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BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

 
Researcher and microscope
 
 

Undergraduate Biology Program

There has never been a more exciting and important time to study biology. Recent interdisciplinary and technological advances in our understanding of biological systems make this the “Century of Biology.” The immediate future of biology promises an era of important and profound discoveries. Beyond a basic understanding of life, the study of biology provides insights and knowledge essential to addressing some of society’s most pressing and important problems.

Our undergraduate Biological Sciences program trains students in the fundamental knowledge, skills and ethical responsibilities of equitable participation in the diverse future of biological sciences, its sub-disciplines and its professional applications. We are committed to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion for everyone, including students, faculty and staff.

Undergraduate students in the Biological Sciences program are instructed in all the field’s scales, from molecules and cells to organisms and ecosystems. The program teaches biology as a unified and interdisciplinary science, reflecting the foundational importance of chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, computer science and philosophy to our understanding of biological systems. Students learn both the theoretical and empirical bases of knowledge, and how the scientific method is applied to investigate fundamental questions in the field.

Students majoring in Biological Sciences can choose from five emphasis tracks that provide specialized training in different areas of biology:

Research and Career Opportunities

  • Neurobiology and Developmental Biology
  • Comparative Physiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Epigenetics and Functional Genomics
  • Microbiology, Virology, and Immunology

  • Evolutionary and Ecological Genomics
  • Population Biology and Biogeography
  • Animal and Plant Biology
  • Microbial Symbiosis
  • California Natural History
  • Conservation Biology

  • Mathematical Biology and Computer Programing
  • Statistics, Modeling, and Machine Learning
  • Large-scale and Multi-omics Data Science
  • Physical and Structural Biology

  • Mathematical Biology
  • Modelling and Machine Learning
  • Computational Biology and Computer Programing
  • Physical and Structural Biology
  • Bioinformatics and Multi-omics Analysis

  • Antibiotic Resistance
  • Neurological Disorders
  • Immune System Function
  • Infectious Diseases and Parasitology
  • Anatomy and Physiology

  • Integrative STEM Science Education
  • Pedagogical Innovation
  • Research-Based Teaching
  • Learning Assessment
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Teaching

 

 

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