Major in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics

All Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics majors are required to complete 47 units of required courses and an additional 28-35 units within one of three concentrations (Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or Bioinformatics) for a total of 75-82 units. 

Required Courses
BIOL 200
& 200L		BIOLOGY I: INTRODUCTION TO CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS [LECTURE]
and INTRODUCTION TO CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS [LAB]		4
BIOL 206
& 206L		BIOLOGY II: INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION [LECTURE]
and BIOLOGY II: INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION [LAB]		4
BIOL 309GENETICS4
BIOL 409MOLECULAR BIOLOGY4
CHEM 131
& 131L		GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LECTURE
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY		4
CHEM 132
& 132L		GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LECTURE
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY		4
CHEM 351BIOCHEMISTRY I3
MATH 237ELEMENTARY BIOSTATISTICS4
MATH 273CALCULUS I4
MBBB 201PROGRAMMING FOR BIOLOGISTS4
or COSC 175 GEN COMPUTER SCI
MBBB 301INTRO TO BIOINFORMATICS4
MBBB 493SEMINAR IN BIOETHICS1
Select one of the following (courses may be repeated for a total of 6 units toward the major): 13
MBBB 495
CAPSTONE PROJECT IN MBBB
BIOL 491
ELECTIVE IN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
CHEM 491
RESEARCH IN CHEMISTRY
COSC 495
INDEPENDENT STUDY
Total Units47
1

Or an approved elective in BIOL, CHEM, COSC, CIS or MBBB 3XX, 4XX.

Molecular Biology Concentration (28-29 units)

BIOL 408CELL BIOLOGY4
CHEM 331
& CHEM 332		ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II		10
PHYS 211
& PHYS 212		GENERAL PHYSICS I; NON CALCULUS-BASED
and GENERAL PHYSICS II; NON CALCULUS-BASED		8
Biology Laboratory Course
Select one of the following:3
BIOL 410
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY
BIOL 412
CELL BIOLOGY LABORATORY
BIOL 475
GENETICS LABORATORY
Elective:3-4
Select one of the following:
BIOL 318
MICROBIOLOGY
BIOL 411
CANCER BIOLOGY
BIOL 415
BIOTECHNOLOGY
BIOL 421
IMMUNOLOGY
BIOL 428
VIROLOGY
BIOL 474
MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES IN ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND CONSERVATION
CHEM 480
CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
MBBB 315
GENOMICS
MBBB 401
ADVANCED BIOINFORMATICS
Total Units28-29

Biochemistry Concentration (33 units)

CHEM 220
& 220L		ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY [LECTURE]
and ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY [LAB]		5
CHEM 331
& CHEM 332		ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II		10
CHEM 345PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY3
CHEM 356BIOCHEMISTRY LAB2
CHEM 357BIOCHEMISTRY II3
or BIOL 450 ECOLOGICAL BIOCHEMISTRY
CHEM 372PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY2
PHYS 211
& PHYS 212		GENERAL PHYSICS I; NON CALCULUS-BASED
and GENERAL PHYSICS II; NON CALCULUS-BASED		8
or PHYS 241
& PHYS 242		 GENERAL PHYSICS I CALCULUS-BASED
and GENERAL PHYSICS II CALCULUS-BASED
Total Units33

Bioinformatics Concentration (30–35 units)

CHEM 330ESSENTIALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 15-10
or CHEM 331
& CHEM 332		 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
COSC 236
& COSC 237		INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE I
and INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE II		8
COSC 336DATA STRUCTURES AND ALGORITHM ANALYSIS4
COSC 457DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS3
or CIS 458 ORGANIZATIONAL DATABASE MANAGEMENT
MATH 263DISCRETE MATHEMATICS3
or MBBB 315 GENOMICS
MATH 274CALCULUS II4
MBBB 401ADVANCED BIOINFORMATICS3
Total Units30-35
1

Note: Many graduate and professional programs require two terms of physics and two terms of organic chemistry and/or calculus. Students who are contemplating education beyond the undergraduate level (graduate school, medical school, etc.) should consult their advisor. 

Note: Below are idealized plans of study for each of the three concentrations within the MB3 major. Actual plans of study will vary significantly between students depending on high school preparation, performance in classes, additional commitments and career goals.

Biochemistry Concentration Suggested Four-Year Plan

Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.

Freshman
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
CHEM 131
& 131L (Core 7)		4BIOL 200
& 200L		4
MATH 273 or 237 (Core 3)4CHEM 132
& 132L (Core 8)		4
Core 1 (or Core 2)3Core 2 (or Core 1)3
Core 43Core 53
 14 14
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
BIOL 206
& 206L		4BIOL 3094
CHEM 3315CHEM 3325
MBBB 201 or COSC 1754MATH 237 or 2734
Core 63Core 103
 16 16
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
CHEM 220
& 220L		5BIOL 409 or MBBB 3014
MBBB 301 or BIOL 4094CHEM 3513
PHYS 211 or 2414CHEM 3562
Core 113PHYS 212 or 2424
 Core 123
 16 16
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
CHEM 357 or BIOL 4503CHEM 3453
Research3CHEM 3722
Core 93MBBB 4931
Core 133Core 143
Elective3Elective3
 Elective1
 15 13
Total Units 120

Molecular Biology Concentration Suggested Four-Year Plan

Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.

Freshman
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
BIOL 200
& 200L		4BIOL 206
& 206L		4
CHEM 131
& 131L (Core 7)		4CHEM 132
& 132L (Core 8)		4
Core 1 (or Core 2)3MATH 273 or 237 (Core 3)4
Core 43Core 2 (or Core 1)3
 14 15
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
BIOL 3094MATH 237 or 2734
MBBB 201 or COSC 1754MBBB 4931
Core 53PHYS 2114
Core 63Elective4
 Core 93
 14 16
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
CHEM 3315BIOL 4094
PHYS 2124CHEM 3325
Core 103Elective3-4
Core 113Core 123
 15 15-16
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
BIOL 410, 412, or 4753BIOL 4084
CHEM 3513Required Elective3-4
MBBB 3014Core 143
Research3Elective3
Core 133Elective3
 16 16-17
Total Units 121-123
 

Bioinformatics Concentration Suggested Four-Year Plan

Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.

Freshman
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
BIOL 200
& 200L		4BIOL 206
& 206L		4
COSC 1754COSC 2364
Core 1 (or Core 2)3MATH 273 (Core 3)4
Core 43Core 2 (or Core 1)3
 14 15
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
CHEM 131
& 131L (core 7)		4BIOL 3094
COSC 2374CHEM 132
& 132L (core 8)		4
MATH 2744COSC 3364
Core 53Core 103
 15 15
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
CHEM 330 or 3315CHEM 332 (if CHEM 331 taken instead of CHEM 330)5
COSC 457 or CIS 4583MBBB 3014
MATH 2374MBBB 315 or MATH 2633
Core 113MBBB 4931
 Core 123
 15 16
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
BIOL 4094MBBB 4013
CHEM 3513Research3
Core 63Core 93
Core 133Core 143
Elective2-3Elective3
 15-16 15
Total Units 120-121
  1. Demonstrate mastery of content in the disciplines of Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics.
  2. Ability to solve problems by the application of relevant concepts and analytical tools.
  3. Ability to conduct quantitative analysis of Molecular Biology and Biochemical data.
  4. Ability to correctly summarize and critically analyze new scientific information in the literature.