How to Declare the Biology Minor

  1. You must be declared a major.
  2. After your major is declared, contact your major advisor for an updated academic plan. Make sure the plan is completed with classes required for your major, signed by your major advisor and accessible to MCD advising (share with mcdadvising@ucsc.edu)
  3. Review the Biology Minor Academic Planning Checklist: Click Here
  4. Add the courses for the Biology Minor to your academic plan to demonstrate that you will have time to complete the minor requirements.
  5. Pass at least BIOL 20A
  6. Petition to declare the Biology Minor in your MyUCSC portal - See Instructions Below

Biology Minor Requirements:

  • CHEM 1A: General Chemistry*
  • CHEM 1B: General Chemistry*
  • CHEM 1C: General Chemistry*
  • BIOL 20A: Cell and Molecular Biology
  • BIOE 20B: Development and Physiology
  • BIOE 20C: Ecology and Evolution
  • BIOL 20L: Experimental Biology Lab
  • CHEM 8A: Organic Chemistry
  • BIOL 100: Biochemistry
    • Prerequisite: CHEM 8B: Organic Chemistry^
  • BIOL 105: Genetics
  • BIOE 107: Ecology
  • BIOE 109: Evolution
  • 1 Additional Upper Division Elective (Chosen from BIOL or BIOE Courses Numbered 100-181)

Biology Minor Academic Planning Checklist: Click Here

^Though CHEM 8B is not required for the Biology Minor, it is a prerequisite for BIOL 100 and should be completed as soon as CHEM 8A is completed to ensure timely enrollment in BIOL 100.

*After Fall 2023 the CHEM 1 series (CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B/M, CHEM 1C/N) will be discontinued and replaced with the CHEM 3 series (CHEM 3A, CHEM 3B & 3BL, CHEM 3c & 3CL). Students currently enrolled in the CHEM 1 Series should ensure they complete the series before the end of the Fall 2023 quarter. Frosh students starting the General Chemistry series Fall 2023 or after should look to complete the CHEM 3 series below instead of the CHEM 1 series for the Biology Minor:
  • CHEM 3A: General Chemistry
  • CHEM 3B & 3BL: General Chemistry with Lab
  • CHEM 3C & 3CL: General Chemistry with Lab

 

Instructions for Petitioning to Declare the Biology Minor

Beginning June 1st, 2022, students can log into MyUCSC and submit the Petition for Major/Minor via MyUCSC (be sure you are logged into your MyUCSC account before clicking the link). 

Another way to access the Petition for Major/Minor via MyUCSC is by logging into your MyUCSC, navigating to the Student Homepage and selecting the Undergraduate Student eForms tile, then Petition of Major/Minor (see screenshots below).

 

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For assistance, please contact the MCD Biology advising team at mcdadvising@ucsc.edu .

Once submitted, petitions are generally reviewed within 10 business days (business days are considered regular working days Monday through Friday).  

 

 

Campus Minor Policy: 

MCD BIO Department Minor Policy: 

 

NOTE: You must have 25 credits of unique Upper Division course work for the minor and 40 credits of unique Upper Division course work for the major.