Undergraduate Program

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Molecular & Cell Biology Undergraduate Program

molecular and cellular biology pdfBachelor of Arts (BA)

The undergraduate major in Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) focuses on the study of molecular structures and processes of cellular life and their roles in the function, reproduction, and development of living organisms. This covers a broad range of specialized disciplines, such as biochemistry, microbiology, biophysics, molecular biology, genetics, cell physiology, cell anatomy, immunology, and neurobiology. The types of living organisms from which the departmental faculty draws its working materials are as diverse as its disciplinary concentrations, ranging from viruses and microbes through plants, roundworms, annelids, arthropods, and mollusks, to fish, amphibia, and mammals.

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Additional Information

There are five emphases (concentrations) in MCB

All of the emphases have multiple tracks to choose from. Some tracks only differ slightly and some give a whole different perspective on the emphasis. For help deciding your emphasis please see a staff or peer advisor in MCB!

Declaring the Major

Students can receive pre-major advising at any time from staff or peer advisors. MCB will accept any interested student who meets the minimum course and GPA requirements and is realistically able to complete the major requirements during the student's time at UC Berkeley. Any student intending to major in MCB must finish declaring or complete MCB conditions to declare by the end of their 6th semester, or during the semester before their graduating term (if this semester is before their 6th semester).

Requirements for declaring the MCB major

  • BIOLOGY 1A/BIOLOGY 1AL (with a C or better on the first Bio 1A midterm) OR a score of 4 or 5 in AP Biology
  • CHEM 3B (past the early drop deadline)
  • Have at least a 2.0 overall GPA, a 2.0 GPA in all courses taken for the major, a 2.0 GPA in any upper division courses taken for the major

Intended MCB students are not required to have completed the math, physics, or Bio 1B requirements at the time of declaration (though these requirements must be met in order to graduate).

To start the major declaration process, students must complete the MCB major declaration form online. During major declaration, students must choose an MCB emphasis.

Once the declaration form has been processed, students will receive an email with instructions to schedule an appointment to meet with a staff advisor. Advising appointments take place either online on Zoom or in person at the Undergraduate Advising Office in 3060 Valley Life Sciences Building. See full instructions on the MCB Declaration page.

Link to Course Information

Integrative Biology Undergraduate Program

Introduction to Integrative Biology PDFBachelor of Arts (BA)

Students who major in Integrative Biology (IB) will gain a broad and deep knowledge in the biological sciences as well as an excellent foundation in the biology of organisms, populations, and communities. This program may be of particular interest to students who wish to pursue graduate studies in any of these research areas. It also provides superb training for students interested in health-related professions (medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, nursing, pharmacy, optometry, etc.) or careers incorporating biology (psychology, sociobiology, forestry, wildlife conservation, environmental and resource management, law, etc.).

The department's broad range of experts includes behaviorists, ecologists, evolutionary biologists, geneticists, morphologists, paleontologists, physiologists, and systematists.

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Additional Information

Course of Study Overview

Students majoring in Integrative Biology choose one of two emphases: Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (Emphasis 1) or Integrative Human Biology (Emphasis 2). The lower division requirements are the same for all IB students, regardless of the emphasis. The upper division requirements differ slightly for the two emphases, but all students take lecture and lab or field lab classes from IB's three groups: Evolution and Genetics; Ecology, Behavior, and Biodiversity; Structure, Function, and Human Health. For detailed information, please see the Major Requirements tab.

Declaring the Major

In order to declare Integrative Biology as a major, students must earn a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 overall, a 2.0 GPA in the required major coursework (lower and upper division combined), and a 2.0 GPA in the upper division coursework for the major. Students meet with a staff adviser and a faculty adviser as part of the declaration process.

At the time of declaration, students must be enrolled in or have completed:

Students can declare in their first semester if enrolled in INTEGBI 77A or INTEGBI 77B. Transfer students are highly recommended to complete all lower division requirements before arriving at Berkeley. Please see the department's website for detailed instructions to declare the IB major.

Honors Program

Students with a minimum 3.3 overall GPA, a minimum 3.3 major GPA, and who are conducting biological research are encouraged to participate in the honors program. Interested students must identify an appropriate faculty sponsor who agrees to advise them on an original research project and enroll in two consecutive semesters of the honors thesis course (INTEGBI H196A and INTEGBI H196B). Honors students must present the results of their work in the form of a written honors thesis and a poster presentation. In order to graduate with honors, students must maintain the minimum required GPAs.

Link to Course Information

Neuroscience Undergraduate Program

Introduction to Neurooscience PDFNeuroscience is the study of the biological mechanisms that underlie behavior and cognition. In this major, students learn how the brain works at the molecular, biochemical, and cellular levels; how it processes information; and how it generates sensation, action, emotion, and high-level cognition. Students learn about the nature of neural computation in the brain, the causes of neurological and neuropsychiatric disease, and how emerging neurotechnologies are uniting brain science and engineering.

The major combines biology, psychology, behavior, and computation, providing a broad education that spans the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience. An optional capstone experience allows seniors to apply their knowledge to an in-depth research question. Neuroscience students who elect to participate in independent research may choose from sponsoring research laboratories within the department, or in laboratories outside the department (e.g., at Berkeley, LBNL, CHORI, UCSF).

The neuroscience major prepares students for many careers and post-baccalaureate training programs, including health-related professional programs (e.g., medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy), PhD training programs, biotechnology and pharma industries, teaching, science communication, data science, and scientific research.

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Additional Information

About the neuroscience major

Neuroscience is the study of the biological mechanisms that underlie behavior and cognition. In this major, students learn how the brain works at the molecular, biochemical, and cellular levels; how it processes information; and how it generates sensation, action, emotion, and high-level cognition. Students learn about the nature of neural computation in the brain, the causes of neurological and neuropsychiatric disease, and how emerging neurotechnologies are uniting brain science and engineering.

The major combines biology, psychology, behavior, and computation, providing a broad education that spans the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience. An optional capstone experience allows seniors to apply their knowledge to an in-depth research question.

The neuroscience major prepares students for many careers and post-baccalaureate training programs, including health-related professional programs (e.g., medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy), PhD training programs, biotechnology, teaching, science communication, data science, and scientific research.

Declaring the Major

Students may declare the Neuroscience major when they have fulfilled the following requirements:

In order to declare Integrative Biology as a major, students must earn a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 overall, a 2.0 GPA in the required major coursework (lower and upper division combined), and a 2.0 GPA in the upper division coursework for the major. Students meet with a staff adviser and a faculty adviser as part of the declaration process.

Link to Course Information

Physical Education Minor

The goal of the interdisciplinary minor in health and wellness is for students to have concentrated study in the area that can complement their major with a series of courses from outside their discipline. The minor centers on a three-course core, covering the cultural, psychological, and physiological aspects of health and wellness, respectively, and two upper-division electives, selected from a list of chosen courses from various disciplines across campus for students to tailor a focused course of study in human well-being.

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Additional Information

Overview

The goal of the interdisciplinary minor in health and wellness is for students to have concentrated study in the area that can complement their major with a series of courses from outside their discipline. The minor centers on a three-course core, covering the cultural, psychological, and physiological aspects of health and wellness, respectively, and two upper-division electives, selected from a list of chosen courses from various disciplines across campus for students to tailor a focused course of study in human well-being. After completing the minor, students shall be able to:

  • Analyze health and wellness via a cultural lens with sociocultural factors such as race, class, sex, and gender.
  • Apply different research methods for examining health and wellness issues.
  • Identify the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative and qualitative methods in health and wellness research.
  • Develop sound research skills to be able to read, to interpret, and to implement research in health and wellness.
  • Evaluate cultural systems that give rise to inequities in health and wellness and assess how health and wellness can be constructed culturally and may be potentially biased.
  • Gain knowledge in the dimensions of wellness – physical, occupational, social, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional – and develop strategies within each dimension of wellness to modify lifestyle and to learn, to implement, and to adopt healthy behaviors.
  • Make behavior changes that promote health and well-being; and identify and implement healthy behaviors that enhance the quality of life throughout the lifespan.
  • Promote health and wellness through the implementation of behavioral change and lifestyle medicine.
  • Explore career options in health and wellness, including allied areas such as fitness- and sports-related endeavors.

General Requirements

  1. All upper-division courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements below must be taken for a letter grade. Lower-division courses can be taken pass / no pass.
  2. A minimum of three of the upper-division courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be completed at UC Berkeley.
  3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for courses used to fulfill the minor requirements. Courses used to fulfill the minor requirements may be applied toward the Seven-Course Breadth requirement, for Letters & Science students.
  4. No more than one upper-division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student’s major and minor programs.
  5. All minor requirements must be completed prior to the last day of finals during the semester in which the student plans to be graduated. If the student cannot finish all courses required for the minor by that time, the student must see a College of Letters & Science advisor.
  6. All minor requirements must be completed within the unit ceiling.

Link to Course Information

Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program (LSBE)

With rapid advances in biotechnology, the demand for leaders who can understand the scientific aspect and promote these innovations to market has never been greater. To fulfill this need, The Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship (LSBE) Program is established as an integrated, jointly administered partnership between the Haas School of Business and the College of Letters and Science. In the program, students earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Molecular & Cell Biology or Integrative Biology or Neuroscience.