Note: Students are not admitted directly into EEMB majors.
Instead, they are first admitted to the pre-biology major, and they may
advance to full major standing only after fulfilling specified pre-major
course and grade requirements. See “Pre-Biology” below for
details.
Pre-Biology (Requirements - PDF)
Note: Completion of the pre-major does not fully satisfy the preparation for the major requirements for any of the majors.
Students should review the full requirement sheet for the major they intend to declare and plan their schedules accordingly. Also note that acceptance into the pre-major does not guarantee admission to full major status.
Students may petition for advancement to full major status in any one of the majors as soon as they have completed the required minimum of twelve courses with a 2.0 or higher grade-point average in area B, in area C, and in the courses in areas A and D combined. At the time of the petition, they must also have a 2.0 or higher grade-point average in all courses attempted toward the major (preparation and upper-division). The P/NP grading option is not allowed for any pre-major course. All must be completed on a letter-grade basis.
Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology offers the following undergraduate
majors:
Bachelor of Arts—Biological Sciences (Requirements - PDF)
UCSB offers both a bachelor of arts (B.A.) and a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree in biological sciences. The B.A. degree is intended to provide flexibility in curriculum planning for students interested in obtaining a degree in biology accompanied by a broader background in the liberal arts. Either degree is acceptable to most graduate and professional schools. Students are encouraged to seek advice from biology faculty and academic advisors regarding which degree option is most appropriate to their career goals.
Bachelor of Science—Aquatic Biology (Requirements - PDF)
The aquatic biology major provides students with interests in marine biology, biological oceanography, limnology, marine and freshwater ecology, and population biology of aquatic organisms with an opportunity to gain a general background in these subject areas.
Bachelor of Science—Biological Sciences (Requirements - PDF)
UCSB offers both a bachelor of arts (B.A.) and a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree in biological sciences. The B.S. degree is intended for those students desiring a more focused and intensive curriculum in biology, including the development of laboratory skills. Either degree is acceptable to most graduate and professional schools. Students are encouraged to seek advice from biology faculty and academic advisors regarding which degree option is most appropriate to their career goals.
Bachelor of Science—Ecology and Evolution (Requirements - PDF)
The ecology and evolution major provides a solid foundation in the study of interactions among organisms, and of their relations to the Environmental. Following completion of the core sequence, students may elect either an ecology or evolution concentration, or may devise their own program in consultation with a faculty advisor. This is the appropriate major for the field-oriented biologist and for students interested in graduate work in plant or animal population biology, ecology, or evolutionary biology.
Bachelor of Science—Physiology (Requirements - PDF)
Physiology is a branch of biology dealing with the processes, activities, and phenomena characteristic of living organisms. The physiology major is designed to provide an understanding of the integrated functioning of tissues and organs in whole organisms. Regulatory mechanisms are considered at the cellular and molecular level, and in the context of an organism’s adaptation and responsiveness to its environment.
Bachelor of Science—Zoology (Requirements - PDF)
The zoology major is designed to provide an understanding of animal structure and diversity, evolutionary relationships, functional systems, and environmental relationships, with an option of specialization in either organismal or population biology.