Welcome to UCSD!

The following information about the Division of Biological Sciences is intended to provide some basic information to transfer students.

New Transfer Information

You may print your major requirements from here.  Select the quarter you entered UCSD and the major you wish to follow.   Click on the box, and you will find a degree check and sample plan that you may print out.

Be sure to check www.assist.org, the official source for articulation and student transfer information.  You will find how your lower division courses transfer.  Please be aware that just because courses transfered from your community college DOES NOT mean that they are equivalent.  If you took a course that does not appear on assist.org and you think it is equivalent, you must file an undergraduate student petition with Biology Student Affairs. 

Lab Requirement

The Division of Biological Sciences will require students in all biology majors, with the exception of bioinformatics, to take one biology lab before the end of the sophomore year.  Transfer students may petition to have community college course work cover the lab requirement.  Please see a Biology Student Affairs advisor for further information.

Residency Requirement

To receive a bachelor of science degree in biology from UCSD, all students must complete at least nine upper-division biology courses (each course must be at least four units) in the Division of Biological Sciences while officially enrolled at UCSD. 

Note:   Students with transfer course work need to fulfill the UCSD upper-division major requirement which consists of twelve or more upper-division courses (forty-eight or more units).


Changing Your Major to Biology

If you enter UCSD under another major or are undeclared, you may change to the Biology major of your choice. Declaration of major forms are available on-line, or at the Registrar's office. Students changing to Biology will be subject to the same requirements in order to remain in the major as detailed above. All Change of Major forms will be reviewed and approved/denied by the Division of Biological Sciences.

AP Biology Credit

Students admitted to UCSD fall 2008 and after who received a 4 or 5 on the Biology AP exam:

You will be exempt from BILD 1, BILD 2 and BILD 3. You will receive credit for these courses. If taken again, no credit will be given.

Students admitted to UCSD prior to fall 2008 and who received a 4 or 5 on the Biology AP exam:

You will be exempt from BILD 1 and BILD 2. You will receive credit for these courses. If taken again, no credit will be given.

Any student with a score of 3 on the Biology AP exam will give credit for BILD 10 regardless of when the student began at UCSD.

Satisfactory Progress

Your GPA in Biology coursework cannot fall below 2.0 (a "C" average). If it does, you will be placed on academic probation by the Division of Biological Sciences, and allowed one quarter in which to raise your GPA. If you do not do so, you may be dropped from the major.

For More Information

There are many sources of information and counseling available to you-your College Advisors, the Advisors in the Biology Student Affairs Office, and the Biology Course Catalog.