IB Curriculum FAQs
The information below refers to the curriculum that we implemented in Spring 2010.
If you declared IB as a major under the previous curriculum, (those declaring Fall 2009 and before), refer to the information about previous curriculum.
What are the differences between the 2 tracks?
- All lower division requirements are the same for both tracks.
- Each has a specific area of concentration: Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology (EEOB or Track 1) and Human Biology and Health Sciences (Hum Bio or Track 2).
- Each track has slightly different requirements.
- Students must earn and maintain a 2.0 GPA in BOTH lower and upper division IB-required coursework.
Under the IB curriculum:
- All students are required to take ONE course from Requirement Group A (Evolution & Genetics), regardless of which track they intend.
- All students must take at least ONE course from both Requirement Group B (Ecology, Behavior and Diversity) and Requirement Group C (Structure, Function and Human Health), but the number of courses required in each group differs between the two tracks.
- All IB majors must also complete TWO labs (these may be taken with a Requirement Group course), with Track 1 students required to take at least one field lab. See the table below for details.
- Lastly, IB students declared under one of these tracks must complete a minimum of 24 UD units in the major in order to graduate from IB.
Please consult the table below for a breakdown of the requirements for each curriculum.
Lower Division Requirements
(in approximate order of recommended enrollment):
Math 16A or 1A; Chem 1A, 1AL, 3A, 3AL*, 3B*, 3BL*, Bio 1A*, 1AL*, 1B*; Physics 8A*, 8B*
Upper Division Requirements
| Requirement Group | Track 1: Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology |
Track 2: Human Biology and Health Sciences |
| A . Evolution & Genetics | 1 from Requirement Group A List | |
| B. Ecology, Behavior, & Diversity | 2 from Req. Group B List | 1 from Req. Group B List |
| C. Structure, Function & Human Health | 1 from Req. Group C List | 2 from Req. Group C List one course must be IB 131 or 132 |
| Electives | Enough units to bring student up to 24 required UD units. Max. of 2 elective courses may be taken outside of IB |
|
| Lab/Field | 2 Labs; one must be field-based |
2 Labs |
| Research or honors | Up to 3 credits of research-based IB H196A, H196B, or 199 may count towards UD unit requirement | |
| UD Units | 24 minimum | |
How did the courses change when you implemented the new curriculum?
The courses offered by the Dept of IB in the OLD and NEW curriculum are the same. Their categorization and what requirements they fulfill have been re-arranged. If you wish to compare, this is how the two are roughly similar: Effectively, Requirement Group A is equivalent to the courses listed under Genetics, of the old curriculum, and courses with Evolution content were added (per our faculty, evolution is fundamental to all the integrative branches of IB).
Will my Track show up on my transcript and/or diploma?
No. Your diploma will read “Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Biology.” The Tracks are not official designations; they are intended to provide our students more clarity while pursuing the topics most interesting to them, and while preparing for graduate or professional schools, post-Cal.
IB Info
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Integrative Biology
UC Berkeley
1005 Valley Life Sciences
Berkeley CA
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