Overview
The Marine Biology major is designed for students who wish to specialize in the area of marine sciences. Completion of this major provides students with both an excellent background in biology and specialization in various disciplines such as oceanography, subtidal and intertidal ecology, and physiology of marine organisms. Graduates are well prepared for postgraduate opportunities in the marine sciences, many other areas of biology, and medicine. The major provides valuable field experience with concomitant individual research opportunities in marine biology.
Capstone Major
The Marine Biology major is a designated capstone major. Students apply theory and technique learned through four years of classroom and laboratory experience to their own independent projects. The main purpose of the capstone is to provide a unique field experience that involves designing and executing a research project. Students are aided in the scientific process of learning about a new ecosystem, developing relevant questions, designing conceptually based projects, troubleshooting and completing the work, and writing a publication-ready manuscript. They are also expected to exhibit strong teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Entry to the Major
Transfer applicants to the Marine Biology major 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.
Major Requirements
Preparation for the Major
Life Sciences Core Curriculum
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences or Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences
Chemistry
Life Sciences
Mathematics
Statistics
Physics
The Major
Laboratory
Marine Organismic Biology or Physiology
Ecology and Behavior
Evolution
Capstone Field Quarter
Physical, Chemical, or Geological Oceanography
Field Biology
Field Biology Quarter (FBQ)
Marine Biology Quarter (MBQ)
Honors Program
Computing Specialization
Program in Computing
Policies
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 below C– in two core curriculum courses, either in separate courses or repetitions of the same course, are subject to dismissal from the major.
Credit for 199 courses from other departments may not be applied.
With consent of the instructors and department, students may enroll in 200-level courses and apply them toward major requirements.
Each course applied toward requirements for preparation for the major and the major must be taken for a letter grade. Marine Biology majors must earn a C– or better in each course taken as preparation for the major, and at least a 2.0 (C) overall average in all courses applied toward the major. Courses applied to upper-division major requirements must have a minimum of 4 units. A 6-unit course counts as one course on the requirements for the major.
As requisites for the Marine Biology Quarter, students must have a 3.0 overall grade-point average and have taken Statistics 13 or equivalent. Preference for the Marine Biology Quarter is given to Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution majors, and Marine Biology majors. Students must complete Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 109 and 109L prior to participating in the Marine Biology Quarter. Contact the Undergraduate Advising Office for all requirements for the Marine and Field Biology quarters.