Bachelor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University

Yale University

United States of America, New Haven

University Rank:#21

International students can study the Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University at its main campus in New Haven , United States of America. This Bachelor degree is available as a Full Time program delivered on campus in English. The program has a duration of 4 years and is offered at the university's main campus. Students can apply for the next intake starting on August 31, 2027.

About Bachelor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Director of undergraduate studies: Douglas Kankel, 121 YSB, 432-3839; MCDB undergraduate registrar, 231 YSB, 260 Whitney Ave., 432-3839; mcdb.yale.edu

The science of biology is extremely broad, ranging across the domains of molecules, cells, tissues and organs, organisms, and ecosystems. Moreover, biology explores questions of evolutionary history and the processes of evolutionary change, as well as the mechanisms by which cells, organisms, and ecosystems function. Students majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology receive a thorough yet varied liberal education and preparation for professional careers in a diverse array of fields. Practical applications of biology include the development of biologicals and pharmaceuticals, the practice of medicine, and the pursuit of the scientific bases for understanding the development and function of biological systems.

Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) offers programs for students wishing to concentrate on molecular and cellular biology and genetics, with applications to problems in cell and developmental biology, neurobiology, and various aspects of quantitative biology. Interdisciplinary opportunities are available within the major in the Biotechnology, Neurobiology, and Quantitative Biology tracks.

The MCDB major offers many opportunities for independent laboratory research. With approval, research can be conducted under the supervision of faculty members in any Yale department.

Prerequisites

Most but not all of the MCDB courses require prior preparation in biological science. First years should take BIOL 101, 102, 103, and 104 or contact the director of undergraduate studies (DUS) for more information. All majors must also complete a course in mathematics numbered MATH 115 or higher or a statistics course taken at Yale and approved by the DUS.

For the B.A. degree, students must take a two-term lecture sequence in chemistry, usually in their first year, and a term course in physics numbered PHYS 170 or higher usually in their junior year.

For the B.S. degree, students must take a two-term lecture sequence in chemistry, with associated laboratories usually in their first year; a term course in organic chemistry with its associated laboratory usually in their sophomore year; and two term courses in physics numbered PHYS 170 or higher usually in their junior year.

PlacementProcedures

Placement in MCDB courses is determined by examinations administered at Yale or by permission of the DUS. A student may place out of one or more courses in the BIOL 101-104 sequence. One or more of these foundational biology courses (or equivalent performance on the corresponding biological sciences placement examination) may be explicitly required as prerequisites for upper-level MCDB courses. Students that place out of two BIOL modules will be required to take an additional credit in MCDB's core courses.

Placement in chemistry courses is arranged by the Department of Chemistry. Because required chemistry courses are prerequisite to several MCDB courses, students are strongly encouraged to take general and organic chemistry in the first and/or sophomore years. Students who place out of general chemistry may want to consider taking organic chemistry during the first year. Finishing the prerequisites early allows for a more flexible program in later years.

Acceleration credit awarded in chemistry, mathematics, or physics, or completion of advanced courses in those subjects, is accepted in place of the corresponding prerequisites for the MCDB major. Students who have mathematics preparation equivalent to MATH 115 or higher are encouraged to take additional mathematics courses, such as MATH 120, 222, or 225, or ENAS 151 or 194. Students in the B.A. degree program who have satisfied one or more prerequisites with advanced placement must still complete three term courses in chemistry and physics at Yale, including at least one from each department.

Requirements of the Major

B.A. degree programThe B.A. degree requires a minimum of five and one-half course credits beyond the prerequisites, including five lecture or seminar courses and one laboratory, as follows:

Two core coursesselected from MCDB 200, 202, 205, 210, 290, 300 (or MB&B 300)
Two general electives selected from MCDB courses numbered 250 or above, or two additional core courses from the list above. Two laboratory courses, either MCDB 342L and 343L or MCDB 344L and 345L, can be paired for a single elective credit. If used as an elective, these laboratories cannot also fulfill the laboratory requirement
One special elective selected from MCDB courses numbered 350 or higher
One laboratory from the biological sciences. Laboratories may be selected from MCDB, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, or Biomedical Engineering, or, with permission of the DUS, from Anthropology or Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
The senior requirement (senior essay option does not carry course credit)

B.S. degree programThe B.S. degree requires a minimum of nine course credits beyond the prerequisites, including eight lecture or seminar courses and two laboratories, as follows:

Three core coursesselected from MCDB 200, 202, 205, 210, 290, 300 (or MB&B 300)
Two general electives selected from MCDB courses numbered 250 or above. Additional core courses from the list above, a second term of organic chemistry, and courses in statistics may be used as general electives. Two laboratory courses, either MCDB 342L and 343L or MCDB 344L and 345L, can be paired for a single elective credit. If used as an elective, these laboratories cannot also fulfill the laboratory requirement
One special elective from MCDB courses numbered 350 or higher
Two laboratories from MCDB
The senior requirement (2 course credits), described below

The B.S. degree program, intensive majorRequirements for the B.S. degree program, intensive major, are the same as those for the B.S. degree except for the senior requirement (see below).

Independent research courses before senior yearThe only independent research course available to students prior to the senior year is MCDB 474. This course is graded Pass/Fail and contributes to the thirty-six course credits required for the bachelor's degree, but it does not substitute for any MCDB major requirement, including the senior requirement. No independent research course satisfies a lab requirement for the MCDB major.

Independent research courses during senior yearThe research courses MCDB 475, 485, 486, and 495, 496 exist primarily to fulfill the senior requirement, and do not satisfy any other requirement for the major. Note that Yale College limits the number of independent study or independent research courses that students may take; see Academic Regulations, section C, Course Credits and Course Loads. Any independent study course, regardless of its number, is included in the total. No independent research course satisfies a lab requirement for the MCDB major.

Credit/D/FailNo course taken Credit/D/Fail may be counted toward the MCDB major, including prerequisites.

RoadmapSee visual roadmap of the requirements.

Senior Requirement

For the Class of 2023 If it is problematic to fulfill the senior research requirement in person due to outside circumstances, students seeking the MCDB B.S. degree or the MCDB B.A. degree (only) should consult the MCDB website and may appeal to the DUS for MCDB course substitutions. No accommodations will be allowed for the B.S. Intensive degree and B.S./M.S. degree.

In addition to the course requirements described above, all students must satisfy a senior requirement undertaken during the senior year. A booklet listing the senior requirements of each track and degree is available in the office of the DUS (111 YSC). All students must fill out a checklist of requirements and go over it with the MCDB undergraduate registrar, by the spring term of the junior year.

B.A. degree programFor the B.A. degree, the senior requirement can be met either by submitting a senior essay of 15-20 pages evaluating current research in a field of biology, or by successful completion of one term of individual research (MCDB 475). A senior choosing to fulfill the requirement with a senior essay must consult with a faculty adviser on the scope and literature of the topic and submit the adviser's written approval to the DUS no later than the course selection period of the term in which the paper is due. The senior essay may be related to the subject matter of a course, but the essay is a separate departmental requirement in addition to any work done in a course and does not count toward the grade in any course. The senior essay must be completed and submitted to the office of the DUS by the last day of classes. Students electing this option should obtain an approval form from the office of the DUS.

B.S. degree programFor the B.S. degree, the senior requirement is usually fulfilled by completing a yearlong research course, MCDB 485, 486. The senior requirement must be completed during the senior year. Yale College does not grant academic credit for summer research unless the student is enrolled in an independent research course in Yale Summer Session. Seniors working toward the B.S. degree are expected to spend at least ten hours per week in the lab conducting individual research.

B.S. degree program, intensive majorRequirements for the B.S. degree with an intensive major are the same as those for the B.S. degree except that students fulfill the senior requirement by taking MCDB 495, 496 for four course credits. Seniors in the intensive major are expected to spend at least twenty hours per week in the lab conducting individual research.

Requirements of the Neurobiology, Biotechnology, and Quantitative Biology Tracks

Neurobiology trackIn addition to the core courses for the B.A. degree or the B.S. degree programs, the Neurobiology track requires MCDB 320. One elective is selected from MCDB courses numbered 350 or above and one is selected from BENG 410, CPSC 475, MCDB 250, 310, 315, 415, 425, 430, 440, MCDB 361, PSYC 376, or S&DS 101. Other courses may be substituted with the approval of the student's track adviser. (Students should note that PSYC 110 is a prerequisite for many psychology courses but does not substitute as an elective in the Neurobiology track.) The laboratory requirement and the senior requirement are the same as those for the B.A. degree or the B.S. degree programs. Students interested in the Neurobiology track should consult an adviser for the track.

Neurobiology track advisers
H. Keshishian, 228 YSB (432-3478)
D. Clark, C148 YSB (432-0750)
T. Emonet, C169 YSB (432-3516)
J. Carlson, 206 YSB (432-3541)
M. O'Donnell, 110 YSB (436-1934)
P. Forscher, 120 YSB (432-6344)
W. Zhong, 225 YSB (432-9233)

Biotechnology trackIn addition to the core courses for the B.A. degree or the B.S. degree programs, the Biotechnology track requires MCDB 370. One elective is selected from MCDB courses numbered 350 or above and one is selected from MB&B 420, 421, 443, BENG 351, 352, 410, 435, 457, 463, 464, CENG 210, 411, 412L, CPSC 437, 445, 470, or 475. The laboratory requirement and the senior requirement are the same as those for the B.A. degree or the B.S. degree programs. Students interested in the Biotechnology track should consult an adviser for the track.

Biotechnology track advisers
R. Breaker, 311 YSB (432-9389)
C. Crews, 250 YSB (432-9364)
F. Isaacs, 141 YSB (432-3783)
K. Nelson, 137 YSB (432-5013)
J. Wolenski, C112 YSB (432-6912)

Quantitative Biology trackIn addition to the core courses for the B.A. degree or the B.S. degree programs, the Quantitative Biology track requires MCDB 330. One elective is selected from MCDB courses numbered 350 or above and one is selected from MCDB 320, 361, 461, BENG 463, 467, CPSC 440, 475, MB&B 302, 435, 452, 523, PHYS 402, MATH 246, 251, or CPSC 475, 440. The laboratory requirement and the senior requirement are the same as those for the B.A. degree or the B.S. degree programs. Students interested in the Quantitative Biology track should consult an adviser for the track.

Quantitative Biology track advisers

D. Clark, C148 YSB (432-0750)

T. Emonet, C169 YSB (432-3516)

D. Kankel, 111 YSB (432-3532)

Additional Information And aDvising

The prerequisites for the B.S. degree fulfill most of the usual premedical science requirements. Students who choose the B.A. degree can also prepare for medical school by taking additional premedical courses.

Selection of coursesA relevant intermediate or advanced course from another department in science, engineering, mathematics, or statistics may be accepted as an elective with permission of the DUS. Many courses in other departments have prerequisites; such prerequisites can be substituted for an upper-level elective with permission of the DUS.

Residential College Seminars cannot be substituted for electives and do not count toward the requirements of the major. The MCDB major should not be taken as one of two majors with Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, or Neuroscience.

AdvisingFirst-year students considering a major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology are invited to consult with the DUS and/or a faculty member in MCDB who is a fellow of their residential college. For assistance in identifying a suitable adviser,

Disciplines

FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR CELLULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Bachelor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University

Entry Requirements

$80 application fee or fee waiver
Recommendations from two teachers and one counselor
School Report with transcript
Standardized test results (ACT or SAT) - not required for fall 2023 admission. (See below)
English proficiency test results - required for non-native English-speakers (See below)
Mid-Year Report & Final Report

See additional details about these required application components below.

Please note that if your application materials include any documents that are not in English, you must provide an official English translation in addition to the original documents.

$80 application fee or fee waiver

Applicants should pay the $80 application fee via the Common Application or Coalition Application website.

Applicants using the Common Application or Coalition Application may request that the application fee be waived. Learn more on the fee waiver page. The fee waiver scale is based on family size and income in US dollars but is applicable to all international students.

Recommendations from two teachers and one counselor

Request recommendations from two teachers who have taught you in core academic subjects (e.g. English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies) who know you well, and who have seen you at your best. It is preferable, but not required, that recommendations come from teachers who have taught you during your final or next-to-final year of secondary school.

Also request a recommendation from your school’s college counselor. If your counselor does not know you well, the recommendation may still provide helpful contextual information about your school and its academic programs. If your school does not have someone serving as a college counselor, please request a recommendation from a school administrator such as a house master, principal, or academic advisor.

School Report with transcript

Your counselor or other school official should submit a School Report with an official transcript that includes all your secondary school courses. If a question on the School Report form is not applicable to your secondary school, leave it blank.

Recommendations and transcripts should be submitted electronically through the Common Application or Coalition Application website. If necessary, teachers and counselors may also submit their recommendations and transcripts via mail or digital upload. Recommendations may be sent before or after you submit your application; materials that arrive before your application will be kept on file. The admissions office will make reasonable allowances for late school documents in situations where it is not possible for teachers and counselors to meet the application deadlines.

Standardized test results

In response to the extraordinary circumstances associated with the pandemic, Yale has temporarily suspended its requirement that first-year and transfer applicants submit results from the ACT or SAT. The change will be in effect during the 2022-23 admissions cycles for applicants who intend to matriculate in fall 2023.

More information on Yale’s test policies is available on the standardized testing page. Standardized tests are just one component of a student’s application and are viewed within the context of the student’s entire file. There is no minimum score required for admission, nor is there a score that will guarantee admission.

English proficiency exams

Yale requires that non-native English-speakers who have not taken at least two years of secondary education where English is the medium of instruction submit the results from any of the proficiency tests listed below.

The TOEFL requires pre-registration for available testing dates. Yale’s most competitive applicants have scores of at least 100 on the internet-based TOEFL.

The IELTS offers proficiency tests in locations around the world. Pre-registration is required. Yale’s most competitive applicants have IELTS scores of 7 or higher.

Cambridge English exams are available at testing locations around the world. Pre-registration is required. Yale’s most competitive applicants have Cambridge English scores of 185 or higher on the C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency, or B2 First exams.

Applicants may submit the Duolingo English Test (DET), which combines an English proficiency test with a brief video interview. Duolingo’s technology and format allows applicants to complete the test at any time or place with internet access. Yale’s most competitive applicants have DET scores of at least 120.

InitialView provides live, unscripted video interviews that candidates may submit to colleges for consideration with other application materials. Interview times must be reserved in advance. There is no scoring associated with these interviews.

Mid-Year Report & Final Report

Students who do not receive new secondary school grades by February 1, including students who have already completed secondary school, are not required to submit a Mid-Year Report. This includes many international students. Applicants who receive new grades by February 1 should submit a Mid-Year Report.

Only admitted students are required to submit the Final Report, which provides final secondary school grades and examination marks. Admitted students submit the Final Report in the summer before fall matriculation.

If your secondary school provides predicted results for external exams such as A-levels, the International Baccalaureate, and other international or national testing organizations, they should be submitted by your school alongside your transcript or Mid-Year Report.

Tuition and Fee Information for Bachelor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University

Application Fee 80

How to Apply for Bachelor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University

All applicants for first-year admission must submit one of the following:

The Coalition Application with Yale-Specific Questions
The Common Application with Yale-Specific Questions
The QuestBridge National College Match Application

Yale will accept any one of these applications, without preference for one over another. Students should submit one—and only one—application per admissions cycle.

Bachelor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University

Yale University

United States of America, New Haven