The major in Molecular & Cell Biology exposes students in the fundamentals of biochemistry, moelcular biology, genetics, and cell biology, and also encourages students to focus their studies in one of five undergraduate major emphases (described briefly below). For additional information about a specific emphasis, click on the associated link.
The lower-division requirements, shown at the bottom of the page, are the same for all major emphases except track 2 of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. A summary table of the upper-division requirements can also be found below.
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (shows as 966: MO&CEL BIO P1 I, EM 1 on some official University documents)
The BMB emphasis is dedicated to the mechanistic understanding, at the molecular level, of essential processes for the life of the cell, using rigorous and reductionist approaches. You will learn not only how the molecules of life work in the healthy cell and organism, but also how disruption of their function leads to disease. This knowledge is essential for the design of pharmacological treatments that target these molecules to alter their activity.
Cell & Developmental Biology (shows as 971: MO&CEL BIO PII, EM 2 on some official University documents)
The CDB emphasis focuses on investigating the dynamic mechanisms of fundamental cellular processes in both normal and aberrant physiological contexts, such as disease and developmental disorders. The undergraduate tracks within this emphasis are ideal for students interested in the medical and health sciences as well as basic research and teaching careers.
Genetics, Genomics & Development (shows as 967: MO&CEL BIO P1 I, EM 2 on some official University documents)
The GGD emphasis focuses on understanding how sequence variation results in the amazing spectrum of life that surrounds us, and how genetic and molecular tools can be used to reveal the role of genes in various biological processes. The undergraduate tracks within this emphasis are ideal for students interested in medical, research and teaching careers.
Immunology & Pathogenesis (shows as 968: MO&CEL BIO P1 I, EM 3 on some official University documents)
Humans inhabit an environment teeming with microbes and their toxins. The omnipresent threat of infection and the emergence of new infectious diseases has catapulted immunology to the forefront of modern biomedical science. Immunology is the study of the cellular and biochemical mechanisms which protect us from these threats. Read more...
Neurobiology (shows as 972: MO&CEL BIO PII, EM 3 on some official University documents)
Neurobiology is the study of the brain—how it controls behavior, generates sensory perception, learns, thinks and feels; and what goes wrong in neurological and neuropsychiatric disease. Advanced methods from molecular biology, genetics, physiology, computational biology and engineering are used to understand brain function mechanistically from single neurons to complex neural networks. Neuroscience is in a period of rapid discovery yielding important advances for biomedical research and translational medicine.
| Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Genetics, Genomics & Development | Immunology & Pathogenesis | Cell & Developmental Biology | Neurobiology | ||||
| Track 1: BMB | Track 2: Biological Chemistry** | Track 1: GGD | Track 2: Developmental Genetics | Track 1: Immunology | Track 2: Infectious Disease | Track 1: Cell & Systems Biology | Track 2: Medical Biology & Physiology | |
| MCB C100A | Chem 112A | MCB C100A | MCB 102 | MCB C100A | MCB 102 | MCB 102 | MCB 102 | MCB 102 |
| MCB 100B | Chem 112B | MCB 110 | MCB 104 | MCB 110 | MCB 104 | MCB 104 | MCB 104 | MCB 104 |
| MCB 110 | MCB C100A | MCB 140 | MCB 141 | MCB 104 or MCB 140 | MCB 150 | MCB 130A | MCB 136 | MCB 160 |
| MCB C110L | Chem 130B | MCB 140L | MCB 140L | MCB 150 | MCB 150L | MCB 133L | MCB 133L | MCB 161 |
| MCB 140 or MCB C148 | Chem 135 | GGD Elective A/B | GGD Elective A/B | MCB 150L | IMM Elective A | CDB Elective A | CDB Elective B | MCB 163 or MCB 160L |
| BMB Elective | MCB C110L | GGD Elective B | GGD Elective B | IMM Elective C | IMM Elective B | CDB Elective A | CDB Elective B | NEU Elective |
| MCB 130A or MCB 140 | ||||||||
| Course Number | Course Title | Semester | Units |
| Math 10A* | Methods of Mathematics: Calculus, Statistics, and Combinatorics | F | 4 |
| Math 10B* | Methods of Mathematics: Calculus, Statistics, and Combinatorics | Sp | 4 |
| Chemistry 1A/1AL ** | General Chemistry and Lab | F, Sp, Su | 3+1 |
| Chemistry 3A/3AL*** | Organic Chemistry and Lab | F, Sp, Su | 3+2 |
| Chemistry 3B/3BL*** | Organic Chemistry and Lab | F, Sp, Su | 3+2 |
| Biology 1A/1AL | General Biology and Lab | F, Sp, Su | 3+2 |
| Biology 1B | General Biology (includes lab) | F, Sp, Su | 4 |
| Physics 8A**** | Calculus-based Physics (includes lab) | F, Sp, Su | 4 |
| Phyiscs 8B**** | Calculus-based Physics (includes lab) | F, Sp, Su | 4 |
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*Math 16A and/or 16B are not accepted by the MCB major. Any deviations from the required math courses should be approved the Undergraduate Affaris Office. ** Chemistry 1B (Sp, Su only) is required for BMB track 2 only. All other tracks only need 1A/1AL. ***Chem 112A and Chem 112B is a required substitution for 3A/3AL/3B/3BL for student intending to pursure BMB track 2. ****Physics 7A can be taken in place of 8A and Physics 7B in pace of 8B. |
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