Major Requirements (for Students admitted as Freshmen)

AP Exams & Lower Division Requirements

Lower Division

Upper Division

Planning Your IB Major (sample)

These courses are designed to provide students the necessary intellectual tools and techniques required to conduct multidisciplinary work in organismal biology.  Laboratory and field courses will provide you with experience in and methodologies for the study of both living and extinct organisms. 

Some things to keep in mind:

  • The Integrative Biology (IB) major can be declared when the majority of lower division courses are completed. (i.e. 6 of 8 courses completed)
  • A minimum 2.0 GPA in lower and upper division courses is required. 
  • Most students declare at the end of their 2nd year, or beginning of 3rd. 
  • Students may NOT use a course for both a lecture / lab requirement and an area requirement. 
  • A statistics course is recommended for those planning on graduate study. 
  • Students are advised to complete additional enrichment courses in areas of personal interest and explore related course offerings. 

Discuss with the Undergraduate Student Services Office your readiness to declare; be sure to bring a copy of your transcripts and current enrollments to that meeting. 

 

AP Exams & Lower Division Requirements

Students planning on the IB major may be exempted from the following:

  • Math 16A with AP Math AB or BC score of 3 or higher
  • Bio 1A & 1B with AP Bio score of 4 or 5

HOWEVER, if you plan to attend medical, dental, pharmacy, or graduate school, it is NOT recommended that you exempt yourself from any of the preparatory lower division courses. These courses are generally of interest to graduate and professional school admissions committees.

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Lower Division Requirements

In approximate order of recommended enrollment:

  • Math 16A
  • Chemistry 1A, 3A*, 3AL*, 3B*, 3BL*
  • Biology 1A*, 1AL*, 1B*
  • Physics 8A*, 8B*

* Significant campus restrictions and agreements exist for enrollment in these courses. Consult UCB’s General Catalog and Schedule of Classes for critical information about the timing of taking and completing them.  All are Phase I priority courses!

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Upper Division Requirements

Each student is expected to complete a minimum of six courses and 26 upper division units in this major.

  • One of the following courses in genetics:
    IB c163 / MCB c142 Survey of Genetics 4 units (offered each fall semester)
    IB 141 Human Genetics 3 units (offered summer session only)
    MCB 140 General Gentics 4 units (offered fall & spring semesters)
  • At least two upper division lecture/laboratory or lecture/laboratory/field courses in Integrative Biology.
  • Three upper division Integrative Biology courses, one from each of the following areas, chosen in consultation with an advisor. 
  1. Ecology / Evolution / Behavior
  2. Physiology / Structure / Biomechanics
  3. Human Biology / Health Sciences

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