The catalog is the document of record for major and program requirements. It is updated annually.

Students may follow the degree requirements from either the UCSC General Catalog published at the time of entering UCSC or subsequent catalog(s). Students need not follow a catalog in its entirety, but may elect to follow different catalog years for their college requirements, university and general education requirements, the requirements of their major(s), and the requirements of any minor(s). The catalog year will initially be set for the first year of enrollment at UCSC. Students may elect to follow major or minor requirements from other catalog years(s) when filing the Petition for Declaration of Major/Minor.

Below are the degree requirements as listed in the current catalog:

An archive of previous years’ catalogs can be found here.

Editable academic planners and checklists can be found on our Academic Planning page.

Note: All major courses must be taken for a letter grade.

Satisfying the Biology BS DC Requirement

For students admitted prior to Fall 2017:

Your DC requirement is satisfied by the completion of BIOE 107 and BIOE 109. **These classes will only include a DC component through Spring 2020. You should prioritize enrolling in these courses in Winter and Spring 2020. After Spring 2020, students will need to complete the new DC requirement (see below) regardless of catalog rights.

For students admitted Fall 2017 or later:

Your DC requirement is satisfied by the completion of 2 BIOE courses and their accompanying labs OR 1 BIOL lab. All BIOE courses that are shaded gray will count towards both the DC requirement AND the 3 upper division electives that the major requires.

Clarification for transfer students:

All transfer students have catalog rights from up to two years prior to their start at UCSC through the year they graduate from UCSC. This means that transfer students admitted Winter 2019 or earlier are eligible to complete their DC using BIOE 107 and BIOE 109 provided they complete both courses by Spring 2020. After Spring 2020, students will need to complete the new DC requirement regardless of catalog rights. Transfer students admitted after Winter 2019 must complete the new DC requirement.

Note: 

• Request to change catalog year by completing this form
• The DC course/s must be taken at UCSC per Santa Cruz Regulation SCR 10.2.2.2.