University of California, Los Angeles College of Letters and Science 131 courses
The Marine Biology major is designed for students who wish to specialize in the area of marine sciences. Completion of this major provides students with both an excellent background in biology and specialization in various disciplines such as oceanography, subtidal and intertidal ecology, and physiology of marine organisms. Graduates are well prepared for postgraduate opportunities in the marine sciences, many other areas of biology, and medicine. The major provides valuable field experience with concomitant individual research opportunities in marine biology. The Marine Biology major is a designated capstone program. Students apply theory and technique learned through four years of classroom and laboratory experience to their own independent projects. The mission of the capstone program is to provide a unique learning experience to students, based on their academic aspirations, from a breadth of options from field research, to independent research, to a rigorous course plan. Students are aided in the scientific process of learning, based on the path they choose, culminating in being able to exhibit strong teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Preparation for the Major: Life Sciences Core Curriculum: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences or Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences
Select one course from:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A&O SCI 1 | Climate Change: From Puzzles to Policy | 4 |
| EPS SCI 15 | Blue Planet: Introduction to Oceanography | 5 |
Preparation for the Major: Life Sciences Core Curriculum: Chemistry
Select one series from:
Preparation for the Major: Life Sciences Core Curriculum: Chemistry: Chemistry 14 series
Preparation for the Major: Life Sciences Core Curriculum: Chemistry: Chemistry 20 and 30 series
Preparation for the Major: Life Sciences Core Curriculum: Life Sciences
Complete the following four courses:
Preparation for the Major: Life Sciences Core Curriculum: Mathematics
Select one series from:
Preparation for the Major: Life Sciences Core Curriculum: Mathematics: Life Sciences 30 series
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LIFESCI 30A | Mathematics for Life Scientists | 5 |
| LIFESCI 30B | Mathematics for Life Scientists | 5 |
Preparation for the Major: Life Sciences Core Curriculum: Mathematics: Mathematics 3 series
Preparation for the Major: Life Sciences Core Curriculum: Mathematics: Mathematics 31series
Preparation for the Major: Life Sciences Core Curriculum: Statistics
Select one course from:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LIFESCI 40 | Statistics of Biological Systems | 5 |
| STATS 13 | Introduction to Statistical Methods for Life and Health Sciences | 5 |
Preparation for the Major: Life Sciences Core Curriculum: Physics
Select one series from:
Preparation for the Major: Life Sciences Core Curriculum: Physics: Physics 1 series
Preparation for the Major: Life Sciences Core Curriculum: Physics: Physics 5 series
The Major
Complete 9 to 11 courses as follows: two required courses, 4 units of laboratory, 4 units of marine organismic biology or physiology, 4 units of ecology and behavior, 4 units of evolution, 8 to 16 units of culminating experience units, one additional physical, chemical, or geological oceanography course.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EE BIOL 109 | Introduction to Marine Science | 4 |
| EE BIOL 109L | Introduction to Marine Science Laboratory | 4 |
The Major: Laboratory
Select at least 4 laboratory units (one course) from:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EE BIOL 101 | Marine Botany | 6 |
| EE BIOL 105 | Biology of Invertebrates | 6 |
| EE BIOL 110 | Vertebrate Morphology | 6 |
| EE BIOL 112 | Ichthyology | 6 |
| EE BIOL 136 | Ecological Restoration | 6 |
| EE BIOL 170 | Animal Environmental Physiology | 6 |
The Major: Marine Organismic Biology or Physiology
Select at least 4 units of marine organismic biology or physiology (one course) from following list. Courses applied toward the laboratory requirement may not be applied. Students with credit for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 170 cannot also take Physiological Science 166.
The Major: Ecology and Behavior
Select at least 4 units of ecology and behavior (one course) from:
The Major: Evolution
Select at least 4 evolution units (one course) from following list. Students with credit for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 120 cannot also take course 185. Students with credit for Life Sciences 4 cannot also take course 107.
The Major: Culminating Experience Requirements
Select one of the following culminating experience requirement options (8 to 16 units):
The Major: Culminating Experience Requirements: Field Quarter
Complete the Field Biology Quarter (FBQ), Marine Biology Quarter (MBQ), Field Marine Biology Quarter (FMBQ), or pre-approved equivalent (see undergraduate adviser) for up to 16 units.
The Major: Culminating Experience Requirements: Thesis
Complete two quarters of mentored research (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 198A and 198B) with a full-time department faculty member, producing a senior thesis. Students must formally present their work at Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Research Day or UCLA Undergraduate Research Week.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EE BIOL 198A | Honors Research in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 4 |
| EE BIOL 198B | Honors Research in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 4 |
The Major: Culminating Experience Requirements: Project
Complete one research project-based upper-division ecology and evolutionary biology course to be determined by the undergraduate curriculum committee, and at least 4 units of faculty-mentored undergraduate research (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 199), culminating in a formal paper or report. The 199 units may be completed in one or two quarters. Students must formally present their work at Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Research Day or UCLA Undergraduate Research Week.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EE BIOL 199 | Directed Research in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 2 to 4 |
The Major: Culminating Experience Requirements: Coursework
Complete three additional upper-division ecology and evolutionary biology courses (minimum 12 units). Students expand their knowledge of the field. Specific course options are determined by the undergraduate curriculum committee via a course plan petition completed and submitted by the student.
The Major: Physical, Chemical, or Geological Oceanography
Select one additional physical, chemical, or geological oceanography course from:
Field Biology
The department offers three quarter-long programs of advanced courses in field biology: the Field Biology Quarter (FBQ), the Marine Biology Quarter (MBQ), and the joint Field Marine Biology Quarter (FMBQ). These programs focus on the biology of organisms living in their natural environments, emphasize independent student research projects, and take place at field sites away from the UCLA campus. The course composition varies somewhat from year to year, but each program always carries 16 units of course credit. The Field Biology Quarter involves some combination of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 113B, 114B, 118, 124A, 124B, 125, C126, 132, 134B, and 151B. The Marine Biology Quarter includes some combination of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 102, 106, 123A, 123B, 147, 148, 163, 164, 165, and 182. The Field and Marine Biology quarters may occur during fall, winter, or spring quarter, depending on location and faculty participation. To participate, students must enroll in all courses in the respective program. Participants in both programs are selected by personal interview. Information and applications are available in the Undergraduate Advising Office.
Field Biology: Field Biology Quarter (FBQ)
The Field Biology Quarter involves some combination of the following courses:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EE BIOL 113B | Field Herpetology | 8 |
| EE BIOL 114B | Field Ornithology | 8 |
| EE BIOL 124A | Field Ecology | 4 or 8 |
| EE BIOL 124B | Field Ecology | 4 or 8 |
| EE BIOL C126 | Behavioral Ecology | 4 or 8 |
| EE BIOL 132 | Field Behavioral Ecology | 8 |
| EE BIOL 151B | Field Tropical Ecology | 8 |
Field Biology: Marine Biology Quarter (MBQ)
The Marine Biology Quarter involves some combination of the following courses:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EE BIOL 102 | Biology of Marine Invertebrates | 4 |
| EE BIOL 106 | Experimental Marine Invertebrate Biology | 4 or 6 |
| EE BIOL 123A | Field Marine Ecology | 4 or 8 |
| EE BIOL 123B | Field Marine Ecology | 4 or 8 |
| EE BIOL 148 | Biology of Marine Plants | 4 |
Honors Program
To be eligible for department honors, students must complete the field quarter, thesis, or project capstone option, and have a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.5 or better. To qualify for highest honors, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or better, complete Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 198A and 198B or 199, and receive a faculty recommendation.
Computing Specialization
Majors may select a specialization in Computing by satisfying all the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in the specified major and completing the following requirements. A grade of C– or better is required in each course, with a combined grade-point average in the specialization of at least 2.0. Students must petition for admission to the program and are advised to do so after completing Program in Computing 10B (petitions should be filed in the Undergraduate Advising Office). Students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in their major and a specialization in Computing.
Computing Specialization: Program in Computing
Complete the following three courses and Program in Computing 30 and 60:
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMPTNG 10A | Introduction to Programming | 5 |
| COMPTNG 10B | Intermediate Programming | 4 |
| COMPTNG 10C | Advanced Programming | 5 |
Computing Specialization: Additional Course
Select one course from:
Click a course code or title to read the full course description.
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