As the only life science department on the UC West Campus, the Department of Biological Sciences is dedicated to achieving excellence in both our undergraduate and graduate programs (MS and PhD). UC is designated by the Carnegie Foundation as a research intensive institution, and, accordingly, we offer the disciplinary breadth necessary for undergraduate education and the disciplinary specialization necessary for comprehensive graduate education and training. Our dpartment has a long and distinguished history that can be read by clicking here.
Our faculty and students conduct cutting-edge research to further our understanding of the natural world and seek applications in fields spanning all of biology, from molecular and cell to animal behavior and conservation. Our emerging research strengths are organized into three research foci: Sensory Biology and Behavior (SBB); Ecology, Evolution and Conservation (EEC); and Molecular Biology, Genetics and Physiology (MBGP).
Our undergraduate curriculum provides a rigorous introduction to biology for students from many programs, and our upper level curriculum offers advanced training and specialization through course work and formative research experiences. Undergraduates pursue BS and BA degrees, and we also offer a 4+1 program that enables students to earn a BS and a non-research MS degree in 5 years.
