Advising Index

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Program
387 Thimann Laboratories
UC Santa Cruz,
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Phone: 831.459.4143
Fax: 831.459.1568
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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. All Biological Sciences majors require at least two quarters of Calculus.

If you do not have Advanced Placement or college-level math credit you will need to take the MATH PLACEMENT EXAM to determine 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. Refer to these sample schedules for an outline of your coursework for your first year.

2. CHEMISTRY: All Biological Sciences majors are required to complete the three-quarter general chemistry series (CHEM 1A, 1B/M, 1C/N).

You can begin your Chemistry course work with either CHEM 1P or CHEM 1A. The Chemistry department offers an optional self-assessment to help you decide which Chemistry course is best for you. Students who have Advanced Placement or college-level chemsitry credit may begin their general chemistry further into the series*.

Our Advice: All biological sciences students should plan on beginning general chemistry during their first year in college. If you're beginning with MATH 2 or MATH 3 in the fall quarter, we recommend you wait until Winter quarter to begin Chemistry 1A. 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. Biological Sciences majors require our three-quarter introductory biology sequence, BIOL 20A, BIOE 20B and 20C (Note: Health Science majors are not required to complete BIOE 20C).

Our Advice: You should have the Biology 20 series completed by the end of your sophomore year. Most students begin the Biology 20 series in Spring quarter of their first year or Fall quarter of their second. You can begin the Biology 20 series with either BIOL 20A, Cell & Molecular Biology, or BIOE 20C, Ecology & Evolution. Be aware you must have completed CHEM 1B before you can enroll in BIOL 20A. BIOE 20C has no prerequsite. Refer to these sample schedules for an outline of your coursework for your first year.

* Please note that some graduate and/or professional programs may not accept Advanced Placement credit in leu of college level course work.

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