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Freshmen Academic Plans

Biology BS:  Suggested Freshmen Academic Plans

Be sure to take all of your major requirement courses for a letter grade. Remember that you need to complete the qualification courses by your 5th quarter so you can petition to declare your major in your 6th quarter.

Scroll down to find all four academic planners and choose the plan that fits your math placement level. 

Click the 'make a copy for your Googe Drive' button below each plan to copy all four academic planners and major checklist to your Drive. 

GE - General Education requirement course.  Remember to add your General Education requirements to your plan.

ME - Major Exploration are courses to include in your academic plan to explore other majors/minors you might be interested in.

 

PLAN 1:  For students placing into MATH 2

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*If you complete part of Gen Chem at UCSC you must finish it at UCSC. Gen Chem does not transfer back to UCSC.
 
Students are advised to complete the full series (CHEM 3A, CHEM 3B/BL, and CHEM 3C/CL) at UCSC or compete the full series at another approved college. Failure to complete the full series of chemistry at one institution may result in no subject credit for general chemistry. Partial credit is not allowed.
You can use http://www.assist.org/web-assist/welcome.html to determine if you have or can complete the full series at a community college. 

Please note MCD Biology's Course Substitution and Transfer Credit Policy - BIOL 20A, BIOL 100, BIOL 101, BIOL 105, and BIOL 110 must be completed at UCSC.

 

PLAN 2:  For students placing into MATH 3

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*If you complete part of Gen Chem at UCSC you must finish it at UCSC. Gen Chem does not transfer back to UCSC.
 
Students are advised to complete the full series (CHEM 3A, CHEM 3B/BL, and CHEM 3C/CL) at UCSC or compete the full series at another approved college. Failure to complete the full series of chemistry at one institution may result in no subject credit for general chemistry. Partial credit is not allowed.
You can use http://www.assist.org/web-assist/welcome.html to determine if you have or can complete the full series at a community college. 

Please note MCD Biology's Course Substitution and Transfer Credit Policy - BIOL 20A, BIOL 100, BIOL 101, BIOL 105, and BIOL 110 must be completed at UCSC.

 

PLAN 3:  For students placing into MATH 11A or 19A

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*If you complete part of Gen Chem at UCSC you must finish it at UCSC. Gen Chem does not transfer back to UCSC.
 
Students are advised to complete the full series (CHEM 3A, CHEM 3B/BL, and CHEM 3C/CL) at UCSC or compete the full series at another approved college. Failure to complete the full series of chemistry at one institution may result in no subject credit for general chemistry. Partial credit is not allowed.
You can use http://www.assist.org/web-assist/welcome.html to determine if you have or can complete the full series at a community college. 
Please note MCD Biology's Course Substitution and Transfer Credit Policy - BIOL 20A, BIOL 100, BIOL 101, BIOL 105, and BIOL 110 must be completed at UCSC.

 

PLAN 4:  Alternate to PLAN 3

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*If you complete part of Gen Chem at UCSC you must finish it at UCSC. Gen Chem does not transfer back to UCSC.
 
Students are advised to complete the full series (CHEM 3A, CHEM 3B/BL, and CHEM 3C/CL) at UCSC or compete the full series at another approved college. Failure to complete the full series of chemistry at one institution may result in no subject credit for general chemistry. Partial credit is not allowed.
You can use http://www.assist.org/web-assist/welcome.html to determine if you have or can complete the full series at a community college. 

Please note MCD Biology's Course Substitution and Transfer Credit Policy - BIOL 20A, BIOL 100, BIOL 101, BIOL 105, and BIOL 110 must be completed at UCSC.

 

 Biology BS four-year checklist (2023-2024)

 

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* Your DC requirement is satisfied by the completion of 2 BIOE courses and their accompanying labs or 1 BIOL lab. Your Senior Exit requirement is satisfied by completing one lab or field course (BIOE or BIOL course identified with an “L”) in addition to BIOL 101L. 

Visit the MCD Biology Academic Planning webpage to see the checklist for your major for specific courses that will meet these requirements.

Do you need assistance in developing your academic plan?  Go to Major Advising for options on interacting with an advisor.