Advising Index

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Program
387 Thimann Laboratories
UC Santa Cruz,
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Phone: 831.459.4143
Fax: 831.459.1568
Email
Contact Us
Map & Directions

GETTING STARTED: What classes to take for your major

All biology students should plan and enroll in classes in this order:

1. MATH > 2. CHEMISTRY > 3. INTRO BIOLOGY

1. MATH: The quantitative skills you learn in your math courses provide the foundation for your entire science career.

If you do not have Advanced Placement or college-level math credit you will need to take the MATH PLACEMENT EXAM to determined what math course you place into.Check your exam score

Our Advice: Enroll in Math for Fall Quarter! Math is the gateway to all your science classes. All biological sciences students should complete math through college-level pre-calculus as soon as possible, preferably before the end of the first year in college. Students who do not place into at least Math 2 will need to take a preparation course at a community college prior to beginning math at UCSC. All other students should enroll in the course they place into in Fall Quarter. Refer to these sample schedules for an outline of your coursework for your first year.

2. CHEMISTRY: All Biological Sciences majors require general chemistry with labs.

First year biology students will begin the general chemistry series with Chem 1A (unless they have Advanced Placement or college-level chemsitry credit).

Our Advice: All biological sciences students should plan on beginning general chemistry during their first year in college. Students who place into Math 2 or 3 and/or had little to no high school chemistry should enroll in Chem 1A during the winter quarter of their first year. Students who place into Math 11/19A and had high school chemistry should try to enroll in Chem 1A in the fall of their first year. Refer to these sample schedules for an outline of your coursework for your first year.

3. INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY: Once you have the foundation of math and chemistry, you are ready to start learning the fundamentals of biology. Our three-quarter introductory biology sequence, BIOL 20ABC, can be started with either BIOL 20A Cell & Molecular Biology or BIOL 20C Ecology & Evolution (Note: Health Science majors are not required to complete Biol 20C)

Our Advice: Take the optional self-assessment in Biology to determine where to start in Biology. If it is recommended that you enroll in BIOL 3, you should take that course during the winter quarter of your first year. If you feel prepared to begin the introductory Biology sequence, you can start with BIOL 20A or BIOL 20C. Be aware you must also complete Chem 1B before you can enroll in BIOL 20A. Refer to these sample schedules for an outline of your coursework for your first year.

QUESTIONS: Contact BioAdvising