Animal Physiology and Neuroscience Major

The Animal Physiology and Neuroscience major provides a program for studying the bodily and neural functions of complex organisms. Within this major, a student may concentrate upon more specialized areas of study, such as human biology, neurobiology, or endocrinology. This major is most directly applicable to health-related professions such as medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and medical technology. Animal physiology and neuroscience majors are also well prepared to enter other professions such as physiological research, physical education, agriculture, and wildlife management.

Degree Check (PDF format)

Sample Plan (PDF format)

Important things you should know....

Entered UCSD as a Freshman

Entered UCSD as a Transfer

Animal Physiology and Neuroscience Major Requirements

Lower-Division Requirements

BILD 1 & 2 or BILD 1 & 3
Mathematics 10A, B, C/11 or 20A, B, C
Chemistry 6A, B, C, and 6BL
Physics 1A/1AL, 1B/1BL, 1C/1CL or 2A, B, C, and lab (2BL, 2CL or 2DL)

Upper-Division Requirements

1. Organic Chemistry (Chemistry 140A/141A, 140B/141B, and 143A)
2. Metabolic Biochemistry (BIBC 102)
3. Genetics (BICD 100)
4. Molecular Biology (BIMM 100)
5. Four from the following eight courses (APN Core):

a. Mammalian Physiology I (BIPN 100)
b. Mammalian Physiology II (BIPN 102)
c. Comparative Physiology (BIPN 106)
d. Cellular Neurobiology (BIPN 140)
e. Systems Neurobiology (BIPN 142)
f. Developmental Neurobiology (BIPN 144)
g. Computational Neurobiology (BIPN 146)

h. Cellular Basis of Learning and Memory (BIPN 148)

6. One of four AP&N Laboratories:

          a.  Embryology Lab (BICD 131)

          b.  Developmental Biology Lab (BICD 133)

          c.  Animal Physiology Lab (BIPN 105)

          d.  Neurobiology Lab (BIPN 145)

7. One upper-division lab to be chosen from the following: BIBC 103, 105, BICD 101, 111, 123, 131, 133, 145, BIEB 121, 131, 165, 167, 179, BIMM 101, 103, 121, 127, BIPN 105, 145.

8. Three additional upper-division courses (each course must be at least four units) taken through the UCSD Division of Biological Sciences are required.  These may include courses from requirements #5, 6, 7 that have not already been taken.  These may include no more than one quarter of BISP 195 and one quarter of either BISP 196, 197 or 199 (AIP 197 may be used in place of BISP 196 or 199 upon approval by the faculty adviser). Subsequent quarters of 195, 196, 197 or 199 may be applied toward college and university requirements.

* For more information on BISP 196 (Honors Thesis) or 199 (Independent Research) click here

* For more information on BISP 197 (Biotechnology Internship) click here

For further information, please contact Biology Student Affairs or check out the UCSD Catalog!