Biological Sciences

There has never been a more exciting and important time to study biology classes in college. Recent interdisciplinary and technological advances in our understanding of biological systems make this the "Century of Biology." Graduates earning a biological science degree will be well adapted to enter into a rapidly advancing professional field representative of the technological and scientific growth we are experiencing in the 21st century. The immediate future of biology promises an era of important and profound discoveries. Beyond a basic understanding of life, the study of biology provides insights and knowledge essential to addressing some of society's most pressing and important problems.

UC Merced Biological Sciences Program

If you are looking to pursue a biological sciences major, UC Merced, offers competitive curriculums built on a strong foundation of scholarly excellence and experienced faculty. Our undergraduate Biological Sciences program trains students in the fundamental knowledge, skills and ethical responsibilities of equitable participation in the diverse future of biological sciences, its sub-disciplines and its professional applications. We are committed to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion for everyone, including students, faculty and staff.

Undergraduate students in the Biological Sciences program are instructed in all the field's scales, from molecules and cells to organisms and ecosystems. The program teaches biology as a unified and interdisciplinary science, reflecting the foundational importance of chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, computer science and philosophy to our understanding of biological systems. Students learn both the theoretical and empirical bases of knowledge, and how the scientific method is applied to investigate fundamental questions in the field.

When filling out your coursework and marks/grades, refer to the Intermediate School Certificate (Shahadat Al Kafa’at Al Mutawassita) and the General Secondary Education Certificate (GSEC) (Shahadat Al-Marhalat Al-Thanawiyyat) for accuracy.

Submitting official documents (after you are admitted to UC)

After you are accepted to UC, you must submit both of the following documents by July 1 to the UC campus where you plan to enroll:

• An official Intermediate School Certificate (Shahadat Al Kafa’at Al Mutawassita) with courses listed and grades received for each course; and
• An official General Secondary Education Certificate (GSEC) (Shahadat Al-Marhalat Al-Thanawiyyat) with courses listed and grades received for each course, indicating completion of required high school courses with above average grades.

Both certificates must:

• Indicate completion of the following subjects in an academic, non-vocational secondary program: history/economics, Arabic, foreign language (English), laboratory science, mathematics (including geometry and second year algebra at a minimum);
• Include course title and grades received; a minimum average of 75 percent is needed for consideration with no grade lower than 60 percent.

• Animal health technologist
• Biochemist
• Botanist
• Entomologist
• Food scientist
• Forensic scientist
• Genetics counselor
• Health educator
• Marine biologist
• Medical and health services manager
• Nurse practitioner
• Physician's assistant
• Toxicologist
• Wildlife rehabilitator