;

Biology B.A.

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 an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Department adviser or faculty adviser whose interests reflect the student’s interests. A hallmark of the major is the many field courses that introduce students to a diversity of ecosystems and the skills to conduct field research. See the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology undergraduate webpage for more information on these courses.

Academic Advising for the Program

Academic advising is available at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) undergraduate advising office located in the Coastal Biology Building on the UC Santa Cruz Coastal Science Campus, 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.

  1. Students will demonstrate broad-based knowledge of the fundamentals of ecology, behavior, evolution and physiology and the relationships among these disciplines.
  2. Students will demonstrate skills in the observation and experimental study of organisms, using both field-based and laboratory-based approaches.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate scientific work, such as a scientific paper, proposal, essay, or notebook, in written, oral or poster format.
  7. 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:
CHEM 1AGeneral Chemistry

5

CHEM 1BGeneral Chemistry

5

BIOL 20ACell and Molecular Biology

5

BIOE 20BDevelopment and Physiology

5

BIOE 20CEcology and Evolution

5

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

The following courses or their equivalents are required prior to transfer, by the end of the spring term for students planning to enter in the fall.

BIOL 20ACell and Molecular Biology

5

BIOE 20BDevelopment and Physiology

5

BIOE 20CEcology and Evolution

5

CHEM 1AGeneral Chemistry

5

CHEM 1BGeneral Chemistry

5

A minimum GPA of 2.0 must be obtained in the courses listed above.

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 Coursework 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:
BIOL 20ACell and Molecular Biology

5

BIOE 20BDevelopment and Physiology

5

BIOE 20CEcology and Evolution

5

General Chemistry:
CHEM 1AGeneral Chemistry

5

CHEM 1BGeneral Chemistry

5

Statistics:

Choose one of the following options:

Either this course

STAT 5Statistics

5

or these courses

STAT 7Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences

5

STAT 7LStatistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory

2

Physics:

Choose one of the following courses:

PHYS 1Physics for Everyone

5

PHYS 6AIntroductory Physics I

5

PHYS 7AElementary Physics I

5

Upper-Division Courses

A total of eight upper-division biology courses, including electives, as follows:

Three core courses:
BIOL 105Genetics

5

BIOE 107Ecology

5

BIOE 109Evolution

5

One of the following anatomy or physiology courses:
BIOE 131Animal Physiology

5

BIOE 131LAnimal Physiology Laboratory

2

BIOE 133Exercise Physiology

5

BIOE 133LExercise Physiology Laboratory

2

BIOE 134Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy

5

BIOE 134LComparative Vertebrate Anatomy Laboratory

2

BIOE 135Plant Physiology

5

BIOE 135LPlant Physiology Laboratory

2

BIOL 130Human Physiology

5

BIOL 130LHuman Physiology Laboratory

2

METX 135Functional Anatomy

5

METX 135LFunctional Anatomy Lab

2

Note: Lecture/lab combinations count as a single course.

BIOE 131 & BIOE 131L, BIOL 130 & BIOL 130L: Laboratory optional

Electives

Four additional electives chosen from BIOE courses numbered 100-179 or the following BIOL courses:

BIOL 100Biochemistry

5

BIOL 101Molecular Biology

5

BIOL 110Cell Biology

5

BIOL 110LCell Biology Laboratory

5

BIOL 111Immunology

5

BIOL 115Eukaryotic Molecular Biology

5

BIOL 120Developmental Biology

5

BIOL 125Introduction to Neuroscience

5

METX 119Microbiology

5

METX 119LMicrobiology Laboratory

5

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:

BIOE 108Marine Ecology

5

BIOE 114Herpetology

5

BIOE 114LField Methods in Herpetological Research

2

BIOE 117Systematic Botany of Flowering Plants

5

BIOE 120Marine Botany

5

BIOE 120LMarine Botany Laboratory

2

BIOE 122Invertebrate Zoology

5

BIOE 122LInvertebrate Zoology Laboratory

2

BIOE 127Ichthyology

5

BIOE 127LIchthyology Laboratory

2

BIOE 128LLarge Marine Vertebrates Field Course

5

BIOE 129Biology of Marine Mammals

5

BIOE 129LBiology of Marine Mammals Laboratory

2

BIOE 137Molecular Ecology

5

BIOE 141LBehavioral Ecology Field Course

5

BIOE 145Plant Ecology

5

BIOE 145LField Methods in Plant Ecology

5

BIOE 150LEcological Field Methods Laboratory

5

BIOE 151B
/ENVS 109B
Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory

5

BIOE 153CDisciplinary Communication for Biologists

5

BIOE 158LField Methods in Marine Ecology

5

BIOE 159AMarine Ecology Field Quarter: Marine Ecology with Laboratory

5

BIOE 161LKelp Forest Ecology Laboratory

5

BIOE 171Disciplinary Communication for Biologists

5

BIOE 172Population Genetics

5

Note: Lecture and 2-credit lab combinations count as a single course. BIOE 117 and BIOE 137 require concurrent enrollment in 2-credit labs, BIOE 117L and BIOE 137L, but these are not part of the DC requirement.

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
BIOE 112LOrnithology Field Studies

2

BIOE 114LField Methods in Herpetological Research

2

BIOE 117LSystematic Botany of Flowering Plants Laboratory

2

BIOE 120LMarine Botany Laboratory

2

BIOE 122LInvertebrate Zoology Laboratory

2

BIOE 124LMammalogy Laboratory

2

BIOE 127LIchthyology Laboratory

2

BIOE 128LLarge Marine Vertebrates Field Course

5

BIOE 129LBiology of Marine Mammals Laboratory

2

BIOE 131LAnimal Physiology Laboratory

2

BIOE 133LExercise Physiology Laboratory

2

BIOE 134LComparative Vertebrate Anatomy Laboratory

2

BIOE 135LPlant Physiology Laboratory

2

BIOE 137LMolecular Ecology Laboratory

2

BIOE 141LBehavioral Ecology Field Course

5

BIOE 145LField Methods in Plant Ecology

5

BIOE 150LEcological Field Methods Laboratory

5

BIOE 151A
/ENVS 109A
Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods

5

BIOE 151B
/ENVS 109B
Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory

5

BIOE 151C
/ENVS 109C
Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Functions and Processes of Terrestrial Ecosystems

5

BIOE 151D
/ENVS 109D
Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Conservation in Practice

4

BIOE 153AIntroduction to Arctic Ecology

5

BIOE 153BArctic Ecology

5

BIOE 153CDisciplinary Communication for Biologists

5

BIOE 155LFreshwater Ecology Laboratory

5

BIOE 158LField Methods in Marine Ecology

5

BIOE 159AMarine Ecology Field Quarter: Marine Ecology with Laboratory

5

BIOE 159BMarine Ecology Field Quarter: Ichthyology with Laboratory

5

BIOE 159CMarine Ecology Field Quarter: Methods in Field Ecology

5

BIOE 159DMarine Ecology Field Quarter: Methods in Field Ecology Laboratory

5

BIOE 161LKelp Forest Ecology Laboratory

5

BIOE 163LEcology of Reefs, Mangroves, and Seagrasses Laboratory

2

BIOE 183WUndergraduate 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
BIOL 100LBiochemistry Laboratory

5

BIOL 105LEukaryotic Genetics Laboratory

5

BIOL 109LYeast Molecular Genetics Laboratory

5

BIOL 110LCell Biology Laboratory

5

BIOL 115LEukaryotic Molecular Biology Laboratory

5

BIOL 120LDevelopment Laboratory

5

BIOL 121LEnvironmental Phage Biology Laboratory

5

BIOL 178LProtocols in Stem Cell Biology

5

BIOL 186LUndergraduate Research in MCD Biology

5

BIOL 186RUndergraduate Research in MCD Biology

5

BIOL 189Health Sciences Internship

3

Comprehensive courses offered in other departments
BIOC 110LAdvanced Biochemistry Laboratory

5

METX 119LMicrobiology Laboratory

5

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

1st (frosh) BIOE 20C CHEM 1A CHEM 1B
    STAT 5 or STAT 7 & STAT 7L
     
2nd (soph) BIOL 20A BIOE 20B BIOL 105
  PHYS 1  
     
3rd (junior) BIOE 109 BIOE 107 Anatomy/Physiology
Biology elective*    
     
4th (senior) Biology elective*  Biology elective* Biology elective*
     
     

*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

  Fall Winter Spring
3rd (junior) BIOL 105 BIOE 107 Anatomy/Physiology
  BIOE 109 STAT 5 or STAT 7 & STAT 7L
     
4th (senior) Biology elective* Biology elective* Biology elective*
Biology elective* PHYS 1  
     

*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.