Getting Started in major Biology B.S.: 2023-2024 Entering Transfers

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Students are admitted to UC Santa Cruz with a "proposed major" in most cases, and later petition to officially declare the major. Admission does not guarantee acceptance into a particular major, although transfer students' records are screened for preparation for many majors at the time of admission. Junior transfer students must be formally declared by the deadline in their second quarter of enrollment.


Qualification requirements and/or prerequisites for the major:

If you listed this major on your UCSC admission application, your record has been screened for major preparation.

Students who did not apply to Biology, BS and are interested in applying to declare the major should check the Qualification requirements in the Catalog and contact MCD Biology Undergraduate Advising for Advising on how to potentially qualify and declare the major.

Transfer students who intend to pursue this major should do the following prior to the beginning of their first term…

  • Complete the Introduction to the Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology for Transfers Canvas Modules (an invitation to join will be sent to your UCSC.edu email address on or around July 18th)
  • Review the Academic Planning Website
  • Be sure to submit your Academic Plan to the Introduction to the Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology - Transfer Canvas Modules Assignment for review by an advisor!

...and should take these courses their first term:

  • BIOL 105: Genetics
  • Any lower division courses you have not completed before transferring to UCSC: 
    • Math 11B: Calculus with Applications or Math 19B: Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics 
    • CHEM 8B: Organic Chemistry 
    • STAT 5: Statistics or STAT 7/L: Stat Methods for Biological, Environmental and Health Sciences with Lab
    • PHYS 6A: Introductory Physics 1 and PHYS 6L: Introductory Physics 1 Laboratory or PHYS 7A: Elementary Physics 1 and PHYS 6L: Introductory Physics Laboratory
  • Second and/or third courses can be selected from the UCSC Course Highlights List that will be provided to you prior to your enrollment appointment for Fall 2023. 

This plan is based on completion of all recommended transfer course work. Please check the Introduction to the Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology for Transfer Canvas Modules for other recommendations.

If unable to enroll in the courses listed above:

Contact a Molecular, Cell and Developmental undergraduate advisor via the Introduction to the Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology for Transfer Canvas Modules or by email: mcdadvising@ucsc.edu (when emailing, please be sure your College is in the Subject line).

Special enrollment procedures:

Enroll in classes during your online enrollment appointment time.

Skills important for success in this major:

Critical and logical thought, complex problem solving using scientific rules and methods, deductive and inductive reasoning.

Although not required for the major, students in this major might benefit from:

Knowing that the suggested course load is two major requirement classes per quarter, along with their associated labs. If students do not have additional general education requirements to satisfy, they can utilize the third course each quarter to pursue other interests and get to full time enrollment as necessary.

Links to Review:

Program Description (Catalog)
Department Website
Course Articulation Information
MCD Biology Undergraduate Advising website

Advisor Contact Information:

Christine, Kylie, Leanna, and Mariah

Advising Website

Email: via Introduction to the Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology for Transfer Canvas Modules or mcdadvising@ucsc.edu (when emailing, please be sure your College is in the Subject line).

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