Molecular Therapeutics

Upper Division Requirements, Sample 4-yr Plans, Elective Lists

NEW FALL 2023

Molecular Therapeutics (MTX) pursues research that provides an understanding of biochemical and cellular mechanisms that are affected in disease and can be exploited for the development of new therapeutic modalities. This includes research into mechanisms of gene editing and genome engineering; neural development; gene expression; redox signaling; protein folding and degradation; cell growth and survival signaling; or host viral interactions. Faculty in MTX develop new diagnostic, delivery, and therapeutic approaches to detect and target a range of diseases, including sickle cell disease, retinal diseases, neural disease, or cancer. These problems are being investigated using biochemical, structural, and cellular approaches, including stem cell and organoid models. 

Upper Division Requirements

Molecular Therapeutics
Track 1: Molecular Therapeutics Track 2: Therapeutics and Disease
MCB C100A: Biophysical Chemistry (Fa,Sp; 4 un) MCB 102: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Fa, Sp, Su; 4 un)
MCB 140: General Genetics (Fa, Sp; 4 un) MCB 104:  Genetics, Genomics, & Cell Biology (Fa, Sp, Su; 4 un)
MCB 120: Therapeutics Discovery and Clinical Development (Fa, 4 un) MCB 120: Therapeutics Discovery and Clinical Development (Fa, 4 un)
MCB 120L (first offered Fall '25): Therapeutics Discovery Laboratory (Fa, Sp; 4 un)
OR MCB C110L: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Lab (Fa, Sp; 4 un) 
 MCB 120L (first offered Fall '25): Therapeutics Discovery Laboratory (Fa, Sp; 4 un)
OR MCB C110L: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Lab (Fa, Sp; 4 un) 
OR petition to substitute with research units

MTX Elective A (see list below)

 MTX Elective A (see list below)
MTX Elective B (see list below) MTX Elective B (see list below)

Sample 4-yr Plans

These are just examples, for more sample schedules including spring start and transfer see guide.berkeley.edu or meet with an advisor to explore your options. It is recommended by MCB advisors and faculty to take the upper division lab as early as you can if you are interested in research and/or honors research. 

Track 1: Molecular Therapeutics   Track 2: Therapeutics and Disease
Year 1   Year 1
Fall Un Spring Un   Fall Un Spring Un
Math 10A 4 Math 10B 4   Math 10A 4 Math 10B 4
Chem 1A/1AL 5 Chem 3A/3AL 5   Chem 1A/1AL 5 Chem 3A/3AL 5
Year 2   Year 2
Fall Un Spring Un   Fall Un Spring Un
Chem 3B/3BL 5 Biology 1A/1AL 5   Chem 3B/3BL 5 Biology 1A/1AL 5
Physics 8A 4 Physics 8B 4   Physics 8A 4 Physics 8B 4
Year 3   Year 3
Fall Un Spring Un   Fall Un Spring Un
MCB C100A 4 MCB 140 4   MCB 102 4 MCB 104 4
Biology 1B 4 Elective A 3-4   Biology 1B 4 Elective A 3-4
Year 4   Year 4
Fall Un Spring Un   Fall Un Spring Un
MCB 120 4 Elective B 3-4   MCB 120 4 Elective B 3-4
MCB 120L 4       MCB 120L 4    

 

Approved Electives Lists

MTX Elective List A: 
Process, ethics, and economics of drug discovery
MTX Elective List B: 
Mechanism of Disease

Molecular & Cell Biology

  • 100B Biochemistry: Pathways, Mechanisms, and Regulation (Sp; 4 units)
  • 110 Molecular Biology: Macromolecular Synthesis & Cellular Function (Fa, Sp; 4 un)
  • 153 Molecular Medicine (F, 4 units)
  • C175 LSBE Capstone (F, 4 units) (restricted to LSBE students only)

Bioengineering

  • 100 Ethics in Science and Engineering (F, Sp 3 units)
  • C131 Introduction to Computational Molecular and Cell Biology (Fa; 4 units)

Chemical Engineering

  • 182 Nanoscience and Engineering Biotechnology (Fa; 3 units)

Chemistry

  • 121 Introduction to Computational Chemistry (Sp; 3 units)

Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology

  • 121 Computational Toxicology (Sp, 3 units)

Public Health

  • 142 Intro to Probability & Statistics in Bio & Public Health (F, Sp, Su; 4 units) 

Statistics

  • C131A Statistical Methods for Data Science (F, Sp; 4 units)

Molecular & Cell Biology

  • C103 Bacterial Pathogenesis (Sp, 3 units)
  • C114 Intro to Comparative Virology (Sp, 4 units)
  • 132 Biology of Cancer (F; 4 units)
  • 135A Molecular Endocrinology (F; 3 units)
  • 136 Physiology (F, Sp; 4 units)
  • 149 The Human Genome (F; 3 units)
  • 165 Neurobiology of Disease, offered as NEU 165 from Spring '25 onward (Sp, 3 units)

Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology

  • 110 Toxicology (F, 4 units)
  • 160 Metabolic Bases of Human Health and Diseases (Sp; 4 units)