General Biology (BI31)

Description, major requirements and advising resources for the General Biology (BI31) Major in the School of Biological Sciences.

The Lower-Divison and Upper-Division Requirements listed on this page only apply to students who were admitted to UC San Diego in Fall 2024.

Older major requirements can be referenced within the General Catalog Archive.

Description of the Major

The General Biology major is intended for students with broad interests who wish to acquire knowledge and skills in multiple disciplinary areas within the biological sciences. Students in this major take a core set of foundational courses at both lower and upper division levels that span the full spectrum of biology subdisciplines, and thereafter have the freedom to choose upper division electives based upon their interests. These may be focused in one or two areas of interest to the student, or may continue to explore multiple subdisciplines. The General Biology major will prepare students for careers and post-graduate studies in a wide variety of fields including health professions, biological research in academic, government and industry settings, teaching and other science communication-oriented fields, science-oriented businesses and science policy administration.

Lower-Division Requirements

• Biology: BILD 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5*
• Chemistry: CHEM 6A, 6B, 6C and 7L
• Organic Chemistry: CHEM 40A and 40B
• Mathematics: MATH 10A, 10B, and 11 or 20A, 20B, and 11
• Physics: PHYS 1A/1AL, 1B/1BL, and 1C/1CL or 2A, 2B, 2C and one lab (2BL, 2CL, 2DL)

Upper-Division Requirements

Note: Any given course can only satisfy one major requirement

• Genetics (BICD 100)
• Molecular Biology (BIMM 100)
• Human Physiology I (BIPN 100)
• Biochemistry - complete one of the following courses:
  • Structural Biochemistry (BIBC 100)
  • Metabolic Biochemistry (BIBC 102)
  • Biochemical Structure and Function (CHEM 114A)
  • Biochemical Energetics and Metabolism (CHEM 114B)
  • Option 1 - complete one six unit lab:
    • Animal Physiology Lab (BIPN 105)
    • Biochemical Techniques (BIBC 103)
    • Chemistry of Biological Interactions (BIBC 151)
    • Eucaryotic Genetics Laboratory (BICD 101)
    • Plant Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory (BICD 123)
    • Laboratory in Molecular Medicine (BICD 145)
    • Ecology Laboratory (BIEB 121)
    • Molecular Methods in Evolution & Ecology Lab (BIEB 123)
    • Marine Invertebrate Ecology Lab (BIEB 131)
    • Aquatic Ecology Lab (BIEB 135)
    • Intro to Q-Modeling Biology Lab (BIEB 141)
    • Computer Modeling in Evolution and Ecology (BIEB 143)
    • Microbiome Function Laboratory (BIEB 159)
    • Animal Communication Lab (BIEB 167)
    • Recombinant DNA Techniques (BIMM 101)
    • Microbiology Laboratory (BIMM 121)
    • Bioinformatics Laboratory (BIMM 143)
    • Neurobiology Lab (BIPN 145)
    • BISP 196/197/199 (at least 4 units)
    • Upper-division Biology elective units may be completed with courses numbered 100-189 taken through UC San Diego’s School of Biological Sciences. Elective units may include one quarter of BISP 195, up to four BIxx 194s, and one quarter of either BISP 193 or BISP 196/197/199.
    • Only one BISP 196/197/199 can apply towards the major. Subsequent quarters of BISP 196, 197 or 199 may be applied toward college and university requirements.

    Advising Documents and Resources

    • Major Check Worksheet
    • Freshman and Transfer Sample Plan Lookup Tool

    Additional Major Requirements

    In addition to programmatic course requirements, all majors offered by the School of Biological Sciences have a minimum grade, upper division unit and residency requirement. All coursework, along with additional major requirements, must be complete in order to earn a degree from the School.

    Program Learning Outcomes & Goals for BioSci Majors

    UC San Diego is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Interested in how your curriculum is built? View our Inventory of Educational Effectiveness Indicators. You can find out more about accreditation and WASC at UC San Diego Accreditation. Additionally, the School of Biological Sciences' Program Learning Outcomes align with knowledge and compentencies mastered by undergraduate students upon completion of degree requirements.

    Major Requirements

    • Bioinformatics
    • Ecology, Behavior and Evolution
    • General Biology
    • Human Biology
    • Microbiology
    • Molecular and Cell Biology
    • Neurobiology