Mar 31, 2025  
2024-2025 Catalog 
    
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2024-2025 Catalog

Biological Sciences, BA

To receive the B.A. in Biological Sciences students must adhere to General Education  and School of Natural Sciences Requirements . The Biological Sciences program consists of 72-80 units, with a minimum of 23 courses designed to give all students a common foundation of core knowledge specific to the discipline plus breadth in an application area.

Biological Sciences, B.A. Four-Year Course Plan  

Lower Division Major Requirements [33-36 Units]

Biological Sciences Requirement [10 units]

Complete the following four Biological Sciences courses:

General Chemistry Requirement [8 units]

Complete the following two general Chemistry courses:

Mathematics Requirement [4 units]

Complete the following Mathematics course:

Physics Requirement [5 units]

Complete the following Physics courses:

Computer Science Requirement [2-4 units]

Complete one of the following courses:

Probability and Statistics Requirement [4-5 units]

Complete one of the following probability and statistics courses:

Natural Science or Breadth Requirement [12 Units Minimum]

Complete a total of four additional Natural Science or Breadth courses from the following programs: Anthropology, Biological Sciences, Data Sciences, Cognitive Science, Engineering, Environmental Systems Science, Chemistry, Mathematics, Natural Sciences Education, Physics, and Psychology. Two courses must be lower-division, one must be upper-division and the fourth course may be either lower-division or upper-division.

Upper Division Major Requirements [27-32]

Biology Core Requirement [8 units]

Complete the following course: 

Quantitative Biology Elective [4 units]

Complete one of the following courses:

Lab and Practicum Component [3-8 units]

Complete one of the following courses. If the lab is separate, both the lecture and lab component must be taken.

Additional Biology Elective [12 units minimum]

Complete four or more of the following courses:

Transfer Selection Criteria

To be admitted to the Biological Sciences major transfer students must meet the following requirements:

Applicants will, at the time of admission have completed at minimum each of the following courses (or their equivalent) with a “C” or better:

Additional Information

Applicants must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.8 in transferable courses. Any outstanding General Education and Major preparation coursework will be completed at UC Merced. Students should also consult the Information for Prospective Students link on the School of Natural Sciences website naturalsciences.ucmerced.edu for more information.