Study Abroad Programs

You Can Study Abroad!

A recent MCB alumna, Caitlin Sorensen, said the following about studying abroad in Denmark.

"Study abroad has been helpful in so many aspects of my life- it helped me get a job! When I studied abroad in Copenhagen, I was accepted to the Human Biology Program at the Pannum Institute, a leading biology program through The University of Copenhagen. The 3rd year Cell Biology course that I took gave me my first exposure to world class equipment, techniques, and theories in cell biology and immunology. In fact, it ended up counting as my MCB 150L requirement due to the large amount of lab work. When I started applying to research positions, my experience at University of Copenhagen was a large determining factor in my acceptance to a UCSF immunology lab. My class abroad required a great deal of independent project planning, group work, and PI interaction- all of which are instrumental to my Staff Research Associate position in the Pathology Department at UCSF. Studying abroad in Denmark offered me a wealth of courses suitable for MCB, and even presented me with additional laboratory knowledge could not have received in a classroom setting at Cal."

Many students choose to spend a summer, one, or two semesters abroad during their undergraduate studies at Cal. MCB students have participated in study abroad programs in Australia, Costa Rica, Japan, Spain, France, Germany, Scotland, England, Denmark, New Zealand, China, Chile, Brazil, and many other countries.

Lower division MCB requirements such as physics, chemistry, and biology can be satisfied through the UC Education Abroad Program. With your faculty advisor's approval, the MCB department may also accept up to two appropriate courses from abroad toward your MCB upper division major requirements. With careful early planning, it is possible to go abroad your sophomore, junior, or senior year and still graduate in eight or nine semesters.

There are a number of useful offices and websites on campus that can help you identify programs of interest to you and incorporate a study abroad experience into your academic plan.

Education Abroad Office, 160 Stephens Hall
UC Education Abroad Program
Berkeley Programs for Study Abroad
EAP Course Catalog
EAP for Biology Majors (example program list compiled by EAP)
Useful Study Abroad Websites (compiled by EAP)
Financial Aid (under construction)
MCB UAO, 3060 VLSB

Here are just two examples of ways in which students might schedule study abroad into their undergraduate program:

Sample GG&D Curriculum - Summer in Sussex, England

Year 1 at UCB	Math 1A Chemistry 1A/1AL	Math 1B Chemistry 3A/3AL
Summer abroad in Sussex	Physics 8A and 8B equivalents
Year 2 at UCB	Chemistry 3B/3BL Biology 1A	MCB C100A Biology 1B
Year 3 at UCB	MCB 110	GGD Elective A/B GGD Elective B
Year 4 at UCB	MCB 140	MCB 140L

Sample CDB - Physiology Curriculum - Junior Year Abroad

Year 1 at UCB Math 1A Chemistry 1A/1AL Math 1B Chemistry 3A/3AL Year 2 at UCB Chemistry 3B/3BL Biology 1A/1AL Biology 1B MCB 102 Year 3 - Abroad Breadth Course CDB Elective B Year 4 at UCB Physics 8A MCB 104 Physics 8B MCB 133L 9th semester at UCB CDB Elective B MCB 136 none