BA · 2025-2026
Biology
College of Creative Studies — Biology
This CCS major uses an advisor-negotiated curriculum. The plan below is suggested — finalize every quarter with your faculty advisor.
Official sources · CCS
College of Creative Studies requirements
CCS uses its own General Education system (not LASAR or GEAR). IGETC completion fulfills CCS GE requirements. Courses must be approved by faculty advisor or pre-approved program list.
180 quarter units · 8 CCS GE courses · Ethnicity required · 6-quarter CCS residency
Application requirements
CCS admission is separate from the UC application. Apply via the CCS online application in addition to UCSB.
- Letter of intentRequired — separate from UC application essay
- Letters of recommendation2 required (PDF upload)
- TranscriptsUnofficial scans from all institutions
- Supplemental materialsEncouraged — research, projects, or work samples
- • Letter of intent to CCS Biology faculty — academic interests, research goals, biology background.
- • Two recommenders well-acquainted with your biology ability (required).
- • Applicants often have research experience, AP Biology, or demonstrated research focus.
- • Supplemental: independent research, scientific reports, or projects (not required but helpful).
Official major sheet — 2025-2026
Parsed from department major sheet. Verify on GOLD progress check.
Recommended foundation (by emphasis)
- PHYS 6A · 4 unitsTwo quarters physics recommended for all biologists
- PHYS 6B · 4 units
- CHEM 1A · 4 unitsYear chemistry for molecular/biochemistry emphasis
- CHEM 1B · 4 units
- CHEM 109A · 4 unitsOrganic chemistry for molecular emphasis
- MATH 3A · 4 unitsCalculus for ecology/evolution emphasis
- MATH 3B · 4 units
- PSTAT 5LS · 5 unitsStatistics for ecology/evolution
- CMPSC 8 · 4 unitsComputer science for computational biology
CCS Biology is NOT bound by L&S Biological Sciences catalog requirements.
Program negotiated with faculty advisor based on research emphasis.
Premed students: year each of math, physics, inorganic and organic chemistry.
Upper-division biology (advisor-selected)
48 units required- EEMBEcology, Evolution & Marine Biology courses
- MCDBMolecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
- EARTHEarth Science for paleontology/geology emphasis
- GEOGGeography for spatial/ecological emphasis
- Biology CSCCS biology seminars and labs
CCS students take more UD science courses, earlier, than L&S Biology majors.
Independent research from first year encouraged; CCS courses augment L&S department offerings.
- • Suggested plan for molecular/ecology emphasis — actual courses vary by advisor and research area.
- • Contact: John Latto (latto@lifesci.ucsb.edu) for program information.
Major regulations
Mid-academic-career progress check with faculty.
Quarterly faculty advisor approval for course schedule.
Summer research fellowships (SURF, TURF) often available.
4-year plan — 180 units
180 quarter units · 8 CCS GE courses (unrelated to major) · Ethnicity required. Suggested plan — finalize with faculty advisor.
Year 1
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 2
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 3
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 4
Fall
Winter
Spring
Data sources
Course lists are snapshots from official UCSB pages—not a live scrape. Verify prerequisites in the UCSB General Catalog.
College-wide CCS rules (8 GE courses unrelated to major, Ethnicity, 180 units, quarterly faculty advising) apply in addition to major requirements. See Student Handbook and UCSB Catalog — CCS degrees.