 10A-20A, 10B-20B, 10C-11-20C
Physics 1A-2A, 1B-2B, 1C-2C
Chemistry 140A-141A, 140B-141B
BICD 100
BIBC 103
A students best six grades from the eight courses listed
will be used to calculate a GPA which must be at least a 2.5. If
a student fails to complete the required courses, or to obtain the
required minimum GPA, they will be dismissed from the biology major.
(Note: These are the minimal requirements to remain in
the major, and do not satisfy all of the lower-division requirements
of any biology major. Please consult the section regarding your
particular major to ensure that you satisfy all lower-division and
upper-division requirements.)
Continuing Students
Continuing UCSD students who wish to transfer into the major will
be evaluated under the rules that were in effect the year in which
they entered the university.
Transfer Students
Entering students who have indicated the desire to major in biology
(with the exception of bioinformatics) will be admitted directly
to the biology major of their choice. To remain in good standing
the student must have completed eight of the following courses,
or course equivalency, prior to transfer to UCSD:
BILD 1, BILD 2, BILD 3
Chemistry 6A-B-C
Math 10A-20A, 10B-20B, 10C-11-20C
Physics 1A-2A, 1B-2B, 1C-2C
Chemistry 140A-141A, 140B-141B
BICD 100
BIBC 103
A students best six grades from the eight courses listed
will be used to calculate a GPA which must be at least a 2.5. If
a student fails to complete the required courses, or to obtain the
required minimum GPA, they will be dismissed from the biology major.
Transfer students who do not meet these requirements will be allowed
a maximum of three quarters to satisfy any unmet requirements. Transfer
students are therefore strongly encouraged to complete these requirements
at their community college. (Note: These are the minimal
requirements to remain in the major, and do not satisfy all of the
lower- division requirements of any biology major. Please consult
the section regarding your particular major to ensure that you satisfy
all lower-division and upper-division requirements.)
Exceptions
The division will accept petitions from students to remain in
the major with less than the required GPA or course work, and the
success of such petitions will be evaluated based upon academic
promise that is not reflected in the GPA. Exceptions might also
be made to accommodate students who showed exceptional promise in
laboratory experimentation, or students who had overcome extraordinary
hardship while taking the required courses.
Division of Biological Sciences Laboratory Requirement
Freshmen
The Division of Biological Sciences requires students in all biology
majors, with the exception of bioinformatics, to take one biology
lab before the end of the sophomore year.
Continuing Students
Continuing UCSD students who wish to transfer into the major will
be evaluated under the rules that were in effect the year in which
they entered the university.
Transfer Students
The Division of Biological Sciences requires students in all biology
majors, with the exception of bioinformatics, to take one biology
lab before the end of the sophomore year. Transfer students may
petition to have community college course work cover the lab requirement.
Transfer students whose community college laboratory course is determined
to be equivalent in content to an existing biology lab will have
completed the requirement upon transfer. Transfer students are therefore
strongly encouraged to complete this requirement at their community
college. Transfer students who do not meet this requirement at the
time of transfer may petition the division for an extension.
Division of Biological Sciences Residency Requirement
To receive a bachelor of science degree in biology from UCSD,
all biology majors, including transfer students, must complete at
least forty-eight or more units of upper-division course work.
To receive a bachelor of science degree in biology from UCSD, all
students must complete at least nine upper-division biology courses
(each course must be at least four units) in the Division of Biological
Sciences while officially enrolled at UCSD. (Students participating
in the Education Abroad Program (EAP), and courses at other UC campuses,
may petition up to three of these courses to count toward their
residency minima.) Biology courses completed through the UC Extension
program (concurrent enrollment) will not be counted toward this
residency requirement.
Satisfactory Progress
All students admitted into a biology major must maintain satisfactory
progress in order to remain in a biology program. If the GPA in
biology courses for such a student falls below 2.0, he or she will
be placed on probation during the quarter after the average fell
below the line. If the GPA is not brought above the 2.0 level during
the quarter on probation, the student will be dropped from the major.
Prerequisites
All students are expected to have completed all prerequisites
prior to enrolling in any biology course. Please visit the student
affairs office or consult our Web page for the most current information.
Prerequisites are enforced in all courses and must be taken for
a letter grade. Students who have satisfied the prerequisites of
a class at another college may need to be pre-authorized to enroll.
Please come to the biology student affairs office (1128 Pacific
Hall) BEFORE your priority enrollment to be pre-authorized.
Enrollment in Biology Classes by Non-Biology Students
Because biology is a popular major, enrollment in some lower-division
and upper-division biology courses is limited to biology majors,
and those majors for which biology courses are required for graduation.
Every effort will be made, on a space available basis, to enroll
students from other majors in those biology lecture and laboratory
courses which may be required for postgraduate study.
Concurrent Enrollment in Biology Courses
For more information on concurrent enrollment, please call (858)
534-3400 or email concurrent@ucsd.edu.
Enrollment process for biology courses:
- Select the biology course(s) you wish to enroll in. Be sure
that you’ve completed the prerequisites.
- Attend class starting the first day of the quarter and continue
attending. During the beginning of the third week, obtain the
instructor’s signature on the concurrent enrollment add
card (available at the UCSD Extension Student Services office).
Please note that instructors are not required to admit you to
the course, and that enrollment is on a space-available basis.
- If you have a signed add card, take it to Biology Student Affairs
for a department stamp. Space in the course will be verified at
this time. Please note that even if the instructor has signed
the add card, if space is not available, the card will not be
stamped.
- Return your completed UCSD concurrent enrollment card to the
Extension Student Services office with your enrollment fee. Submit
one card per class. Concurrent enrollment is closed after the
third week of the quarter.
Note: Students enrolling in a biology course will not incur a $50
late fee if enrolling during the third week.
Readmission to a Biology Major
Students who were absent for six quarters or more, and who have
been readmitted to UCSD, must adhere to the major requirements in
effect at the time of readmission or those subsequently established.
Readmitted students may petition to follow the major requirements
in effect at the time they left UCSD. These petitions will be reviewed
on a case-by-case basis.
Grade Requirements for the Majors
The minimum GPA requirement (for both the major and overall UC)
for graduation is 2.0. D grades in courses required for the major
are acceptable, providing that the students major GPA and
overall UC GPA is at least 2.0. Students who received D and/or F
grades should contact one of the Division of Biological Sciences
undergraduate advisers to determine the effect of such grades on
their GPAs. The biology major GPA calculation is based on upper-division
courses required for the major. (Upper-division courses from other
UCs, other UCSD departments, and EAP which have been approved via
petition to count toward the major are counted into the major GPA.
Other transfer courses do not count toward the UC or major GPA.)
All courses, required for any of the eight majors, must be taken
for a letter grade with the exception of BISP 195, 196, 197, or
199.
Students with Transfer Credit
All courses (including prerequisites) taken at other institutions
must be reviewed by the Division of Biological Sciences before they
can be applied toward any major requirement. Students must obtain
approval from the Biology Student Affairs office prior to taking
courses outside of UCSD (for example, students wishing to take a
Chem. 6BL equivalent at another institution must consult with Biology
Student Affairs before enrolling in the substitute course).
In addition, any student wishing to satisfy a major requirement
with upper-division transfer work (with the exception of organic
chemistry) must first submit an Undergraduate Petition. Contact
Biology Student Affairs (1128 Pacific Hall) for specific information
regarding transfer documentation and petition procedures.
The Division of Biological Sciences requires that students take
the full content equivalencies to UCSD series in math, chemistry,
and physics. The Division of Biological Sciences will follow the
respective departments recommendations for equivalency. In
some cases, attaining full content equivalency will require a student
to complete more than two semesters in a subject. If the courses
a student took do not provide full content equivalency, s/he will
be required to complete the lacking material at UCSD or at a community
college where the material is equivalent.
Programs Abroad
The Division of Biological Sciences strongly encourages students
to participate in the Education Abroad Program (EAP) or the UCSD
Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP). It is very important that students
who plan to participate in the UC Education Abroad Program (including
the Costa Rica Tropical Ecology program) or the UCSD Opportunities
Abroad Program obtain the name of a faculty adviser from the Biology
Student Affairs Office in order to discuss the proposed program
of study. For most EAP programs, it is strongly recommended that
biology majors complete biochemistry (BIBC 100 or 102) and genetics
(BICD 100) and their prerequisites before going abroad.
Special Studies Courses
For information on requirements and application procedures for
special studies courses, students should go to the Biology Student
Affairs Office (1128 Pacific Hall) or visit the Web site at http://biology.ucsd.edu/undergrad/BISP_info.html
How to apply special studies courses toward your biology major:
- One quarter of BISP 195 may count as an upper-division elective
for any biology major.
- One quarter of BISP 196, 197, or 199 may count as an upper division
elective for any biology major.
- Biochemistry/Cell Biology, General Biology, Human Biology,
and Physiology/Neuroscience
The second consecutive quarter of BISP 196 or 199, taken in the
same research laboratory, may be petitioned to substitute for
one of the upper-division elective lab requirements. The second
quarter of BISP 196 or 199 must be complete prior to petitioning.
Students are required to submit an undergraduate petition and
summary of research to Biology Student Affairs.
- Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Ecology/Behavior, and Evolution
The second consecutive quarter of BISP 196 or 199, taken in the
same research laboratory, may be petitioned to substitute for
one of the upper-division required laboratory courses. The content
of the BISP 196 or 199 must be equivalent to the content covered
in the required lab in order to be approved. The second quarter
of BISP 196 or 199 must be complete prior to petitioning. Students
are required to submit an undergraduate petition and summary of
research to Biology Student Affairs
- Subsequent quarters of BISP 195, 196, 197, or 199 may be applied
toward college and university requirements.
Note: Students who are approved to use a BISP 196 or 199 to satisfy
a lab requirement cannot also use BISP 196, 197, or 199 to satisfy
an upper-division elective requirement.
BISP 195Introduction to Teaching in Biology
Being a teaching assistant is an important task and can provide
students with experience and faculty contact which can be valuable
when applying for graduate school. Students who are interested in
being an undergraduate tutor should have received a strong grade
in the course which they want to teach, have an overall GPA of at
least 3.0, and have taken at least ninety total units. Students
should apply very early in the quarter prior to the quarter they
wish to teach. Applications will be accepted beginning the second
week of the quarter prior to the quarter in which the student wishes
to teach. All undergraduate tutor applications are online and may
be accessed through the biology Web site, http://www.biology.ucsd.edu/undergrad/index.html.
BISP 196Honors Thesis in Biological Sciences
Students in any one of the eight biology major programs who have
a 3.7 grade-point average or above in upper-division science courses,
the biology major, and overall UC at the end of their junior year
are eligible to undertake the honors thesis. This program covers
the senior year of undergraduate study and involves a maximum of
twelve units of senior thesis research (BISP 196) taken in addition
to the major requirements for graduation. (Four units of senior
thesis research BISP 196 are to be taken during three consecutive
quarters.) Research is conducted under the supervision of a faculty
member of the Division of Biological Sciences only and cannot be
performed in the research labs of other departments such as the
School of Medicine, SIO, etc. If there are any questions as to which
faculty members are eligible, students should consult with Biology
Student Affairs. The research will culminate in a senior thesis
and an oral report (see below). Students who complete the program
satisfactorily will have Distinction in Biology recorded
on their transcript. Students who fail to make satisfactory progress
will be advised to withdraw from the program. Students may also
withdraw voluntarily from the program. Grades for BISP 196 are P,
NP, or I only.
Application to the Honors Thesis Program
- Students interested in the program who are eligible as of spring
quarter of their junior year (the fourth quarter prior to graduation)
need to find a Division of Biological Sciences faculty member
willing to act in the capacity of thesis adviser and inform the
Biology Student Affairs Office of their intent.
- After an adviser is selected, the student and the adviser should
complete the Special Studies application form and research plan
(available on the biology Web site).
- The application form and research plan should then be submitted
to the Biology Student Affairs Office. The deadline for submitting
this form is the end of the eighth week of the quarter prior to
the quarter the research will begin.
- The application will be submitted to the honors thesis coordinator
after eligibility has been determined.
- If the student is approved for admission to the program, he
or she will then be authorized to register for BISP 196.
Entry into the second and third quarter of the program will require
submission to the honors thesis adviser of a written report in which
the student summarizes the data obtained in the previous quarters.
A brief oral interview with the student on this report can also
be expected. If the progress made appears reasonable for an honors
student, then the 196 petition will be signed. If not, the student
may be dropped from the program. Completion of the program will
require a final written report by the student at the end of the
third quarter in addition to an oral presentation in the middle
of the quarter to a suitable group of faculty and students, including
the honors thesis adviser.
BISP 197Biology Internship Program
The Division of Biological Sciences, in collaboration with local
biotech industries, created Biotechnology Internship Opportunities
(BIO). The mission of BIO is to provide biology majors with an opportunity
to participate in research in an industrial setting. We believe
that working as an intern in the private sector will enrich a students
educational experience. Students will gain valuable insight into
the relationship between theory and practice, and hence, a better
understanding of the relevance of course work in their major. Most
importantly, students will learn the importance of outstanding oral
and written communication skills. This course may be counted as
one of the upper-division electives for a biology major, providing
that no other special studies courses have already been counted
toward the major. Information on BIO may be accessed through the
undergraduate biology Web site, http://biointern.ucsd.edu.
To enroll in BISP 197, students must have accrued at least ninety-quarter
units with an overall UC GPA of at least 3.0.
There will be one weekly scheduled meeting lasting up to 1.5 hours.
Attendance and participation at these meetings are mandatory and
will affect the grade a student receives. There will be three formal
oral and three written presentations, interspersed with informal
discussions of progress achieved. All written reports must be done
with the input of the industry and must have that mentors
signature. Grading will be based on the formal and informal written
and oral presentations, as well as input from the industry mentor.
BISP 199Independent Study for Undergraduates
Independent Study BISP 199 is intended to provide interested and
qualified biology students with an opportunity to work closely with
faculty and professionals in their chosen field and can be a valuable
contribution to the students preparation for graduate school
or career goals. To enroll in BISP 199, students must have accrued
at least ninety quarter-units with an overall UC GPA of at least
3.0. Students may select for their instructor any professor at UCSD,
but the BISP 199 application must be submitted for approval to the
Division of Biological Sciences. The deadline to apply for BISP
199 is the eighth week of the quarter prior to the quarter in which
the research will begin.
AIP 197Academic Internship Program
Because the undergraduate research conducted through the Academic
Internship Program is generally done at a site not affiliated with
the UCSD Division of Biological Sciences, students who wish to request
that an AIP 197 course be counted toward their major must submit
an Undergraduate Petition for their request. Biology faculty will
review the student’s research and ascertain the project’s
compatibility with the student’s academic goals and major
requirements. Please be advised that an AIP 197 may not be aproved
toward major requirements. If an AIP 197 course is approved for
the student’s major, no other special studies course (BISP
196, 197, or 199) can be used toward the major. For further information,
please see http://aip.ucsd.edu.
Major Programs in Biological Sciences
For more information, please see biologys Web page, http://www-biology.ucsd.edu/.
The UCSD Division of Biological Sciences is structured around
the different levels of biological organizationbiochemical,
cellular, physiological, and ecological. The research and teaching
of the division emphasize the fundamentally important processes
that occur at each of these levels. With a solid foundation in these
processes future training and study in any area of biology is possible,
from plant breeding to genetic counseling, from medical microbiology
to ecological epidemiology, from veterinary science to cancer research.
The UCSD campus is situated among some of the finest research institutions
in the world. The Division of Biological Sciences is fortunate in
having close ties with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography,
the Salk Institute of Biological Studies, and the Scripps Clinic
and Research Foundation, all of which open interesting avenues for
motivated students.
The division offers eight different major programs, each of which
provides an excellent background for future graduate or professional
study. They are (1) biochemistry and cell biology, (2) biology with
a specialization in bioinformatics, (3) ecology, behavior, and evolution,
(4) general biology, (5) human biology, (6) microbiology, (7) molecular
biology, and (8) physiology and neuroscience. The requirements of
each of the majors are designed to meet the needs of a different
group of students. These requirements are quite concordant, reflecting
the divisions philosophy that familiarity with certain basic
aspects of the subject is fundamental to all specialized understanding.
Bachelor of science degrees granted in each of these majors will
be so designated.
The Student Affairs Office (1128 Pacific Hall) administers the
undergraduate biology program for all six colleges. For complete
details regarding policies and procedures pertaining to the biology
programs, please contact Biology Student Affairs.
Biochemistry and Cell Biology Major
Please refer to the Division of Biological Sciences Required
Review of Student Progress notice detailed earlier in the
Division of Biological Sciences section of this catalog.
This major is designed to provide students with the fundamental
courses required for entry into a school of medicine or into postgraduate
training in a wide variety of areas of biological and biomedical
sciences: biochemistry, biophysics, genetics, molecular biology,
cell biology, developmental biology, microbiology, virology, human
biology (physiology, metabolism, genetic disorders), cancer biology,
pharmacology, and others. The emphasis is on basic principles which
help us understand those processes unique to living organisms at
the molecular level.
The program includes two required upper- division biology laboratory
courses to provide practical experience with modern techniques and
useful technology for those seeking positions as lab technicians
in clinical and basic research laboratories. The opportunity to
select four elective courses allows students either to seek a still
broader background in a variety of biology courses or to begin specialization
in a chosen field of study.
Lower-Division Requirements
BILD 1 and 2 or BILD 1 and 3
Chemistry 6A-B-C and 6BL
Mathematics 10A-B, and 11 or 10C or 20A-B-C
Physics 1A/1AL, 1B/1BL, 1C/1CL or 2A-B-C, and one lab
Upper-Division Requirements
- Organic Chemistry (Chemistry 140A and 140B or 141A and 141B)
- Organic Chemistry (Chemistry 143A) or Physical Chemistry (Chemistry
105A)
- Structural Biochemistry (BIBC 100) or Physical Biochemistry
(BIBC 110) or Physical Chemistry (Chemistry 126)
- Metabolic Biochemistry (BIBC 102)
- Biochemical Techniques (BIBC 103)
- Genetics (BICD 100)
- Cell Biology (BICD 110)
- Molecular Biology (BIMM 100)
- One of the following four courses: Signal Transduction Lab (BIBC
105), Physical Biochemistry (BIBC 110), Pathways of Intracellular
Protein Trafficking and Compartmentation (BICD 118), Pharmacology
(BIMM 118)
- One upper-division biology lab to be chosen from the following:
BIBC 105, BICD 101, 111, 123, 131, 133, 145, BIMM 101, 103, 121,
127, 141, BIPN 105, 145, or Chemistry 143C.
- Four additional upper-division biology courses (each course
must be at least four units) taken through the UCSD Division of
Biological Sciences are required.
Note: For more information on how the BISP 195,
196, 197, or 199 can count toward major requirements, please see
the previous section “Special Studies Courses.”
The following courses offered by the Depart-ment of Chemistry and
Biochemistry are recommended as electives for the biochemistry and
cell biology major: Chemistry 115, 116, 122, 124, 126, 127. Please
note that these courses will not count towards the Division of Biological
Sciences residency requirement and must be petitioned.
Bioinformatics Specialization in the Division of Biological Sciences
This major offers a rigorous, interdisciplinary training in the
new and rapidly-evolving field of bioinformatics within the Division
of Biological Sciences. Bioinformatics refers to advanced computational
and experimental methods that model the flow of information (genetic,
metabolic, and regulatory) in living systems to provide an integrated
understanding of the systems properties of model organisms. For
a detailed understanding of the large amount of qualitative and
quantitative data that is currently accruing, the bioinformatician
of the future must have a substantial mastery in biology, chemistry,
mathematics, physics, and computer sciences. This interdisciplinary
specialization will be offered by three other departments (computer
science and engineering, chemistry, and bioengineering), each with
their own set of requirements and electives. The program offered
by the Division of Biological Sciences is aimed at a student interested
in applying, and to some extent developing, tools of bioinformatics
for the study of biological systems. Students will receive a B.S.
degree in Biology with a Specialization in Bioinformatics. This
degree will prepare students for graduate studies in biological
and biomedical sciences, or provide excellent opportunities in the
biomedical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and bioinformatics industries.
Admission
Because the number of pre-majors and majors will be limited as
described in the section on bioinformatics, student demand may exceed
capacity. Therefore, admission to the specialization is not guaranteed
and will be based on academic excellence, as described below. Since
bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary major, a steering committee
involving faculty from the participating departments will select
among the best candidates applying and recommended through each
department, while insuring active participation of the departments
and divisions offering the major.
Freshmen
Entering freshmen will go through a two-stage process to be admitted
to a bioinformatics program. Students should enter the division
as a declared major in some subdiscipline offered by the division
(e.g., molecular biology, general biology, etc.) Freshmen can choose
to apply for a bioinformatics pre-major after completing the following
courses by the end of their first year. Admission will be based
primarily on the GPA in the following courses, but also on a written
statement, completion of the other listed requirements and overall
academic excellence:
BILD 1
Chemistry 6A
Math 20B
Math 20C
Pre-bioinformatics majors can then choose to apply for admission
to the bioinformatics major after competing CSE 11 and CSE 12 by
the end of their sophomore year. Admission to the bioinformatics
major within each department or division will be based on the GPA
in all six screening courses. The final decision on admission to
the pre-major and major will be made by the bioinformatics Steering
Committee, in consultation with the departments.
If a student applies for admission to the bioinformatics specialization
but is not selected after completion of the screening courses, that
student will be eligible to remain in the specialization or major
to which they were admitted initially. Students with undeclared
majors may also apply to the bioinformatics specialization, but
in the event they are not selected for this competitive major, they
may choose any other major in biology as long as they satisfy the
requirements of that major.
Continuing Students
Students who have not declared the bioinformatics pre-major, but
who have completed the screening courses, may apply for entry to
a bioinformatics program after six quarters (the end of the sophomore
year). They will be admitted on a space-available basis, after pre-majors
have been screened for admission to the major.
Transfer Students
Applicants seeking admission to a bioinformatics major must have
completed the following courses with a strong GPA that is competitive
with that of UCSD students applying for entry into this specialization:
a year of calculus (equivalent to Math 20A-B-C)
a year of general chemistry, with lab (equivalent to Chem 6A-B-C
and 6BL)
the highest level programming course offered at the community
college (equivalent to CSE 11 and 12)
at leasat one semester of biology (equivalent to BILD 1 and BILD
2)
Those who have not completed the equivalent courses may be admitted
as pre-majors, using the same criteria that apply for UCSD students,
and will be allowed a maximum of three quarters to complete pre-major
requirements. Transfer students are therefore encouraged to complete
these requirements at the community college.
If a student applies for admission to a bioinformatics specialization
but is not selected after completion of the screening courses, that
student will remain eligible for specialization or major to which
they were originally admitted.
Lower-Division Requirements
Mathematics 20A-B-C, 20F and Mathematics 15B or CSE 21
Chemistry 6A-B-C, and lab
Physics 2A-B-C
BILD 1 and 2
BILD 94
CSE 11, CSE 12 (Students may take the slower paced version, CSE
8A + CSE 8B, instead of CSE 11.)
Upper-Division Requirements
- Organic Chemistry (Chemistry 140A-B)
- Advanced Data Structure (CSE 100 or Mathematics 176)
- Design and Analysis of Algorithms (CSE 101 or Mathematics 188)
- Metabolic Biochemistry (BIBC 102) or Biochemical Energetics
and Metabolism (Chemistry 114B)
- Biochemical Techniques (BIBC 103)
- Physical Biochemistry (BIBC 110) or Physical Chemistry (Chemistry
127)
- Genetics (BICD 100)
- Cell Biology (BICD 110)
- Molecular Biology (BIMM 100) or Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
(Chem 114D)
- Recombinant DNA Lab (BIMM 101)
- Molecular Sequence Analysis (BIMM 181)
- Biological Databases (BIMM 182)
- Applied Genomic Technologies (BENG 183)
- Computational Molecular Biology (BIMM 184)
- Bioinformatics Lab (BIMM 185)
- Probability and Statistics (Math 186)
- Three additional upper-division biology courses (each course
must be at least four units) taken through the UCSD Division of
Biological Sciences are required.
Ecology, Behavior and Evolution Major
Please refer to the Division of Biological Sciences Required
Review of Student Progress notice detailed earlier in the
Division of Biological Sciences section of this catalog.
This major includes the fields of population biology, ecology,
conservation biology, animal behavior, population genetics, biogeography,
and evolution. These fields have in common a focus on evolutionary
processes and whole organisms in relation to each other and to their
environments. Research careers in ecology, behavior, and evolution
can be found in universities, government agencies, and the biotechnology
industry. More applied careers for ecologists are equally varied:
recent graduates now work in forestry and wildlife management, as
ecological consultants for U.S. and foreign governments and private
industry, as teachers, or in new fields such as ecological medicine
and epidemiology, environmental design and planning, and conservation
biology. Because organismal biology spans such a wide variety of
topics, this major has been designed to provide the basic fundamentals
while allowing maximum flexibility within the general topic areas.
Lower-Division Requirements
BILD 1, 2, and 3
Chemistry 6A-B-C. Laboratories in chemistry are not required.
Mathematics 10A-B, and 11 or 10C or 20A-B-C
Physics 1A/1AL, 1B/1BL, 1C/1CL or 2A-B-C
Upper-Division Requirements
- Genetics (BICD 100)
- Biometry (BIEB 100) This course is a prerequisite for several
core courses and should be taken in the first or second year.
- Introductory Ecology (BIEB 102)
- Evolution (BIEB 150)
- Seven core courses to be chosen from BIEB 121-180 are required.
At least two of these courses must be laboratory or field courses
(BIEB 121, 131, 165, 167, and/or 179). Laboratory courses may
be taken concurrently with the prerequisite lecture course if
Biometry (BIEB 100) has been taken. Note that some of the
courses may not be offered every year. For that reason, it is
recommended that students take as many required courses as possible
when the courses are offered. Students who take the intensive
EAP field courses in tropical biology offered in Costa Rica or
marine biology in Australia will receive credit toward their degree.
All EAP courses must be petitioned upon return. Consult the Education
Abroad Program Office at the UCSD International Center for details.
- Three additional upper-division courses (each course must be
at least four units) in biology or other departments are required.
EBE-related courses are offered in mathematics, chemistry, environmental
systems, earth sciences, economics, biological anthropology, urban
studies (GIS), some other social science departments, and in the
graduate programs at SIO (marine biology and oceanography) and
IR/PS. Students are required to meet the Division of Biological
Sciences residency requirement. Courses to be completed outside
of the Division of Biological Sciences must be petitioned
(prior to enrollment) to satisfy this requirement. EBE students
whose graduate education or careers require biochemistry should
take Organic Chemistry 140A, 140B, and Metabolic Biochemistry
(BIBC 102) to satisfy this three-course requirement.
Note: For more information on how the BISP 195,
196, 197, or 199 can count toward major requirements, please see
the previous section “Special Studies Courses.”
General Biology Major
Please refer to the Division of Biological Sciences Required
Review of Student Progress notice detailed earlier in the
Division of Biological Sciences section of this catalog.
This program allows the most diversified exposure to biology of
any of the majors offered by the Division of Biological Sciences.
It is designed for students with broad interests who do not wish
to be constrained by the specialized requirements of the other majors
and who desire maximum freedom to pursue their particular educational
goals.
Lower-Division Requirements
BILD 1, 2, and 3
Chemistry 6A-B-C and BL
Mathematics 10A-B, and 11 or 10C or 20A-B-C
Physics 1A/1AL, 1B/1BL, 1C/1CL or 2A-B-C and one lab
Upper-Division Requirements
- Organic Chemistry (Chemistry 140A and 140B or 141A and 141B)
- Metabolic Biochemistry (BIBC 102)
- Genetics (BICD 100)
- Two upper-division biology labs to be chosen from the following:
BIBC 103, 105, BICD 101, 111, 123, 131, 133, 145, BIEB 121, 165,
167, 179, BIMM 101, 103, 121, 127, BIPN 105, or 145.
- Seven additional upper-division biology courses (each course
must be at least four units) taken through the UCSD Division of
Biological Sciences are required.
Note: For more information on how the BISP 195,
196, 197, or 199 can count toward major requirements, please see
the previous section “Special Studies Courses.”
Although students are free to design upper-division curricula
which meet their individual educational goals, Molecular Biology
(BIMM 100) and Cell Biology (BICD 110) are strongly recommended
for those contemplating applying to graduate or professional schools.
Human Biology Major
This major is designed to provide students with the fundamental
courses required for entry into: schools of medicine, veterinary
medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy; Ph.D. programs in the biomedical
sciences; and biotech research, teaching, medical technology, patent
law, physical therapy, nutrition, and nursing. The core classes
required of all human biology majors provide the student with the
basic principles that help us understand normal human physiology
and the molecular basis of human disease. The course options in
Human Physiology, Human Disease, and Biomedical-related laboratories
provide the students with educational breadth while still allowing
them considerable flexibility in tailoring their course of study
to suit their educational goals.
Lower-Division Requirements
BILD 1 and BILD 2 or BILD 1 and BILD 3
Chemistry 6A-B-C and 6BL
Physics 1A/1AL, 1B/1BL, 1C/1CL or Physics 2A-B-C, and one lab
Mathematics 10A-B, and 11 or 10C or 20A-B-C
Upper-Division Requirements
- Organic Chemistry (Chemistry 140A and 140B or 141A and 141B)
- Organic Chemistry Lab (Chemistry 143A)
- Metabolic Biochemistry (BlBC 102)
- Genetics (BICD 100)
- Molecular Biology (BIMM 100)
- Molecular Basis of Human Disease (BIMM 110)
- Mammalian Physiology I (BIPN 100)
- Three courses from the following two groups, Human Physiology
and Human Disease. At least one course must be taken from each
group.
Human Physiology
Nutrition (BIBC 120)
Embryos, Genes, and Development (BICD 130)
Human Reproduction and Development (BICD 134)
Immunology (BICD 140)
Endocrinology (BICD 150)
Mammalian Physiology II (BIPN 102)
Biology of Exercise (BIPN 108)
Cellular Basis of Learning and Memory (BIPN 148)
Human Disease
AIDS Science and Society (BICD 136)
Topics in Human Genetics (BICD 170)
Virology (BIMM 114)
Pharmacology (BIMM 118)
Bacteriology (BIMM 120)
Medical Microbiology (BIMM 124)
Biology of Cancer (BIMM 134)
- Two of the following lab courses: Biochemical Techniques (BIBC
103)
Signal Transduction Lab (BIBC 105) Cell Biology Lab (BICD 111)
Embryology Lab (BICD 131) Developmental Biology Lab (BICD 133)
Laboratory in Molecular Medicine (BICD 145) Recombinant DNA Techniques
(BIMM 101) Microbiology Lab (BIMM 121) Animal Physiology Lab (BIPN
105)
- At least two other upper-division courses (each course must
be at least four units) offered by the UCSD Division of Biological
Sciences. Recommended courses include additional courses from
the Human Physiology and Human Disease lists in section 8 above
and BICD 110 (Cell Biology), BIEB 154 (Molecular Evolution), and
BICD 118 (Pathways of Intracellular Protein Trafficking and Compartmentation).
Note: For more information on how the BISP 195,
196, 197, or 199 can count toward major requirements, please see
the previous section “Special Studies Courses.”
Microbiology Major
Please refer to the Division of Biological Sciences Required
Review of Student Progress notice detailed earlier in the
Division of Biological Sciences section of this catalog.
The microbiology major is designed to prepare students for graduate
studies and for professional careers in a variety of health-related
programs. The specialization in microbiology can provide the basic
background for work in medical technology, or for further training
in public health or other health-related specialties. The program
is also designed to provide a foundation for graduate studies in
microbiology, virology, and a variety of allied fields as well as
for medical and dental school.
Lower-Division Requirements
BILD 1 and 2 or BILD 1 and 3
Chemistry 6A-B-C and BL
Mathematics 10A-B, and 11 or 10C or 20A-B-C
Physics 1A/1AL, 1B/1BL, 1C/1CL or 2A-B-C and one lab
Upper-Division Requirements
- Organic Chemistry (Chemistry 140A-B or 141A-B)
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory (Chemistry 143A)
- Metabolic Biochemistry (BIBC 102)
- Biochemical Techniques (BIBC 103)
- Genetics (BICD 100)
- Immunology (BICD 140)
- Molecular Biology (BIMM 100)
- Virology (BIMM 114)
- Bacteriology (BIMM 120)
- Laboratory in Microbiology (BIMM 121)
- Medical Microbiology (BIMM 124)
- Three additional upper-division biology courses (each course
must be at least four units) taken through the UCSD Division of
Biological Sciences are required. Other courses of special interest
to microbiology majors are listed below:
Cell Biology (BICD 110)
Regulation of Gene Activity in Eucaryotic Cells (BIMM 112)
Microbial Genetics (BIMM 122)
Recombinant DNA Techniques (BIMM 101)
Note: For more information on how the BISP 195,
196, 197, or 199 can count toward major requirements, please see
the previous section “Special Studies Courses.”
Molecular Biology Major
Please refer to the Division of Biological Sciences Required
Review of Student Progress notice detailed earlier in the
Division of Biological Sciences section of this catalog.
The program for molecular biology is designed to provide an intensive
exposure to the theoretical concepts and experimental techniques
of molecular biology. The concepts and techniques of molecular biology
are the foundation for the studies of all aspects of biology in
modern time. A focus on molecular biology, therefore, provides an
excellent preparation for a wide range of advanced studies including
basic research, medicine, bioengineering, and biotechnology. Considerable
emphasis is placed on chemistry, biochemistry, and genetics for
students enrolled in the program. As such, it is recommended for
those students who have a particularly strong interest in this field
of study.
Lower-Division Requirements
BILD 1 and 2 or BILD 1 and 3
Chemistry 6A-B-C and BL
Mathematics 20A-B-C
Physics 1A/1AL, 1B/1BL, 1C/1CL or 2A-B-C, and one lab
Upper-Division Requirements
- Organic Chemistry (Chemistry 140A-B or 141A-B)
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory (Chemistry 143A) or Physical Chemistry
Laboratory (Chemistry 105A)
- Structural Biochemistry (BIBC 100)
- Metabolic Biochemistry (BIBC 102)
- Biochemical Techniques (BIBC 103)
- Genetics (BICD 100)
- Cell Biology (BICD 110)
- Molecular Biology (BIMM 100)
- Recombinant DNA Techniques (BIMM 101)
- Regulation of Gene Activity in Eukaryotic Cells (BIMM 112)
- Microbial Genetics (BIMM 122)
- Four additional upper-division biology courses (each course
must be at least four units) taken through the UCSD Division of
Biological Sciences are required. Attention is drawn to BICD 120,
BICD 122, BICD 140, BIMM 110, and BIMM 114.
Note: For more information on how the BISP 195,
196, 197, or 199 can count toward major requirements, please see
the previous section “Special Studies Courses.”
Physiology and Neuroscience Major
Please refer to the “Division of Biological Sciences Required
Review of Student Progress” notice detailed earlier in the
Division of Biological Sciences section of this catalog.
This major provides a program for studying the bodily and neural
functions of complex organisms. A student may concentrate upon a
more specialized area of study, such as neurobiology, animal physiology,
or endocrinology.
This major is designed to provide students with the fundamental
courses required for entry into medical school, graduate school
in biological or neural sciences, or entry into other health-related
professions such as nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy,
physical therapy, physical education, agriculture, and wildlife
management.
Lower-Division Requirements
BILD 1 and 2 or BILD 1 and 3
Chemistry 6A-B-C and BL
Mathematics 10A-B, and 11 or 10C or 20A-B-C
Physics 1A/1AL, 1B/1BL, 1C/1CL or 2A-B-C, and one lab
Upper-Division Requirements
- Organic Chemistry (Chemistry 140A, 140B, or 141A, 141B)
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory (Chemistry 143A)
- Metabolic Biochemistry (BIBC 102)
- Genetics (BICD 100)
- Molecular Biology (BIMM 100)
- Four from the following eight courses: Mammalian Physiology
I (BIPN 100)
Mammalian Physiology II (BIPN 102)
Comparative Physiology (BIPN 106)
Cellular Neurobiology (BIPN 140)
Systems Neurobiology (BIPN 142)
Developmental Neurobiology (BIPN 144)
Computational Neurobiology (BIPN 146)
Cellular Basis of Learning and Memory
(BIPN 148)
- One of four laboratories (BICD 131, BICD 133, BIPN 105, BIPN
145)
- One upper-division biology lab to be chosen from the following:
BIBC 103, 105, BICD 101, 111, 123, 131, 133, 145, BIEB 121, 131,
165, 167, 179, BIMM 101, 103, 121, 127, BIPN 105, 145. This requirement
may include a lab from number 7 that has not already been taken
by the student.
- Three additional upper-division biology courses (each course
must be at least four units) taken through the UCSD Division of
Biological Sciences are required and may include the above (numbers
6–8) if not already taken.
Note: For more information on how the BISP 195,
196, 197, or 199 can count toward major requirements, please see
the previous section “Special Studies Courses.”
Minor in Biological Sciences
To receive a minor from the Division of Biological Sciences, a
student must complete at least seven four-unit biology courses,
including at least five four-unit upper-division biology courses
(for a total of at least twenty-eight units of course work). Students
may apply transferable biology courses from another institution
toward the lower-division requirement, after obtaining approval
from both the UCSD Division of Biological Sciences and the students
college. Upper-division courses must be taken for letter grade.
No courses taken outside of the Division of Biological Sciences
may be applied toward the biology minor (i.e., Chemistry 140A, Psychology
106, etc.). Advanced placement biology scores of four or five may
be counted in lieu of BILD 1 and BILD 2. An advanced placement biology
score of three may be counted in lieu of BILD 10.
Secondary School Biology Teaching
UCSDs biological sciences division is committed to the education
of future biology teachers and offers an excellent preparation for
teaching biology in secondary schools. If you are interested in
earning a California teaching credential from UCSD, contact the
Teacher Education Program for information about the prerequisite
and professional preparation requirements. It is recommended that
you contact TEP and the Biology Student Affairs Office early in
your academic career to help you plan a suitable biology curriculum.
If you plan to get your credential at another institution, keep
in mind that a broad education in biology is the best preparation
to become a teacher.
We suggest that students take courses in plant and animal biology,
microbiology, ecology, population biology, evolution, marine biology,
genetics, and biochemistry. Courses in cellular and molecular biology
are also advisable. After completion of BILD 1, 2, and 3, a suggested
program of upper-division courses would be: BIBC 100 or 102, BICD
100, 120, 130, BIEB 102, 150, BIPN 106, SIO 275B. This would give
you as a prospective teacher the required breadth of education.
Integrated Bachelors/Masters Degree Program
An integrated program leading to a bachelor of science degree
and a master of science degree in biology is offered to those undergraduate
students who are enrolled in any of the major programs offered by
the Division of Biological Sciences at UCSD. Qualified students
are able to obtain the M.S. degree within one year following receipt
of the B.S. degree. Students interested in applying to this program
should meet with the BS/M.S. adviser in the Biology Student Affairs
Office BEFORE the end of their junior year.
The program is open only to UCSD undergraduates. The Division
of Biological Sciences does not have financial aid available for
students enrolled in this program.
Eligibility and Enrollment
To be eligible, students must have completed the first two quarters
of their junior year in residence at UCSD and must have an overall
UC GPA of at least 3.0. Students major GPA should be at least
3.3. Students must demonstrate excellent performance in upper-division
biology core courses during their undergraduate program to be eligible
to enroll in biology graduate core courses.
It is the responsibility of the prospective B.S./ M.S. student
to select a faculty member (from the Division of Biological Sciences)
who would be willing to serve as the students adviser and
in whose laboratory the student would complete at least twenty-four
units of research over a two-year period. The units of research
which must be completed during the students senior undergraduate
year, must be taken IN ADDITION to the requirements for the bachelors
degree. These units will count toward the requirements for the masters
degree only. Students must complete six consecutive quarters of
research to fulfill the research component of the program. Any deviation
from this plan, such as a break in enrollment for one or more quarters,
will be cause for the student to be dropped from the program.
Students who have been approved (by both the Division of Biological
Sciences and the UCSD Office of Graduate Admissions) for the program
must enroll in a Special Studies Course, BISP 199 (senior year)
or BGGN 271 (graduate year), for each, and every, quarter of participation
in the B.S/M.S. program. Students can obtain the appropriate course
code and division stamp at the Biology Student Affairs Office.
Research work (BGGN 271) will be credited toward the B.S./M.S.
program requirements only if it is completed during the time a student
is officially enrolled at UCSD and has paid tuition for that quarter.
Requirements for the Master of Science Degree
- Completion of six consecutive quarters of research during the
senior undergraduate year and the graduate year.
- Completion of at least thirty-six units of graduate course
work (BGGN 200-level or higher, or approved [via petition] graduate
courses offered by related departments at a similar level) during
the graduate year. The course of study must be approved by the
faculty adviser.
- Twelve of the thirty-six units must be in courses other than
BGGN 271 (BGGN 297 and BGGN 299 may not be used to satisfy this
requirement).
- Serve as a graduate teaching assistant.
- Maintenance of a grade-point average (both overall and in the
major) of at least 3.0 for all course work, both cumulatively
and for each quarter of enrollment in the B.S./M.S. program. If
the students GPA falls below 3.0 (for either overall or
in the major), he or she will be automatically dropped from the
program.
- Completion of a thesis, with an oral presentation to, and approval
of, a three-member Thesis Committee. A student may have any regular
faculty at UCSD or any adjunct faculty as their adviser and chair
of their Thesis Committee. The Thesis Committee must contain at
least two regular faculty from the Division of Biological Sciences
and no more than one adjunct faculty can serve on the committee.
If an adjunct faculty serves as chair of the Thesis Committee,
one of the biology members must serve as co-chair.
- At least three complete, separate, and consecutive quarters
of residency as a graduate student which will commence the quarter
immediately following the quarter in which the B.S. degree is
awarded. (Note: The summer session is not considered an official
quarter during the graduate year.)
- Students who have been approved for the B.S./M.S. program must
provide the Office of Graduate Admissions with a copy of their
official UCSD transcripts with the B.S. degree posted, PRIOR TO
THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE GRADUATE YEAR IN THE PROGRAM.
Non-Degree Program
The Division of Biological Sciences will accept applicants into
the non-degree program for a maximum of one year only. Qualified
applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA in their upper-division
work to be accepted. Justification will not be made for those who
fall below the GPA minimum.
Students who wish to apply to the UCSD biological sciences Ph.D.
program at a later date should not apply for this program. However,
students who have applied to graduate or medical schools elsewhere,
but have not yet been accepted, are welcome to apply.
Once accepted into this program, the student has graduate status
for the academic year. Courses may be taken on the undergraduate
or graduate level with consent of the instructor. Students will
not be assigned faculty advisers and must make their own academic
plans.
The Doctoral Program
Graduate studies for a Ph.D. degree in the Division of Biological
Sciences in affiliation with the Salk Institute are oriented mainly
toward the development of the capacity for independent research
and for teaching in the biological sciences.
The requirements for entrance to graduate study in the Division
of Biological Sciences are flexible, but a strong background in
mathematics, chemistry, and physics is recommended.
Formal course work and opportunities for dissertation research
include most basic areas of experimental biology, with emphasis
in the general areas of biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology,
developmental biology, genetics, immunology, molecular biology,
neurobiology, plant molecular biology, ecology, behavior and evolution,
virology, and cancer biology.
During the first year of graduate study, each student undertakes
a research project in the laboratory of each of four to six different
faculty members, and is expected to spend a major portion of his
or her academic time on this project. The laboratories are selected
by the student in consultation with the first year adviser to provide
a broad view of the research interests of the division. The student
is also expected to enroll in the first-year graduate biology sequence
which includes advanced material in genetics, developmental biology,
plant biology, neurobiology, molecular biology, cell biology, virology,
and immunology. Students are also required to complete a minimum
of twelve units of BGGN 500 (Apprentice Teaching in Biology.) A
program of further study, including seminars and courses appropriate
to a students background and interests, is arranged through
consultation between the student and the faculty. Much reliance
is placed on informal instruction through early and close association
of the student with the faculty and research staff, and through
regular seminars. After becoming familiar with the research activities
of the faculty through the laboratory rotation program, the student
begins work on a thesis research problem of his or her choice no
later than the end of the first year. The student is free to choose
for the thesis adviser a regular member of the UCSD faculty or an
adjunct member of the Division of Biological Sciences faculty. The
student is required to have completed a two-part examination in
order to be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The purpose
of the examinations is for the student to demonstrate competence
in the field of major interest and in related fields of biology.
The major remaining requirement for the Ph.D. degree is the satisfactory
completion of a dissertation consisting of original research carried
out under the guidance of a faculty member.
Close collaboration with members of the Department of Chemistry
and Biochemistry is a vital and stimulating aspect of the biology
program. Additional strength and breadth in biology are gained by
collaborating with the Department of Marine Biology of the Scripps
Institution of Oceanography, with The Scripps Research Institute,
and with the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
Divisional Ph.D. Time Limit Policies
Students must be advanced to candidacy by the end of four years.
Total university support cannot exceed seven years. Total registered
time at UCSD cannot exceed seven years.
Specialization in Computational Neurobiology
Students interested in computational neurobiology may apply to
the Division of Biological Sciences. These young scientists are
trained in the broad range of scientific and technical skills essential
to understand the computational resources of neural systems. ?Students
in this program have the opportunity to join labs of faculty from
several participating departments, including the Departments of
Neurosciences, Cognitive Science, and ECE.
Joint Doctoral Program with San Diego State University
The Division of Biological Sciences at UCSD participates in a
joint graduate program with the Department of Biology at SDSU, primarily
in the areas of cell and molecular biology, and leading to the Ph.D.
degree in biology. Graduate student participants in the joint doctoral
program are required to spend one year enrolled at UCSD; thesis
research is carried out under the supervision of the SDSU faculty.
Information regarding admission is found in the current edition
of the San Diego State University Graduate Bulletin.
Biological Sciences, Division of
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