About MCDB 199
Special Studies Directed Research in the Department of 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.


  • If your sponsor is outside MCDB, all materials detailed below, as well as sponsor's curriculum vitae, are due no later than 5pm on the first day of instruction. No exceptions to this deadline will be made.

  • If your sponsor is in MCDB, all materials detailed below are due no later than 5pm on Wednesday 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 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) MCDB 199 research proposal and 3).Acknowledgement form 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 fuchsia paper.

When your application for MCDB 199 has been approved, the MCDB Undergraduate Advisor will enroll you in MCDB 199 for the quarter. If these four units will exceed the 19-unit enrollment limit, your course enrollment will not be processed. You can avoid problems by making sure that you are enrolled in no more than 15 units by the end of the second week.



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.