About MCDB 198 ABCD
Honors Research in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology


How to Apply and Enroll


Complete packets of forms and enrollment procedures are available in the MCDB Undergraduate Office, LS 2128.

  • Your proposed project (research and writing) must encompass three quarters.

  • Your proposed project must involve molecular- or cellular-level research with a departmental or pre-approved faculty member outside MCDB.

  • You must be either a junior or senior MCDB major, carrying an overall GPA of 3.0 or better, and 3.5 or better GPA in the major coursework at the time of application.


If you plan to work with a professor outside the MCDB Department:

  • Your proposal must be submitted, along with the sponsor's curriculum vitae, to the MCDB Student Affairs Office for approval no later than 5pm on the first day of instruction.


If you plan to work with an MCDB professor:

  • Your proposal must be submitted to the MCDB Student Affairs Office for approval no later than the beginning of the second full week of class.

  • Both the sponsor and the student must sign the proposal before it is turned in to the MCDB undergraduate office.

  • Your proposal will not be accepted, nor will you be enrolled, if any of the following is missing when you turn it in: 1) Appropriately completed form (to get the form, logon to myUCLA and then click on the "Contract Courses" link in the left hand column) signed by you and your research sponsor; 2) MCDB198 Research Proposal and 3). Acknowledgement Form with appropriate signatures. Along with these application materials, students working with outside faculty must also submit the completed Outside Sponsor Agreement and research timeline for each quarter of the project.

  • On the appropriate day, please deliver your proposal to Locker #L258, which is located directly across from 2128 LS and has a drop slot. This drop slot is clearly marked with a sign on fuschia paper.


When your proposal has been approved, the Student Affairs Office will enroll you in MCDB 198A. If the four-unit 198 course takes you over the 19-unit limit, the enrollment will not go through. To avoid delays, please make sure you are not enrolled in more than 14 units by the time your proposal is turned in.


For MCDB 198B, it will be necessary for you to create and submit a contract form (to get the form, logon to myUCLA and then click on the "Contract Courses" link in the left hand column) to the MCDB Student Affairs Office before you can be enrolled, but no proposal is needed.


For MCDB 198C, it will be necessary for you to create and submit a contract form (to get the form, logon to myUCLA and then click on the "Contract Courses" link in the left hand column) to the MCDB Student Affairs Office before you can be enrolled, but no proposal is needed.


For MCDB 198D, it will be necessary for you to submit a revised research proposal (since 198D is not part of the original three-quarter proposal), as well as to create and submit a contract form to the MCDB Student Affairs Office before you can be enrolled.


IMPORTANT: Any individual faculty member can take on no more than seven students per quarter in each MCDB research course (198, 199, 199A-B). If more than seven students apply for enrollment with a particular faculty member, enrollment will be limited to the first seven students whose applications were received in the Student Affairs Office. Please be sure that your sponsor has signed your proposal, and that the time and date of your application are noted when you turn it in.


How to Enroll through MyUCLA in MCDB 198A-D, MCDB 199A-D or MCDB 199


Step 1: Logon to MyUCLA.


Step 2: Click on "Contract Courses" (listed under MyUCLA Features).


Step 3: From the "My Contract Courses" page, you can view the status of previously created contracts, or create a new contract for MCDB 198A, 199A, or 199.


Step 4: Select year and term. Then click "go."


Step 5: Choose a tutorial type from the Contract Course menu. Then click "Continue."


Step 6: Read the enrollment instructions, which are specific to the course number you have selected. Then click "Continue."


Step 7: Select the subject area for the course. Then click "Continue."


Step 8a: Choose a course number. This will be the step at which you identify whether you plan to enroll in MCDB 199 (single-quarter research) or MCDB 199A-B/C/D (multi-quarter research), and which quarter (MCDB 198B, MCDB 199C). Then click "Continue."


Step 8: Choose a faculty mentor. (Please note: This means you will need to know how to properly spell your research sponsor's name before you begin the contract. Then click "Continue."


Step 9: Select grade type and number of units. Available grading and unit options are based on the course you select. (NOTE: Even though MCDB 199 is listed in the catalog as 2-16 units, remember that only 4 units of MCDB 199 can be counted on the major.) Then click "Continue."


Step 10: Enter description of project and tangible evidence. For the project description and nature of faculty supervision, please write only "See attached proposal." The tangible evidence as proof of work completed will always be "Quarterly Research Paper" (for MCDB 199, 199A, 199B, 199C, 199D, 198A, 198B) or "Honors Thesis" (for MCDB 198C only). Then click "Continue."


Step 11: Review Contract. Carefully review the contract you have just made, to make sure that you have the correct course number and instructor information, and that you have appropriately completed any other parts of the contract, as detailed above.


Step 12: Agree to Contract Terms. Contract terms will vary, according to the course selected. Then click "Continue."


Step 13: Print Completed Contract and Supplemental Forms. You need to sign the contract and get your research sponsor to sign it as instructor. However, please do not seek to obtain the chair's signature from either the MCDB department chair, or the chair of your research sponsor's home department. This will be handled by the MCDB undergraduate office.


Step 14: Other forms you need, format for your project proposal and deadlines are detailed in the MCDB info packet for the course you have selected: MCDB 198A-B,C,D; MCDB 199A-B,C,D; or MCDB 199). By the appropriate deadline, bring the completed contract form (to get the form, logon to myUCLA and then click on the "Contract Courses" link in the left hand column) signed by you and your research sponsor; 2) research proposal signed by you and your sponsor, plus acknowledgement form signed by you, which states that you have received and read this information packet thoroughly.Along with these application materials, students working with outside faculty must also submit the completed Outside Sponsor Agreement and research timeline for each quarter of the project.