The MCDB Major

At least twenty (20) upper division elective units, of which at least 10 units MUST be courses offered by the MCDB Department.


  • Any upper division MCDB course will be accepted, excluding MCDB 100, 190A-C; 192A,B; 193; 194A and 199

  • A maximum of four units (4u) of approved seminar course credit may be applied to the ELECTIVES requirement.

  • A maximum of 12 units of Directed Research (MCDB 199A-B,C) or Honors Research (MCDB 198A-B, C) may be applied to the major (four of the 12 units are used to fulfill the upper division laboratory requirementÉthe other eight units is applied toward the ELECTIVES).

  • No more than one cell biology course can be applied for credit on the MCDB major.

  • A maximum of two developmental biology courses can be applied for credit on the MCDB major credit (Required Course; ELECTIVES).

  • See appended MCDB Departmentally Approved List of Courses for eligible elective courses outside the Department.

Elective Courses Total Units: 20


List Of Elective Courses Offered by MCDB Department

Dept Crs # Course Title Units Qtr(s) Taught
MCDB 120 Introduction to Plant Biology 4 Fall (every other year)
120L Introduction to Plant Biology Laboratory 4 Winter (every other year)
138 Developmental Biology 5 F,W
C139 Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Neurobiology (need > 3.7major GPA) 6 Fall
C141 Molecular Basis of Plant Differentiation and Development 5 Spring
143 Developmental Biology: Genetic Control of Organogenesis5 Spring
144 Molecular Biology 5 Fall, Spring
C150 Plant Chemical and Molecular Communication 4 Winter (alternates years w/120/120L)
CM156 Human Genetics 4 Winter, Summer
165B Molecular Biology of the Cell Nucleus 5 Winter
168 Stem Cell Biology 5 Spring
CM169 Cell Structure, Signaling and Differentiation (need > 3.7major GPA), 6 Winter
171 Principles of Neurobiology 4 Spring
172 Genomics and Bioinformatics 5 Fall
M175A Neuroscience: From Molecules To Mind 5 Fall
M175B Neuroscience: From Molecules To Mind 5 Winter
M175C Neuroscience: From Molecules To Mind 5 Spring
M181 Biological Bases of Psychiatric Disorders 4 Fall
191 Variable Topics in Molecular Cell, and Developmental Biology 2 F,W,S
198A-B,C,D Honors Research in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology 4/qtr **
199A-B,C,D Directed Research in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology 4/qtr **

** MCDB 198A-B or MCDB 199A-B are two-quarter courses, each of which can be started in Fall or Winter Quarter ONLY


Courses From Other Departments Which May Be Applied to the MCDB Major Electives:

Dept Crs # Course Title Units Qtr(s) Taught
BIOL CH CM153G Macromolecular Structure 6 Fall
BIOSTAT 100A Intro to Biostatistics 4 F, S, Summer
CHEM 153C/153CH Biochemistry: Biosynthetic & Energy Metabolism & Its Regulation 4 All
154 Biochemical Methods II 4 All
156 Physical Biochemistry 4 All
C159A Mechanisms in Regulation of Transcription I 2 Spring
C159B Mechanisms in Regulation of Transcription II 2 Spring
C160 Bioinformatics and Genomics 4 Winter
EEB (formerly OBEE) 110 Vertebrate Morphology 6 F,W, Summer
121 Molecular Biology and Evolution 4 Fall
162 Plant Physiology 6 Winter, Summer
HUM GEN C144 Genomic Technology 4 Fall
LIFESCI 187A Research Experience in Life Sciences 4 F,W,S
MIMG 101 IntroductoryMicrobiology 4 Fall, Spring
102 Virology 4 Winter
103L Lab Methods in Modern Microbiology & Immunology 5 Fall, Winter,Spring
106 Bacterial Pathogenesis 4 Spring
121A Microbial Molecular Biology Lab 4 Winter
133 Principles, Practices & Policies in Biotechnology 2 Winter
159 Advanced Molecular Genetics 5 Winter
168 Molecular Parasitology 4 Fall
174 Advanced Topics in Molecular Parasitology2Spring
185A Immunology 5 Fall
PHY SCI C126 Biological Clocks 4 Winter
166 Animal Physiology 6 Summer
STATS 100A Introduction to Probability Theory 4 Fall

Not all electives are offered every year. Consult the Schedule of Classes or the appropriate department.


Some electives are restricted to the home department's own majors during the first pass. If you want to get into, for example, MIMG 185A, you will need to wait until your second pass because you are not an MIMG major.