Program: Biological Sciences, Human Biology Emphasis, B.S. - University of California Merced (2024)

Jun 09, 2024

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Requirements for the Biological Sciences Major

To receive the B.S. in Biological Sciences students must adhere to General Educationand School of Natural Sciences Requirements. The Biological Sciences program consists of 76-83 units, with a minimum of 23 courses designed to give all students a common foundation of core knowledge specific to the disciplineplus breadth in an application area.

Biological Sciences Requirement [14 units]

Complete the following five biological sciences courses:

BIO 001: Contemporary Biology Units: 4
BIO 001L: Contemporary Biology Lab Units: 1
BIO 002: Introduction to Molecular Biology Units: 4
BIO 002L: Introduction to Molecular Biology Lab Units: 1
BIO 110: The Cell Units: 4

General Chemistry Requirement [8 units]

Complete the following two general chemistry courses:

CHEM 002: General Chemistry I Units: 4 or CHEM 002H: Honors General Chemistry I
CHEM 010: General Chemistry II Units: 4 or CHEM 010H: Honors General Chemistry II

Organic Chemistry Requirement [4 units]

Complete the following two organic chemistry courses:

CHEM 008: Principles of Organic Chemistry Units: 3 or CHEM 008H: Honors Principles of Organic Chemistry
CHEM 008L: Principles of Organic Chemistry Lab Units: 1 or CHEM 008HL: Honors Principles of Organic Chemistry Lab

Mathematics Requirement [8 units]

Complete the following mathematics courses:

MATH 011: Calculus I Units: 4
MATH 012: Calculus II Units: 4

Computer Science Requirement [2 units]

Complete the following course:

BIOE 021: Introduction to Computing with Python Units: 4
CSE 019: Introduction to Computing Units: 4
MATH 015: Introduction to Scientific Data Analysis Units: 2
ME 021: Engineering Computing Units: 4

Probability and Statistics Requirement [3-4 units]

Complete one of the following probability and statistics courses:

BIO 018: Data Science for Life Sciences Units: 4
ECON 010: Statistical Inference Units: 4
MATH 032: Probability and Statistics Units: 4
PSY 010: Analysis of Psychological Data Units: 5

Physics Requirement [8 units]

Complete the following fourphysics courses:

PHYS 018: Introductory Physics I for Biological Sciences Units: 3
PHYS 018L: Introductory Physics I for Biological Sciences Lab Units: 1
PHYS 019: Introductory Physics II for Biological Sciences Units: 3
PHYS 019L: Introductory Physics II for Biological Sciences Units: 1

Upper Division Science or Engineering Requirement [3-4 units]

Complete one additional upper division course in science or engineering.

Requirements for Human Biology Emphasis Track

The Human Biology (HB) emphasis track provides students with a rich education in the scientific principles that underlie modern health sciences. This major is an excellent preparation for entrance into health-related professional careers including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, genetic counseling, health education, public health, clinical psychology, epidemiology, environmental health sciences and health administration, among others. The HBemphasis track also provides a strong foundation for careers in biomedical research, and includes the courses most broadly required for advanced study in health sciences.

Human Biology Core Courses [11-12 Units]

Complete the following courses:

BIO 101: Biochemistry I Units: 4
*Requires CHEM 100
BIO 140: Genetics Units: 4

Evolution Course

Complete one of the following courses:

BIO 124: Microbial Evolution Units: 4
BIO 141: Evolution Units: 4
BIO 153: Evolution and Development Units: 4
BIO 188: Evolutionary Medicine Units: 3

Human Biology Upper Division Elective Courses [17 Units Minimum]

Human Biology Course with Lab [5-7 units]

Complete one of the following courses(s) with a laboratory component. If lab is separate, both lecture and lab component must be taken.

BIO 120: General Microbiology Units: 4
BIO 120L: General Microbiology Laboratory Units: 3
BIO 150: Embryos, Genes, and Development Units: 4
BIO 150L: Developmental Biology Laboratory Units: 3
BIO 151: Molecular Immunology Units: 4
BIO 151L: Molecular Immunology Laboratory Units: 1
BIO 161: Human Physiology Units: 5
BIO 163: Endocrinology Units: 4
BIO 164: Human Anatomy Units: 5
BIO 170: Neurobiology Units: 4
BIO 170L: Neurobiology Laboratory Units: 1

Quantitative Biology Elective [4-5 units]

Complete one of the following courses.

BIO 142: Genome Biology Units: 5
BIO 175: Biostatistics Units: 4
BIO 180: Mathematical Modeling for Biology Units: 4
BIO 182: Bioinformatics Units: 4
BIO 183: Population Genetics Units: 4
BIO 184: Object Oriented Programming for Biologists Units: 4
PHYS 104: Biophysics Units: 4

Human Biology Electives [3-7 units]

Complete one of the following courses. Please not that laboratory courses require co-enrollment in the corresponding lecture course.

BIO 102: Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Units: 4
BIO 111: Cells, Tissues and Organs Units: 4
BIO 120: General Microbiology Units: 4
BIO 120L: General Microbiology Laboratory Units: 3
BIO 122: Microbial Pathogenesis Units: 4
BIO 123: Human Parasitology Units: 4
BIO 124: Microbial Evolution Units: 4
BIO 127: General Virology Units: 4
BIO 127LA: General Virology Lab A Units: 4
BIO 127LB: General Virology Lab B Units: 4
*RequiresBIO 127LA
BIO 141: Evolution Units: 4
BIO 142: Genome Biology Units: 5
BIO 148: Fundamentals of Ecology Units: 4
BIO 150: Embryos, Genes, and Development Units: 4
BIO 150L: Developmental Biology Laboratory Units: 3
BIO 151: Molecular Immunology Units: 4
BIO 151L: Molecular Immunology Laboratory Units: 1
BIO 152: Cancer Genetics and Tumor Biology Units: 4
BIO 155: Microbial Symbiosis Units: 4
BIO 161: Human Physiology Units: 5
BIO 163: Endocrinology Units: 4
BIO 164: Human Anatomy Units: 5
BIO 170: Neurobiology Units: 4
BIO 170L: Neurobiology Laboratory Units: 1
BIO 175: Biostatistics Units: 4
BIO 177: Genes, Brains, and Behavior Units: 4
BIO 180: Mathematical Modeling for Biology Units: 4
BIO 182: Bioinformatics Units: 4
BIO 184: Object Oriented Programming for Biologists Units: 4
BIO 188: Evolutionary Medicine Units: 3
BIO 189: Behavioral Ecology Units: 4
PHYS 104: Biophysics Units: 4

Psychological, Social and Behavioral Science Elective [4 units]

Complete one of the following courses:

ANTH 100: History of Anthropological Thought and Practice Units: 4
ANTH 114: Social Memory Units: 4
ANTH 120: Introduction to Medical Anthropology Units: 4
ANTH 121: Ethnomedicine Units: 4
ANTH 130: Material Culture Units: 4
ANTH 155: Paleodemography Units: 4
ANTH 160: Human Origins Units: 4
ANTH 162: Growth, Development, and Human Evolution Units: 4
ANTH 169: Topics in Biological Anthropology Units: 4
ANTH 172: Ethnohistory Units: 4
COGS 101: Mind, Brain, and Computation Units: 4
COGS 103: Introduction to Neural Networks in Cognitive Science Units: 4
COGS 140: Perception and Action Units: 4
PH 100: Introduction to Epidemiology Units: 4
PSY 123: Alcohol, Drugs, and Behavior Units: 4
PSY 124: Health Disparities Units: 4
PSY 130: Developmental Psychology Units: 4
PSY 134: Adolescent Development Units: 4
PSY 140: Clinical Psychology Units: 4
PSY 142: Abnormal Psychology Units: 4
PSY 145: Human Sexuality Units: 4
PSY 156: Social Psychology Units: 4
PSY 160: Cognitive Psychology Units: 4
PSY 180: Physiological Psychology Units: 4

Undergraduate Research in Biological Sciences

All Biological Sciences majors are encouraged, but not required, to participate in a research experience. Students attend research lectures by UC Merced faculty, and can elect to go on to participate in research projects. The relevant course numbers are:

BIO 090X: Freshman Seminar Units: 1
BIO 095: Lower Division Undergraduate Research Units:
BIO 195: Upper Division Undergraduate Research Units:

Transfer Selection Criteria

To be admitted to the Biological Sciences major transfer students must meet the following requirements:

Applicants will, at the time of admission have completed at minimum each of the following courses (or their equivalent) with a “C-” or better:

BIO 001: Contemporary Biology Units: 4 *
BIO 001L: Contemporary Biology Lab Units: 1 *
CHEM 002: General Chemistry I Units: 4
CHEM 008: Principles of Organic Chemistry Units: 3
CHEM 008L: Principles of Organic Chemistry Lab Units: 1
CHEM 010: General Chemistry II Units: 4
MATH 011: Calculus I Units: 4 or
MATH 021: Calculus I for Physical Sciences and Engineering Units: 4
MATH 012: Calculus II Units: 4 or
MATH 022: Calculus II for Physical Sciences and Engineering Units: 4

Additional Information

Applicants must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.8 in transferable courses. Any outstanding General Education and Major preparation coursework will be completed at UC Merced. Students should also consult the Information for Prospective Students link on the School of Natural Sciences website naturalsciences.ucmerced.edu for more information.

* Biological Sciences BIO 001 and BIO 001L (if available at their originating school. A letter grade of “B” or better grade must be earned.)

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