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Major Requirements

Preparation for the Major

To enter the Physiological Science major, students must complete Chemistry 14A, 14B, and 14C or 20A, 20B, and 30A, Life Sciences 7A, 7B, 7C, Mathematics 3A, 3B, and 3C or 31A, 31B, and 32A or Life Sciences 30A, 30B, and Physics 1A or 5A, with a minimum grade of C in each course and a grade point average of 2.5 or better in all before fall quarter of their third year. Repetition of more than one of these nine preparation courses results in denial of admission to the major. After successful completion of the courses, students must contact the Undergraduate Advising Office to declare the major. 

Required:

Life Science 7A, 7B, 7C and 23L
Chemistry 14A, 14B, 14BL, 14C, 14CL, 14D or
Chemistry 20A, 20B, 20L, 30A, 30AL, 30A, 30B, 30BL
LS 30A, 30B, LS40 or Stats 13, or Math 3A, 3B, 3C or Math 31A, 31B, 32A
Physics 5A, 5B, 5C or 1A, 1B, 1C, 4AL, 4BL

The Major

Physiological Science 107
Physiological Science 111A
Physiological Science 111B
Physiological Science 111L
Chemistry 153A Biochemistry
Five upper division physiological science electives

Physiological Science Electives

Phy Sci M106 Neurobiology of Bias and Discrimination (4)
Phy Sci 108 Head and Neck Anatomy (4)
Phy Sci 120 Kidney: Development (4)
Phy Sci 121 Disease Mechanisms and Therapies (5)
Phy Sci 122 Biomed Tech and Physiology (4)*
Phy Sci CM123 Neurobiology of Sleep (4)
Phy Sci 124 Molecular Biology of Aging (4)
Phy Sci 125 Molecular Systems Biology (5)
Phy Sci C126 Biological Clocks (4)
Phy Sci C127 Neuroendocrin. of Reproduction (4)
Phy Sci 128 Me, Myself & Microbes: The Microbiome in Health & Disease (5)
Phy Sci C130 Sex Differences in Physiology and Disease (4)
Phy Sci 135 Systems Modeling of Physio. Proc (5)
Phy Sci 136 Exercise & Cardiovascular Function (5)*
Phy Sci 138 Neuromuscular Phys. & Adaptation (4)
Phy Sci M140 Hormones & Behavior (4)
Phy Sci C144 Neural Control of Phys. Systems (4)
Phy Sci M145 Neural Mech. Control. Movement (5)
Phy Sci 146 Prin. Of Nervous System Dev. (5)
Phy Sci 147 Neurobio of Learning & Memory (5)
Phy Sci 149 Human Metabolic Diseases (4)
Phy Sci C152 Musc. Anat., Phys., Biomech (5)
Phy Sci 153 Dissection Anatomy (5)*
Phy Sci 155 Dev., Structure of Musc. Sys. (4)
Phy Sci 156 Mol Mech & Ther Musc Dystrophy (4)
Phy Sci 165 Comparative Animal Physiology (5)
Phy Sci 167 Physiology of Nutrition (4)
Phy Sci 173 Anat., Phys. of Sense Organs (4)
Phy Sci 174 Cell Biophysics (5)
Phy Sci 175 Biological Evolution of Language (5)
Phy Sci 177 Neuroethology (5)
Phy Sci 178 Quantitative Regulatory Biology and Signal Transduction (4)
Phy Sci M180B or M180C Neuroscience (5)
* Offered only in the summer

Eight units of research course 199 or four units each (total eight units) of 198A and 198B, for students in the departmental honors program, may be applied toward the elective requirement. One graduate course at the 200 level may be applied toward the elective requirement with departmental approval. Courses 189HC, 191H, 192, 193, 195, 196, and graduate courses at the 300, 400, or 500 level may not be applied toward the elective requirement.

Each required and elective course must be taken for a letter grade, and a C average must be maintained in all upper division courses taken for the major. Additionally, a grade of C or better in each of the core courses (Physiological Science 107, 111A, 111B) is required to enroll in the next course in the series.

Planning Your Four-Year Path to Degree

We recommend that students see their Undergraduate Academic Advisor early.

Here are some career and curriculum options for biological sciences majors.

Please note that your schedule doesn’t have to exactly match the sample schedules. These samples are merely suggestions to be used as guides with focus on a four-year graduation timeline. Students arrive at UCLA with different credit for Chemistry, Math etc., and different placement in each Life Science Core curriculum sequence that might influence their schedule. If you are uncertain about what courses you should take, and when, set up an appointment with an academic advisor.

The sample curriculum options do not take into account upper division major requirements, minor, or double major program requirements. They do also not reflect opportunities for students to complete other university requirements including General Education, Diversity and the 60 upper division graduation requirement.

Important

Requirements for the B.S. degree established by the College of Letters & Science are listed in the UCLA General Catalog.  A total of 180 quarter units are required for the degree; 60 of these 180 units must be upper division (course numbers 100-199). NOTE: The Phy Sci major upper division requirements satisfy between 44 – 49 upper division units.