Beginning Fall 2004, all undergraduate biology majors will be required to declare an Upper-division Emphasis as they complete to core.

Upper-division Emphases

An emphasis focuses students on a specific field of study within biology. Each emphasis includes 23-26 units of classroom study and laboratory- or field-based activities at the 300- and 400-level. To fulfill the University’s upper-division writing requirement, students may take: (1) two designated 400-level biology elective courses (this option allows the use of 3 additional units in the area of emphasis for a total of 26 units) or (2) a designated English or Chemistry course (this option uses 3 units so that the emphasis units total 23). A capstone course culminates each emphasis (and is part of the 23-26 units). Biology majors will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in biology with an emphasis in one of the following emphases:

Biodiversity, Ecology, and Conservation:

The study of all biological organisms (ranging from the level of the individual to the ecosystem), their responses to the environment on evolutionary and ecological time scales, and their conservation.

Cell & Developmental Biology:

The study of the structural and functional dynamics of cells, including topics such as compartmentation and secretion, cell motility, and cell-cell interactions as they apply to the specialized fields of immunology, microbiology, neurobiology, physiology and developmental biology.

Marine Biology:

The study of marine organisms and their coastal and oceanic habitats, including: (1) classification, structure/function, ecology and physiology of these organisms, and (2) conservation, environmental and evolutionary issues related to these organisms and their habitats.

Molecular Biology & Biotechnology:

The study of genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnology and their applications to medicine, agriculture and the environment (e.g., cancer, infectious diseases, gene therapy, crop improvement, and bioremediation).

Students interested in health professions or a teaching credential may take any emphasis.

Matrix of Biology Courses for Each Emphasis (lecture, field/lab units indicated in parentheses)

	Biodiversity, Ecology & Conservation Biology Emphasis	Marine Biology Emphasis	Cell & Developmental Biology Emphasis	Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Emphasis
CORE COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL EMPHASES (20 units) BIOL 171 Evolution & Biodiversity (3,2) BIOL 172 Cellular Basis of Life (3,2) BIOL 273 Genetics & Molecular Biology (3,2) BIOL 274 Principles of Physiology & Ecology (3,2)
23 units of upper division biology electives of which 5 units must be in lab or field work and 6 units must be in 400 level courses [# indicates courses that may be used to meet the upper division writing requirement] [+indicates courses currently undergoing approval to meet the 6 units of upper division writing requirement] [* indicates courses that are undergoing the approval process or will be developed in the future] [¹Students selecting the BEC emphasis may apply only one of these courses towards the Systematics/Organismal and Ecology sub-discipline requirements. Additional courses from this list may be applied only as free electives.]
	Biodiversity, Ecology & Conservation Biology Emphasis	Marine Biology Emphasis	Cell & Developmental Biology Emphasis	Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Emphasis
Gateway courses for the emphasis (to be completed before entering upper division electives)			7 units BIOL 302 General Microbiology (2,2) BIOL 303 Intermediate Cell Biology (3)	6-7 units from the following: BIOL 309 Intermediate Molecular Biology (3) BIOL 302 General Microbiology (2,2) CHEM 421 Biological Chemistry (3) OR CHEM 423A General Biochemistry (3)
Upper division biology electives –	12 units minimum Organismic/Systematics courses - students must take at least one of the following: (3 units minimum) BIOL 300 Problems in Environmental Biology BIOL 340 Field Botany (1,2) BIOL 344 Survey of Land Plants (2,2) BIOL 402 Computer Lab in Molecular Systematics (2,1) BIOL 441 Plant Taxonomy (2,2) BIOL 446 Marine Phycology (2,2)#¹ BIOL 461 Invertebrate Zoology (2,2)¹ BIOL 467 Entomology (2,2) BIOL 474 Natural History of Vertebrates (2,2)+ BIOL 475 Ichthyology (2,2)+¹ BIOL 476 Herpetology (2,2) BIOL 478 Mammalogy (2,2) BIOL 479 Ornithology (2,2) Ecology Courses – students must take: (6 units minimum) BIOL 314 Evolutionary Ecology (2,1) and at least one of the following: BIOL 419 Marine Ecology (3)¹ BIOL 422 Coastal Ecology (2,1)¹ BIOL 4xx Microbial Ecology (2,1)¹ BIOL 443 Plant Ecology (2,2) BIOL 449+ Desert Ecology (2,1)* BIOL 466 Behavioral Ecology (3) BIOL 465 Animal Ecology (2,1) BIOL 352 Plants and Life (3,0) Physiology/Development Courses – students must take at least one of the following: (3 units minimum) BIOL 362 Mammalian Physiology (2,2) BIOL 405 Developmental Biology (3) BIOL 417 Advances in Cell Biology (3)# BIOL 444 Plant Physiological Ecology (2,2)+ BIOL 445 Plant Cell Physiology (3)# BIOL 468 Comparative Animal Physiology (2,2)# BIOL 4xx Evolution & Development (3)*	13 units minimum Organismic/Systematics courses - students must take at least one of the following: (4 units minimum) BIOL 446 Marine Phycology (2,2)# BIOL 461 Invertebrate Zoology (2,2) BIOL 475 Ichthyology (2,2)+ Ecology Courses – students must take: (6 units minimum) BIOL 314 Evolutionary Ecology (2,1) and at least one of the following: BIOL 419 Marine Ecology (3) BIOL 422 Coastal Ecology (2,1)* BIOL 4xx Microbial Ecology (2,1)* Physiology/Development Courses – students must take at least one of the following: (3 units minimum) BIOL 362 Mammalian Physiology (2,2) BIOL 468 Comparative Animal Physiology (2,2)# BIOL 405 Developmental Biology (3) BIOL 444 Plant Physiological Ecology (2,2) BIOL 445 Plant Cell Physiology (3)# BIOL 417 Advances in Cell Biology (3)# BIOL 4xx Evolution & Development (3)*	10 units minimum Cell Biology Courses – students must take a minimum of 7 units of the following: BIOL 362 Mammalian Physiology (2,2) BIOL 405 Developmental Biology (3) BIOL 415 Microscopy & Visualization (2,1)* BIOL 417 Advances in Cell Biology (3)# BIOL 418L Experimental Cell Biology Lab (0,2) BIOL 424 Immunology (2,2) BIOL 426 Virology (3) BIOL 428 Biology of Cancer (3) BIOL 470 Cellular Neurobiology (3)# BIOL 4xx Evolution & Development (3)* BIOL 4xx Microbial Ecology (2,1)* Molecular Biology Courses – students may take at least 3 units of the following: BIOL 309 Intermediate Molecular Biology (3) BIOL 402 Molecular Systematics (2,1) BIOL 411 Medical Genetics (3)# BIOL 412 Gene Manipulation (3) BIOL 413 Molecular Genetics (3) BIOL 414 Microbial Genetics (3)# BIOL 445 Plant Cell Physiology (3)# BIOL 448 Plant Molecular Biology (3) CHEM 421 Biological Chemistry (3)	13 units minimum Molecular Biology Courses – students must take a minimum of 8 units of the following: BIOL 402 Molecular Systematics (2,1) BIOL 405 Developmental Biology (3) BIOL 411 Medical Genetics (3)# BIOL 412 Gene Manipulation (3) BIOL 413 Advances in Genetics (3) BIOL 414 Microbial Genetics (3)# BIOL 445 Plant Cell Physiology (3)# BIOL 448 Plant Molecular Biology (3) BIOL 472A/B Adv. Biotech lab (1,2) BIOL 473 Bioinformatics (2,1) CHEM 423B Biochemistry (3) Cell Biology Courses – students may take up to 6 units of the following: BIOL 362 Mammalian Physiology (2,2) BIOL 417 Advanced Cell Biology (3)+ BIOL 418L Advanced Cell Biology Lab (0,2)+ BIOL 424 Immunology (2,2)+ BIOL 426 Virology (3)# BIOL 428 Biology of cancer (3)+ BIOL 444 Plant Ecological Physiology (2,2) BIOL 470 Cellular Neurobiology (3)# BIOL 477 Adv. Biotech (3) BIOL 499L (0,3 units max, must be in the emphasis)+
Free Upper Division Biology Electives	0-9 units Additional upper-division courses may include: BIOL 304 Supervised Biology Lab Instruction (2)* BIOL 308 Bioillustration (2,1)* BIOL 317 Field Marine Biology (2,2) BIOL 404 Evolution (3) BIOL 406 Biometry (3,1) BIOL 442 Plant-Animal Interactions (2,1)* BIOL 452 Natural History of California (2,1)* BIOL 480 Advanced Topics in Undergraduate Biology (1-3)+ BIOL 481T Variable topics (3)* Any upper division Biology course from another emphasis	0-8 units Additional upper-division courses may include: BIOL 304 Supervised Biology Lab Instruction (2)* BIOL 308 Bioillustration (2,1)* BIOL 317 Field Marine Biology (2,2) BIOL 404 Evolution (3) BIOL 406 Biometry (3,1) BIOL 422 Plant-Animal Interactions (2,1)* BIOL 452 Natural History of California (2,1)* BIOL 480 Advanced Topics in Undergraduate Biology (1-3)+ BIOL 4XXT Variable topics (3)* Any upper division Biology course from another emphasis	0-4 units Additional upper-division courses may include: BIOL 304 Supervised Biology Lab Instruction (2)* Any upper division Biology course from another emphasis BIOL 4XXT Variable topics (3)*	0-2 units Additional upper-division courses may include: BIOL 304 Supervised Biology Lab Instruction (2)* Any upper division Biology course from another emphasis BIOL 4XXT Variable topics (3)*
Capstone Courses	2 or more units BIOL 400 Seminar in Teaching- Issues in Teaching Evolution & Biodiversity OR Issues in Teaching Physiology & Ecology (2)+ BIOL 401 Biogeography (3)+ BIOL 4xx Environmental Consulting (service learning) (1,2)* BIOL 450 Conservation Biology (3)+ BIOL 469 Life in Extreme Environments (3)* BIOL 4xx Climate Change Biology (3)* BIOL 495 Biological Internship (1,2)# BIOL 498 Senior Thesis (2)+ BIOL 499L Independent Research (1-3)+	2 or more units BIOL 400 Seminar in Teaching- Issues in Teaching Evolution & Biodiversity OR Issues in Teaching Physiology & Ecology (2)+ BIOL 401 Biogeography (3)+ BIOL 4xx Environmental Consulting (service learning) (1,2)* BIOL 450 Conservation Biology (3)+ BIOL 469 Life in Extreme Environments (3)* BIOL 4xx Climate Change Biology (3)* BIOL 495 Biological Internship (1,2)# BIOL 498 Senior Thesis (2)+ BIOL 499L Independent Research (1-3 max)+	2 or more units BIOL 400 Seminar in Teaching- Issues in Teaching Cell Biology (2)+ BIOL 426 Virology (3)# BIOL 428 Biology of Cancer (3)+ BIOL 470 Cellular Neurobiology (3)# BIOL 480C Adv. Topics in Undergraduate Cell Biology (3)+ BIOL 495 Biological Internship (1,2)# BIOL 498 Senior Thesis (2)+ BIOL 499L Independent Research (1-3 units max)+	2 or more units BIOL 400 Seminar in Teaching – Issues in Teaching Genetics & Molecular Biology (2)+ BIOL 472A/B Adv. Biotech Lab (1,2) BIOL 480 Adv. Topics in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (1-3)+ BIOL 495 Internship (must be in the emphasis) (1,2)# BIOL 499L Independent Research (must be in the emphasis) (1-3 max)+
Upper division writing requirement 3-6 units	6 units of Biology Electives approved for meeting the upper division writing requirement (see # and + courses) OR passing ENG 301 or CHEM (340). Courses marked by # (BIOL 411, 414, 417, 426, 445, 446, 468, 470, 495) have been approved by the University Writing Review Committee. Courses marked by + will be submitted or are undergoing review by the University Writing Review Committee.

Biodiversity, Ecology & Conservation Biology Emphasis

Marine Biology Emphasis

Cell & Developmental Biology Emphasis

Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Emphasis

CORE COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL EMPHASES (20 units)

BIOL 171 Evolution & Biodiversity (3,2)

BIOL 172 Cellular Basis of Life (3,2)

BIOL 273 Genetics & Molecular Biology (3,2)

BIOL 274 Principles of Physiology & Ecology (3,2)

23 units of upper division biology electives of which 5 units must be in lab or field work and 6 units must be in 400 level courses

[# indicates courses that may be used to meet the upper division writing requirement]

[+indicates courses currently undergoing approval to meet the 6 units of upper division writing requirement]

[* indicates courses that are undergoing the approval process or will be developed in the future]

[¹Students selecting the BEC emphasis may apply only one of these courses towards the Systematics/Organismal and Ecology sub-discipline requirements. Additional courses from this list may be applied only as free electives.]

Biodiversity, Ecology & Conservation Biology Emphasis

Marine Biology Emphasis

Cell & Developmental Biology Emphasis

Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Emphasis

Gateway courses for the emphasis

(to be completed before entering upper division electives)

7 units

BIOL 302 General Microbiology (2,2)

BIOL 303 Intermediate Cell Biology (3)

6-7 units from the following:

BIOL 309 Intermediate Molecular Biology (3)

BIOL 302 General Microbiology (2,2)

CHEM 421 Biological Chemistry (3) OR

CHEM 423A General Biochemistry (3)

Upper division biology electives –

12 units minimum

Organismic/Systematics courses - students must take at least one of the following: (3 units minimum)

BIOL 300 Problems in Environmental Biology

BIOL 340 Field Botany (1,2)

BIOL 344 Survey of Land Plants (2,2)

BIOL 402 Computer Lab in Molecular Systematics (2,1)

BIOL 441 Plant Taxonomy (2,2)

BIOL 446 Marine Phycology (2,2)#¹

BIOL 461 Invertebrate Zoology (2,2)¹

BIOL 467 Entomology (2,2)

BIOL 474 Natural History of Vertebrates (2,2)+

BIOL 475 Ichthyology (2,2)+¹

BIOL 476 Herpetology (2,2)

BIOL 478 Mammalogy (2,2)

BIOL 479 Ornithology (2,2)

Ecology Courses – students must take: (6 units minimum)

BIOL 314 Evolutionary Ecology (2,1)

and at least one of the following:

BIOL 419 Marine Ecology (3)¹

BIOL 422 Coastal Ecology (2,1)*¹

BIOL 4xx Microbial Ecology (2,1)*¹

BIOL 443 Plant Ecology (2,2)

BIOL 449+ Desert Ecology (2,1)*

BIOL 466 Behavioral Ecology (3)

BIOL 465 Animal Ecology (2,1)

BIOL 352 Plants and Life (3,0)

Physiology/Development Courses – students must take at least one of the following: (3 units minimum)

BIOL 362 Mammalian Physiology (2,2)

BIOL 405 Developmental Biology (3)

BIOL 417 Advances in Cell Biology (3)#

BIOL 444 Plant Physiological Ecology (2,2)+

BIOL 445 Plant Cell Physiology (3)#

BIOL 468 Comparative Animal Physiology (2,2)#

BIOL 4xx Evolution & Development (3)*

13 units minimum

Organismic/Systematics courses - students must take at least one of the following: (4 units minimum)

BIOL 446 Marine Phycology (2,2)#

BIOL 461 Invertebrate Zoology (2,2)

BIOL 475 Ichthyology (2,2)+

Ecology Courses – students must take: (6 units minimum)

BIOL 314 Evolutionary Ecology (2,1)

and at least one of the following:

BIOL 419 Marine Ecology (3)

BIOL 422 Coastal Ecology (2,1)*

BIOL 4xx Microbial Ecology (2,1)*

Physiology/Development Courses – students must take at least one of the following: (3 units minimum)

BIOL 362 Mammalian Physiology (2,2)

BIOL 468 Comparative Animal Physiology (2,2)#

BIOL 405 Developmental Biology (3)

BIOL 444 Plant Physiological Ecology (2,2)

BIOL 445 Plant Cell Physiology (3)#

BIOL 417 Advances in Cell Biology (3)#

BIOL 4xx Evolution & Development (3)*

10 units minimum

Cell Biology Courses – students must take a minimum of 7 units of the following:

BIOL 362 Mammalian Physiology (2,2)

BIOL 405 Developmental Biology (3)

BIOL 415 Microscopy & Visualization (2,1)*

BIOL 417 Advances in Cell Biology (3)#

BIOL 418L Experimental Cell Biology Lab (0,2)

BIOL 424 Immunology (2,2)

BIOL 426 Virology (3)

BIOL 428 Biology of Cancer (3)

BIOL 470 Cellular Neurobiology (3)#

BIOL 4xx Evolution & Development (3)*

BIOL 4xx Microbial Ecology (2,1)*

Molecular Biology Courses – students may take at least 3 units of the following:

BIOL 309 Intermediate Molecular Biology (3)

BIOL 402 Molecular Systematics (2,1)

BIOL 411 Medical Genetics (3)*#

BIOL 412 Gene Manipulation (3)

BIOL 413 Molecular Genetics (3)

BIOL 414 Microbial Genetics (3)*#

BIOL 445 Plant Cell Physiology (3)*#

BIOL 448 Plant Molecular Biology (3)*

CHEM 421 Biological Chemistry (3)

13 units minimum

Molecular Biology Courses – students must take a minimum of 8 units of the following:

BIOL 402 Molecular Systematics (2,1)

BIOL 405 Developmental Biology (3)

BIOL 411 Medical Genetics (3)*#

BIOL 412 Gene Manipulation (3)

BIOL 413 Advances in Genetics (3)

BIOL 414 Microbial Genetics (3)*#

BIOL 445 Plant Cell Physiology (3)*#

BIOL 448 Plant Molecular Biology (3)*

BIOL 472A/B Adv. Biotech lab (1,2)

BIOL 473 Bioinformatics (2,1)

CHEM 423B Biochemistry (3)

Cell Biology Courses – students may take up to 6 units of the following:

BIOL 362 Mammalian Physiology (2,2)

BIOL 417 Advanced Cell Biology (3)+

BIOL 418L Advanced Cell Biology Lab (0,2)+

BIOL 424 Immunology (2,2)+

BIOL 426 Virology (3)#

BIOL 428 Biology of cancer (3)+

BIOL 444 Plant Ecological Physiology (2,2)

BIOL 470 Cellular Neurobiology (3)#

BIOL 477 Adv. Biotech (3)

BIOL 499L (0,3 units max, must be in the emphasis)+

Free Upper Division Biology Electives

0-9 units

Additional upper-division courses may include:

BIOL 304 Supervised Biology Lab Instruction (2)*

BIOL 308 Bioillustration (2,1)*

BIOL 317 Field Marine Biology (2,2)

BIOL 404 Evolution (3)

BIOL 406 Biometry (3,1)

BIOL 442 Plant-Animal Interactions (2,1)*

BIOL 452 Natural History of California (2,1)*

BIOL 480 Advanced Topics in Undergraduate Biology (1-3)+

BIOL 481T Variable topics (3)*

Any upper division Biology course from another emphasis

0-8 units

Additional upper-division courses may include:

BIOL 304 Supervised Biology Lab Instruction (2)*

BIOL 308 Bioillustration (2,1)*

BIOL 317 Field Marine Biology (2,2)

BIOL 404 Evolution (3)

BIOL 406 Biometry (3,1)

BIOL 422 Plant-Animal Interactions (2,1)*

BIOL 452 Natural History of California (2,1)*

BIOL 480 Advanced Topics in Undergraduate Biology (1-3)+

BIOL 4XXT Variable topics (3)*

Any upper division Biology course from another emphasis

0-4 units

Additional upper-division courses may include:

BIOL 304 Supervised Biology Lab Instruction (2)*

Any upper division Biology course from another emphasis

BIOL 4XXT Variable topics (3)*

0-2 units

Additional upper-division courses may include:

BIOL 304 Supervised Biology Lab Instruction (2)*

Any upper division Biology course from another emphasis

BIOL 4XXT Variable topics (3)*

Capstone Courses

2 or more units

BIOL 400 Seminar in Teaching- Issues in Teaching Evolution & Biodiversity OR Issues in Teaching Physiology & Ecology (2)+

BIOL 401 Biogeography (3)+

BIOL 4xx Environmental Consulting (service learning) (1,2)*

BIOL 450 Conservation Biology (3)+

BIOL 469 Life in Extreme Environments (3)*

BIOL 4xx Climate Change Biology (3)*

BIOL 495 Biological Internship (1,2)#

BIOL 498 Senior Thesis (2)+

BIOL 499L Independent Research (1-3)+

2 or more units

BIOL 400 Seminar in Teaching- Issues in Teaching Evolution & Biodiversity OR Issues in Teaching Physiology & Ecology (2)+

BIOL 401 Biogeography (3)+

BIOL 4xx Environmental Consulting (service learning) (1,2)*

BIOL 450 Conservation Biology (3)+

BIOL 469 Life in Extreme Environments (3)*

BIOL 4xx Climate Change Biology (3)*

BIOL 495 Biological Internship (1,2)#

BIOL 498 Senior Thesis (2)+

BIOL 499L Independent Research (1-3 max)+

2 or more units

BIOL 400 Seminar in Teaching- Issues in Teaching Cell Biology (2)+

BIOL 426 Virology (3)#

BIOL 428 Biology of Cancer (3)+

BIOL 470 Cellular Neurobiology (3)#

BIOL 480C Adv. Topics in Undergraduate Cell Biology (3)+

BIOL 495 Biological Internship (1,2)#

BIOL 498 Senior Thesis (2)+

BIOL 499L Independent Research (1-3 units max)+

2 or more units

BIOL 400 Seminar in Teaching – Issues in Teaching Genetics & Molecular Biology (2)+

BIOL 472A/B Adv. Biotech Lab (1,2)

BIOL 480 Adv. Topics in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (1-3)+

BIOL 495 Internship (must be in the emphasis) (1,2)#

BIOL 499L Independent Research (must be in the emphasis) (1-3 max)+

Upper division writing requirement

3-6 units

6 units of Biology Electives approved for meeting the upper division writing requirement (see # and + courses) OR passing ENG 301 or CHEM (340). Courses marked by # (BIOL 411, 414, 417, 426, 445, 446, 468, 470, 495) have been approved by the University Writing Review Committee. Courses marked by + will be submitted or are undergoing review by the University Writing Review Committee.