College of Letters and Science
2305 Life Sciences Building
Box 957246
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Life Sciences
310-825-6614
Students who wish to study life sciences have a choice of eight majors, all of which lead to a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree: Biology; Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution; and Marine Biology (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department); Human Biology and Society (Institute for Society and Genetics); Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Department); Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology (Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology Department); Neuroscience (Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program); Physiological Science (Integrative Biology and Physiology Department); and Psychobiology (Psychology Department). This choice reflects the diversity of undergraduate instruction in life sciences at UCLA. Despite this diversity, all of these majors require a common core of introductory courses that forms the foundation for any study of life sciences and that is required for more advanced courses in each major. The common core includes courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics, as well as introductory courses in evolution and biodiversity, cellular and organismal biology, molecular biology, and genetics. During the first two years, students may also gain experience in a research laboratory through the Student Research Program. For more information on each major, see the individual departments in this chapter. For additional information on the Life Sciences core curriculum, see the curriculum website.
Students considering one of the life sciences majors are encouraged to declare a major as early as possible, even in their first year. In this way, they are identified by the life sciences advising offices and receive important curricular and other information. Because the core curriculum prepares them for any of the eight majors, they have the flexibility to switch to another life sciences major at any time during their progression through the core curriculum. Note: The Marine Biology and Psychobiology majors may require some courses in addition to the life sciences core curriculum as part of the preparation. Consult the course requirements for both majors.
Required: Chemistry and Biochemistry 14A, 14B, 14BL, 14C, and 14D, or 20A, 20B, 20L, 30A, 30AL, and 30B; Life Sciences 7A, 7B, 7C, 7L, 107; Life Sciences 30A, 30B, and 40 or Statistics 13, or Mathematics 3A, 3B, and 3C, or 31A, 31B, and 32A; Physics 1A, 1B, 1C, 4AL, and 4BL, or 5A, 5B, and 5C.
Each core curriculum course must be passed with a grade of C– or better, and all courses must be completed with an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better. Students receiving a grade of D or F in two core curriculum courses, either in separate courses or repetitions of the same course, are subject to dismissal from the major.
Transfer applicants with 90 or more units must complete the following introductory courses prior to admission to UCLA: one year of general biology with laboratory for majors, preferably equivalent to Life Sciences 7A, 7B, and 7C, one year of calculus, one year of general chemistry with laboratory for majors, and one semester of organic chemistry with laboratory. A second semester of organic chemistry or one year of calculus-based physics is strongly recommended but not required for admission.
Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.
