Biology

When you declare the Biology B.S. or B.A. major at UC Santa Cruz, you’ll have unparalleled access to research laboratories and natural reserves, hands-on training with state-of-the-art equipment, mentorship from renowned faculty and researchers, and crucial résumé-boosting research experiences. Unique student experiences include:

• Biomedical exploration through our Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs)
• Hands-on access to the ecological and environmental resources of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, such as diving with marine mammals
• More than 30 field-based and lab-based courses that explore the world, such as the rugged Arctic ecology field course or Marine Ecology Field Quarter
• Directed independent research project requirements before graduation
• Strong internship ties for gaining real-world experience with:
  • Local physicians, health care providers, and biotech companies in Silicon Valley
  • Government research centers located on our Coastal Science Campus, such as NOAA Fisheries, the California Department of Fish & Wildlife laboratory, and the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care & Research Center

Research mentorship

• Connect with our faculty experts in ecology & evolutionary biology
• Connect with our faculty experts in molecular, cell, & developmental biology

Research facilities

• Biomedical Sciences Building
• Center for Molecular Biology of RNA
• Coastal Biology Building
• Long Marine Laboratory
• Ocean Health Building
• Stable Isotope Laboratory
• UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute
• UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserve System

Research courses

Current research and course offerings include the latest in RNA molecular biology, molecular and cellular aspects of genetics and developmental biology, neurobiology, microbial biochemistry, plant biology, animal behavior, physiology, evolution, ecology, and marine biology. Explore current course offerings in:

• Biology Ecology & Evolutionary (BIOE)
• Biology Molecular, Cell & Developmental (BIOL)

The most telling success metrics for our biology degree program are the quality of the students we attract and—more importantly—the professional success they achieve after they graduate. Biology at UC Santa Cruz is proven to give you:

• A strong interdisciplinary research network
• Mentorship by internationally distinguished faculty and researchers
• Involvement with large research projects, both government and private
• The latest high-impact research, field work, and instrumentation knowledge
• Project management and leadership skills, in the lab and out in the field
• Next-level science communications skills
• Minimal to no debt

First job success

Our Biology B.S. or B.A. should be your choice if you’re looking to get a job in biomedical, environmental, or health and clinical services immediately after graduation. UC Santa Cruz ranks 9th in the nation for “highly paid biology and anatomical sciences graduates.” Almost one-half of our undergraduates are employed within six months after graduation, and 30 percent receive multiple job offers (data from 2015). High-performing students who decide to delay graduate school and work in California report annual earnings of $73,467 within five years after graduation (data as of 2015).

Graduate school success

We’re also ambitious: 79 percent of our Biology B.S. and B.A. graduates plan to pursue graduate school within five years after graduation—with a large majority pursuing biomedical sciences and health professions (data from 2015).

In addition to being highly employable and competitive graduate school candidates, our students graduate with minimal debt. UC Santa Cruz is the second-best university in the nation for undergraduate social mobility, including financial support for students who come from households that earn less than $50,000 annually. We strongly encourage and support all our students in the process of securing academic scholarships and research funding. As a result, our students receive many distinguished awards, honors, and accolades.

A few of our undergraduate funding opportunities for biology majors include:

• Arctic Field Science Scholarships
• Friends of Seymour Marine Discovery Center Student Research & Education Award
• Gordon Smith Memorial Scholarship
• Kathryn D. Sullivan Award in Earth & Marine Sciences
• Kenneth & Ann Thimann Scholarship

Banana Slugs help each other out. Get connected with 12,500+ biology alumni who hold leading positions at universities, private companies, medical institutes, government agencies, and renowned research centers throughout the world. Here are a few of our notable alumni:

Alumni resources

Alumni in the news

UC Santa Cruz Alumni Network

Stay in touch with the ImpactReport

Contact your adviser
Academic planning tools
Online forms & processes

Course requirements

If you would like to declare the Biology Minor, follow these steps:

1. Complete your Academic Planning Form.
2. Complete your Petition for Declaration of Major/Minor Form.
3. Get both forms approved and signed by your primary major adviser.
4. Make an appointment through Slug Success to meet with a Biology Minor adviser. Bring both signed forms to your appointment. Our advisers will help you update your academic plan to include your minor courses.

Once you have declared the minor, your primary major adviser and minor adviser will review your academic plan on a quarter-by-quarter basis to ensure that you complete the minor program following degree requirements and time-to-degree guidelines.