Biological Sciences, Education Emphasis, B.S.

Requirements for the Biological Sciences Major

To receive the B.S. in Biological Sciences students must adhere to General Education  and School of Natural Sciences Requirements . The Biological Sciences program is designed to give all students a common foundation of core knowledge specific to the discipline plus breadth in an application area.

Requirements for Education Emphasis Track

The Biology Education (BioEd), B.S. emphasizes a rigorous biological science core—advanced coursework and labs in genetics, biochemistry, ecology and evolution, and quantitative methods—paired with targeted preparation for teaching. Students learn to translate complex concepts into standards-aligned, inquiry-driven lessons, design and assess laboratory and field investigations, and build data-literacy and modeling skills for the classroom. The track aligns with the Natural Sciences Education minors—NSED (without credential) and NSEC (with credential)—providing a clear pathway to complete either minor and, for NSEC students, to earn a teaching credential. Training in the B.S. BioEd track addresses the pressing need for subject-specific science teachers across elementary, middle, and high school levels, and prepares graduates for careers in K–12 teaching, curriculum and assessment design, informal science education, and further study in biology or education.

Undergraduate Research in Biological Sciences

All Biological Sciences majors are encouraged, but not required, to participate in a research experience. Students attend research lectures by UC Merced faculty, and can elect to go on to participate in research projects. The relevant course numbers are:

• BIO 095: Lower Division Undergraduate Research Units:
• BIO 195: Upper Division Undergraduate Research Units:

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:

• BIO 011: Introduction to Molecular Biology Units: 4
• BIO 011L: Introduction to Molecular Biology Lab Units: 1
• BIO 012: Introduction to Organismal Biology Units: 4
• BIO 012L: Introduction to Organismal Biology Lab Units: 1
• CHEM 002: General Chemistry I Units: 4
• CHEM 002L: General Chemistry I Lab Units: 1
• CHEM 010: General Chemistry II Units: 4
• CHEM 010L: General Chemistry II Lab Units: 1

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• MATH 011: Calculus I Units: 4 or
• MATH 021: Calculus I for Physical Sciences and Engineering Units: 4

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• MATH 012: Calculus II Units: 4 or
• MATH 022: Calculus II for Physical Sciences and Engineering Units: 4