Division of Biological Sciences

Fulfilling Biology Major Lab Requirements

Please Note: Exceptions apply to students graduating with a biology major during or before Summer 2013.  This information is subject to change at any time.

 How to fulfill the Biology Major Lab requirements

 1)      Take the specific labs required for the major as indicated in the general catalog and on the degree check/major information page.

2)      EXCEPTION: Take any upper-division Biology lab course to satisfy the Biology lab requirements for the major. For example, the degree requirements for Biochemistry & Cell Biology specifically list BIBC 103 as a lab requirement.  A Biochemistry & Cell Biology major may choose from any of the Biology lab courses offered to fulfill this lab requirement; they are not required to take BIBC 103, but may do so if desired.

3)      EXCEPTION: Take BISP 196 (Honors Thesis in Biology) or BISP 199 (Individual Research for Undergraduates) valued at 4 units,  to be used in place of one upper-division Biology lab requirement.

Conditions to utilize one of the exceptions listed above:

  •  The options listed above are exceptions so before utilizing them, students should make every effort to complete the lab requirement as outlined for your major. If you find you are unable to complete your lab requirement as listed in the general catalog, please use one of the exceptions listed above.
  • Students must complete at least one formal Biology laboratory course at UCSD. The options listed above may be used to satisfy only one of the two required Biology labs.
  • BISP 196/199 may apply to your major requirements only once, either as an elective or a lab requirement. Any additional quarters of BISP 196/199 that you enroll in will count as units towards graduation, but will not satisfy any major requirements.
  • The alternate lab or BISP 196/199 must appear on your academic history (either complete or in-progress) before your degree audit can be updated.
  • If you are considering the Biology MS program, please note that any BISP 196/199 applied to your BS major requirements will not apply to the MS program.
  • If you are currently enrolled or on the wait list for a lab course that will be replaced by the alternate lab or BISP 196/199, you must drop before your audit can be updated.
  • If you are interested in one of the options above, please make your degree audit update request via the VAC. Please include the specific course that should be used and the specific lab requirement you’d like it to replace. No petition is necessary!


 How To Petition:
A course from another institution for lab credit

Before filing a petition, please verify that the course meets the following criteria:

  • Lab course must be upper division, 4.0 quarter units minimum
  • Lab course must require written work, i.e. research paper or lab report
  • Lab course must require approximately 80 hours of time spent in the lab

*If the course has already been completed, you are required to submit all course materials with your petition. In addition to the syllabus and course description, this includes research papers, lab reports, presentation documents, etc.

If the above criteria apply, students may submit the following documents to Biology Student & Instructional Services (1128 Pacific Hall):

1. Undergraduate Petition form

2. Syllabus and Course Description

3. Lab Manual- recommended

4. All course materials (if lab course has already been completed)

 

Petition Process

Your petition will be reviewed by a Faculty Advisor to determine if lab credit should be awarded. Once reviewed, a biology advisor will send you an e-mail via the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) regarding the outcome of your petition. Petition processing time is approximately 4 weeks. 

If you have questions about this process, please contact Biological Sciences Student & Instructional Services (858) 534-0557 or via the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) vac.ucsd.edu.