Molecular and Cell Biology

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The undergraduate major in Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) focuses on the study of molecular structures and processes of cellular life and their roles in the function, reproduction, and development of living organisms. This covers a broad range of specialized disciplines, such as biochemistry, microbiology, biophysics, molecular biology, genetics, cell physiology, cell anatomy, immunology, and neurobiology. The types of living organisms from which the departmental faculty draws its working materials are as diverse as its disciplinary concentrations, ranging from viruses and microbes through plants, roundworms, annelids, arthropods, and mollusks, to fish, amphibia, and mammals. 

There are five emphases (concentrations) in MCB:

• Biochemistry, Biophysics & Structural Biology

• Cell Biology, Development & Physiology

• Genetics, Genomics, Evolution & Development

• Immunology & Molecular Medicine

• Neurobiology

All of the emphases except Neurobiology have two tracks to choose from. Some tracks only differ slightly and some give a whole different perspective on the emphasis. For help deciding your emphasis please see a staff or peer advisor in MCB!

Declaring the Major

Students can receive pre-major advising at any time from staff or peer advisors. MCB is not an impacted major. Therefore, the major will accept any interested student who meets the minimum course and GPA requirements and is realistically able to complete the major requirements during the student's time at UC Berkeley. Any student intending to major in MCB must finish declaring or complete MCB conditions to declare by the end of their 6th semester, or during the semester before their graduating term (if this semester is before their 6th semester). 

In order to declare the MCB major, students must have completed or be enrolled in BIOLOGY 1A/BIOLOGY 1AL (C or better on first Bio 1A midterm) and CHEM 3B (past the early drop deadline), have at least a 2.0 overall GPA, a 2.0 GPA in the courses taken for the major, a 2.0 GPA in any upper division courses taken for the major, and know which emphasis they will declare. Intended MCB students are not required to have completed the math, physics, or Bio 1B requirements at the time of declaration (though these requirements must be met in order to graduate).

To start the major declaration process, students must fill out the MCB major declaration form online.

Once the declaration form has been processed, students will receive an email with instructions to schedule an appointment to meet with a staff advisor. Advising appointments take place in the Undergraduate Advising Office in 3060 Valley Life Sciences Building. Students should bring a printed copy of their Academic Summary in CalCentral to their advising appointment to discuss their academic plan. See full instructions on the MCB Declaration page.

Visit Department Website

The Department of Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) is a large department that is subdivided into five divisions: Biochemistry, Biophysics & Structural Biology (BBS); Cell Biology, Development & Physiology (CDP); Genetics, Genomics, Evolution and Development (GGED); Immunology and Molecular Medicine (IMM); and Neurobiology (NEU). All MCB students complete the same lower-division coursework to gain critical training in biology, mathematics, chemistry, and physics (except for BBS track 2 Biological Chemistry, please see the MCB website for details). Most lower-division coursework is completed before the major declaration. Upon declaring the major, MCB students choose an emphasis and track, which determines the upper-division core courses they will take and elective choices from which they will choose. Students can choose among several areas of specialization; emphases are broadly defined along divisional lines and allow students to focus on a more defined topic within MCB. MCB students who elect to participate in independent research may choose from sponsoring research laboratories within any MCB division, or in laboratories outside the department (other Berkeley departments, LBNL, CHORI, UCSF, biotechnology companies). The MCB major provides excellent preparation for many careers and post-baccalaureate training programs, including graduate programs and health-related professional programs (e.g., medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy), science writing, law school, biotechnology, teaching, and academic research.

Learning Goals for the Major

1. Describe basic biological concepts and principles.
2. Appreciate the different levels of biological organization, from molecules to ecosystems.
3. Understand that biology has a chemical, physical, and mathematical basis.
4. Explain the importance of the scientific method to understanding natural phenomena.
5. Effectively communicate scientific data and ideas, both orally and in writing.
6. Critically evaluate data, develop a hypothesis, and design experiments to address an interesting and novel problem.
7. Demonstrate advanced knowledge in a specialized field of molecular and cell biology.

• finish secondary school and
• earn a certificate of completion, which allows admission to a university in their home country or country of graduation

In addition:

Students who have completed the IGCSE or O-level exams have not yet met the requirements for admission at UC Berkeley. The university requires further study, either completion of the two-year A-level program with a minimum of three academic exams, the IB diploma program, or another similar academic curriculum.

Students from countries requiring entry into military service upon completion of secondary education should not submit an application until the obligation has been met. UC Berkeley cannot defer admission to a later term.

Students may have to meet additional admission requirements and follow certain guidelines for filling out the undergraduate application, depending on country or educational system.

Undergraduate Research

Under the guidance of a faculty member and/or research mentor, undergraduates in the MCB major may have the opportunity to work in a laboratory to gain valuable experience in scientific research. Interested students must take the initiative to make such arrangements. Over forty percent of MCB majors work in a lab to gain valuable experience in scientific research. To get started, students should talk with classmates, peer advisers, a staff undergraduate adviser, graduate student instructors (GSIs), and faculty about their interest in learning more about laboratory research. For more information on research, see How to Find a Lab Position.

Benefits of research:

• Science is a way to figure things out, so doing research will aid students in other aspects of their life. Students will ask and answer open-ended questions and link seemingly disconnected pieces of information to find results that were not predicted.
• Explore things at the cutting edge and that no one has explored before.
• Learn tenacity, problem-solving, and to be critical about the details because things have to be reproducible. 
• Solve mysteries and experience the excitement of discovery.

Students may receive academic credit for their work by enrolling in an independent study course: MCELLBI 99/MCELLBI 199/MCELLBI 191 or MCELLBI H196A/MCELLBI H196B. Enrollment applications are due in the Undergraduate Advising Office by the fifth week of each semester.

Honors Program

The MCB honors program offers exceptional senior students recognition for outstanding academic achievement and excellence in research. To graduate with honors in the major, students must satisfy the following:

1. Complete at least two credited semesters of research including four to eight units of MCELLBI H196A and/or MCELLBI H196B (Honors Research).
2. Have a cumulative Berkeley grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.5 in all work completed at UC Berkeley.
3. Have at least a 3.5 GPA in the MCB major requirements or 3.5 GPA in MCB upper-division courses.
4. Present their research in an approved forum, such as an MCB symposium, the Undergraduate Poster Session, or other scientific meeting.
5. Write an honors thesis approved by an MCB faculty sponsor.

Additional information on the honors program is available in the Undergraduate Affairs Office and on the MCB website.

Other Research Opportunities

For additional resources for information regarding research opportunities, please see the links below:
Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP)
Scholarship Connection
Summer Research Opportunities

Funding for Student Research

There are a variety of ways to support your research. The department recommends attending a workshop at the Office of Undergraduate Research or looking for funding opportunities on their website or the Scholarship Connection website.

Apply to Berkeley by filling out the UC application. You can begin working on the application as early as August 1, and must submit the application November 1-30. You can apply to as many UC campuses as you like with one application, and each campus will receive your application and official test scores. If you have difficulties, contact the UC Application Center at [email protected] or (800) 207-1710.