Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology
Catalog pages 150-152
Subject abbreviation: CMDB College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Howard Judelson, CMDB Undergraduate Steering Committee Chair Program Office, 1223 Pierce Hall
- (951) 827-7294
cnasstudent.ucr.edu/majors
Undergraduate Program Faculty
Professors Michael Adams, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience/Entomology)
Peter W. Atkinson, Ph.D. (Entomology)
Julia Bailey-Serres, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences)
Xuemei Chen, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences) David Eastmond, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience) Brian Federici, Ph.D. (Entomology) Sarjeet S. Gill, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience) Hailing Jin, Ph.D. (Plant Pathology and Microbiology) Howard Judelson, Ph.D. (Plant Pathology and Microbiology) Karine G. Le Roch, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience) Wenbo Ma, Ph.D. (Plant Pathology and Microbiology) Morris F. Maduro, Ph.D. (Biology) Manuela Martins-Green, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience) Dmitri Maslov, Ph.D. (Biology) Eugene Nothnagel, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences) A.L.N. Rao, Ph.D. (Plant Pathology and Microbiology) Frances Sladek, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience) Mark Springer, Ph.D. (Biology) Patricia S. Springer, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences) Prudence Talbot, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience) Linda L. Walling, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences) Raphael Zidovetzki, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience) Professors Emeriti Leah Haimo, Ph.D. (Biology) Bradley Hyman, Ph.D. (Biology) Thomas Miller, Ph.D. (Entomology) Associate Professors Jeffrey B. Bachant, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience) Margarita Currás-Collazo, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience) Anupama Dahanukar, Ph.D. (Entomology) Venugopala Reddy Gonehal, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences) Constance I. Nugent, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience) Anandasankar Ray, Ph.D. (Entomology) Assistant Professors Meng Chen, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Science) Jun-Hyeong Cho, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience) Juan Pablo Giraldo, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Science) Weifeng Gu, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience) Ted Karginov, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience) Amy Litt, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Science) Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program / 150 Carolyn Rasmussen, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Science) Naoki Yamanaka, Ph.D. (Entomology) Nicole zur Nieden, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Major
The Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology major is designed to prepare students for diverse and exciting careers that include research, professional programs in the health sciences, and biotechnology. Course work is structured so that students first receive a solid grounding in the basic genetic and biological principles. Subsequent course requirements expand upon these themes and include courses in cell biology, molecular biology, developmental biology and genetics. Problem- based learning is employed throughout the curriculum to produce graduates with the analytical and critical thinking skills necessary to become successful researchers and professionals. After completing required core courses, students take intermediate level courses that lay the foundation for more advanced undergraduate courses. Several mechanisms exist to tailor the curriculum to the needs of the individual student, including by choosing either Disciplinary or Health Science track options.
Both the Disciplinary and Health Science tracks can lead to B.A. or B.S. degrees. They have similar major requirements, but the B.A. degree requires 12 additional units of Humanities and Social Sciences courses and 16 units in a foreign language (see College Breadth Requirements).
University Requirements
See the Undergraduate Studies section for requirements that all students must satisfy.
College Requirements
See Degree Requirements, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, in the Under- graduate Studies Section, for requirements that students must satisfy.
Major Requirements
Some of the following requirements for the Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology major may also fulfill the College’s breadth requirements. Consult with an advisor for course planning.
- 1. Life Sciences core curriculum (72-76 units)
CHEM 01LA, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 01LC
CHEM 008LA, CHEM 008LB, CHEM 008LC, or CHEM 08HA, CHEM 08HB, CHEM 08HC, CHEM 08HLA, CHEM 08HLB, CHEM 08HLC
PHYS 02LB, PHYS 002C, PHYS 02LC
or MATH 009B
- f) STAT 100A
Students must complete all required Core Curriculum courses with a grade of C- or better and with a cumulative GPA in the courses of at least 2.0. Grades of D or F in two required courses, either separate courses or repetitions of the same course, are grounds for discontinuation from the major.
- 2. Upper-division requirements (48 units)
- b) Major electives (24 units from the
following).
Cellular emphasis. At least one of the following is required: BIOL 113; BIOL 114; BIOL 121/MCBL 121, BIOL 128/ CBNS 128; BPSC 135; CBNS 116; CBNS 120/PSYC 120; CBNS 165.
Molecular emphasis. At least one of the following is required: BCH 180A; BCH 180B; BIOL 107B; BIOL 119; BIOL 124/ MCBL 124; BIOL 155/BPSC 155; CBNS 150/ENTX 150.
Developmental emphasis. At least one of the following is required: BCH 183; BIOL 123/MCBL 123; BIOL 132/BPSC 132; BIOL 138/BPSC 138; BIOL 168; CBNS 121/PSYC 121; CBNS 169.
Laboratory course: Two courses in a biological science are required. Courses including at least 3 hours of lab per week are eligible, including combined lecture and lab classes. Eligible classes include BCH 153/BIOL 153/BPSC 153; BIEN 155; BIOL 118; BIOL 121L/MCBL 121L; BIOL 104/BPSC 104; BIOL 132/BPSC 132; BIOL 138/BPSC 138; BIOL 143/ BPSC 143; BIOL 161A; CBNS 120L/ PSYC 120L; MCBL 125; and others. Students in the Health Science Track may substitute one laboratory course with a course in ethics.
Note A maximum of 8 units of 190-199 courses, including no more than 4 units of 198 courses, may be counted towards the major elective requirement. Three units of BCH 197, BIOL 197, BPSC 197, CBNS 197, ENTM 197, PLPA 197, MCBL 197, NEM 197, BCH 199, BIOL 199, BPSC 199, CBNS 199, ENTM 199, PLPA 199, MCBL 199, or NEM 199 may substitute for one of the required laboratory courses.
- 3. Depth requirement (16 units). For B.A.
students, this requirement can be fulfilled with additional courses in Humanities and Social Sciences, and Foreign Languages. For the B.S. degree, students are required to take an additional 16 units of course work in natural sciences (including a biological or chemical science) or mathematics. Additional major elective units beyond the 32 required in 2b may be applied to this requirement.
- 4. Health Science track. Students wishing to
apply to medical, dental or veterinary professional schools must follow the requirements listed above, but are encouraged to select from the following courses. For B.A. students, some of these will fulfill their Humanities and Social Sciences and Foreign Languages requirements. Please consult the faculty adviser.
- i. Foreign language: three courses are
recommended.
ii. Community service: a maximum of 4 units may be counted towards the 180 unit graduation requirement, using CBNS 198- I or equivalent.
iii. Ethics: A course is strongly recommended, such as PHIL 009 or PHIL 167.
iv. Two upper-division classes in Psychology are recommended, such as CBNS 126/ PSYC 126; CBNS 127/PSYC 127; PSYC 129; PSYC 178; or PSYC 179.
- v. When selecting electives in the natural
sciences, students are recommended to include classes in an area of microbiology (e.g. BIOL 157, BIOL 171, ENSC 133/ MCBL 133/SWSC 133, ENSC 141/MCBL 141/SWSC 141, BIOL 121/MCBL 121, BIOL 123/MCBL 123/PLPA 123, BIOL 124/MCBL 124, BIOL 134/PLPA 134), and in anatomy, zoology, or physiology (BIOL 151, BIOL 161A, BIOL 175, BIOL 176).
Sample Program Outlines
1. Bachelor of Science Degree (Disciplinary track)
The sample program for B.S. students provides a solid science background for students interested in research or teaching careers in biomedical science. Undergraduate laboratory research is strongly recommended as an important element in the program.
Freshman Year Fall Winter Spring
NASC 093 2
ENGL 001A, 001B 4 4
CHEM 001A, 001B, 001C, 01LA, 01B, 01C 5 5 5
BIOL 005A or 020, 5 4
MATH 007A or MATH 009A, MATH 007B or MATH 009B 4 4
Total Units 15 14 13
Sophomore Year Fall Winter Spring
PHYS 002A, 002B, 002C, 02LA, 02LB, 02LC 5 5 5
BIOL 005C, 102 4 4
CHEM 008A, 008B, 008C, 008LA, 008LB, 008LC 4 4 4
Human/Soc. Sci Elect. 2 8 4
Total Units 15 17 17
Junior Year Fall Winter Spring
CBNS 101 4 151 / Programs and Courses
BCH 100 4
Major Elect. & Depth reqs (e.g. BIOL 121/MCBL 121, 121L; BIOL 107B, BIOL 128/CBNS 128) 4 8 8
Human/Soc. Sci Elect. 4 4
Total Units 13 16 16
Senior Year Fall Winter Spring
CBNS 108 4
Major Elect. & Depth reqs (e.g. BIOL 113, 168; BIOL 132/BPSC 132; BPSC 135; CBNS 120/PSYC 120; CBNS 169) 8 8 4
Human/Soc. Sci Elect. 4 4
XXX 190, 197, 198, 199 2 3 3
Total Units 14 15 15
- 2. Bachelor of Science Degree (Health
Science track)
The sample program for B.S. students with a professional emphasis provides a very strong science background, with recommended elective course choices emphasizing biomedical pertinence. Additionally, a foreign language is recommended, as well as Community Service (for course credit). Further breadth may be developed by electing Humanities and Social Science course options within the major depth requirement.
Freshman Year Fall Winter Spring
NASC 093 2
ENGL 001A, 001B 4 4
CHEM 001A, 001B, 001C, 01LA, 01B, 01C 5 5 5
BIOL 005A or 020,
MATH 007A or MATH 009A, MATH 007B or 4 4
Total Units 15 14 13
Sophomore Year Fall Winter Spring
PHYS 002A, 002B, 002C, 02LA, 02LB, 02LC 5 5 5
BIOL 005C, 102 4 4
CHEM 008A, 008B, 008C, 008LA, 008LB, 008LC 4 4 4
Human/Soc. Sci Elect. 2 4 4
Total Units 15 13 17
Junior Year Fall Winter Spring
CBNS 101 4
BCH 100 4
Major Elect. & Depth reqs (e.g. BIOL 121/MCBL 121, 121L; BIOL 107B, BIOL 128/CBNS 128) 8 4 8 Foreign Language 4 4 4
Total Units 16 16 16
Senior Year Fall Winter Spring
CBNS 108 4
Major Elect. & Depth reqs (e.g. BIOL 113, 168; BIOL 132/BPSC 132; BPSC 135; CBNS 120/PSYC 120; CBNS 169) 8 8 4
Human/Soc. Sci Elect. 4
XXX 190, 197, 198, 199 2 3 3
Total Units 15 15 15
- 3. Bachelor of Arts Degree (Disciplinary or
Health Science tracks)
The sample program for B.A. students provides a broad-based education that builds on the strong foundation in science, with emphasis in humanities, social sciences, and foreign language.
Freshman Year Fall Winter Spring
NASC 093 2
ENGL 001A, 001B 4 4
CHEM 001A, 001B, 001C, 01LA, 01B, 01C 5 5 5
BIOL 005A, 05LA or BIOL 020, 005B 5 4
MATH 007A or MATH 009A, MATH 007B or MATH 009B 4 4
Total Units 15 14 13
Sophomore Year Fall Winter Spring
PHYS 002A, 002B, 002C, 02LA, 02LB, 02LC 5 5 5
BIOL 005C, 102 4 4
CHEM 008A, 008B, 008C, 008LA, 008LB, 008LC 4 4 4
Foreign Language 4
Human/Soc. Sci Elect. 4
Total Units 17 13 17
Junior Year Fall Winter Spring
CBNS 101 4
BCH 100 4
Major Elect. & Depth reqs (e.g. BIOL 121/MCBL 121, 121L; BIOL 107B, BIOL 128/CBNS 128) 4 4 4
Human/Soc. Sci Elect. (e.g. PSYC 002, 178, 179, PHIL 167) 4 4 8
Foreign Language 4 4 Total Units 16 16 16
Senior Year Fall Winter Spring
CBNS 108 4
Major Elect. & Depth reqs (e.g. BIOL 113, 168; BIOL 132/BPSC 132; BPSC 135; CBNS 120/PSYC 120; CBNS 169) 8 4 4
Human/Soc. Sci Elect. 4 8
XXX 190, 197, 198, 199 4 2
Total Units 12 15 16