Plant Sciences B.S.

Information and Policies

Introduction

UC Santa Cruz has a strong program in the plant sciences (sometimes called botany). Resources that support the plant sciences major include state-of-the-art greenhouse facilities, natural ecosystems on the campus from coastal wetlands to redwood forests, the collections of the UCSC Arboretum, and the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (including the UC Santa Cruz Farm and Garden).

The plant sciences major is designed for students with an interest in plant biology and its associated curricular fields such as plant ecology, plant physiology, plant pathology, plant genetics, soils, and applied plant sciences. After completion of the core courses, students can proceed in one of several directions depending on their interests. For example, a more in-depth study of physiology and evolution courses can serve as preparation for work in biotechnology or plant breeding; further studies in plant ecology, tropical ecology, or restoration ecology can lead to careers in resource ecology and management or biodiversity exploration; upper-division training in agroecology can lead to careers in agriculture or food systems. There are many opportunities for internships both on the UC Santa Cruz campus and in the greater community.

Academic Advising for the Program

Academic advising is available at the ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB) undergraduate advising office and via email at eebadvising@ucsc.edu. The undergraduate webpages contain advice and information pertinent to students’ most frequently voiced questions. Each student should review the information posted on the website; for further assistance, contact an EEB undergraduate adviser at eebadvising@ucsc.edu. Transfer students should also review the Transfer Information and Policy Section.

Getting Started in the Major

Prerequisites

The introductory biology sequence is prerequisite to virtually all upper-division biology courses. BIOL 20A (offered by the Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology Department) has a prerequisite of CHEM 1A. Therefore, it is essential for students to start chemistry as soon as possible. Students who have not taken CHEM 1A may begin the introductory sequence with BIOE 20C. The entire introductory biology sequence should be taken the first and second year, concurrently with or following the general chemistry sequence. We also strongly recommend completing the lower-division physics requirements early in your academic career.

An online mathematics placement is required to enroll in a mathematics course. Students are expected to take this examination and are encouraged to work in the learning modules until they place into calculus. For more information see the mathematics placement website.

Advanced placement (AP) course equivalencies can be used to fulfill prerequisites.

Program Learning Outcomes

The undergraduate curriculum offered by the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) is designed to ensure that all students declared in any EEB sponsored major will achieve the following seven program learning outcomes.

Students will demonstrate broad-based knowledge of the fundamentals of ecology, behavior, evolution and physiology and the relationships among these disciplines.
Students will demonstrate skills in the observation and experimental study of organisms, using both field-based and laboratory-based approaches.
Students will demonstrate skills in identifying, accessing, comprehending and synthesizing scientific information, including interpretation of the primary scientific literature. This includes understanding key questions and hypotheses, interpreting results and conclusions, and evaluating quality through critique.
Students will demonstrate the ability to conceive and execute independent scientific research, including developing their own questions and hypotheses, designing an appropriate theoretical or empirical/experimental approach, executing that approach, and analyzing and interpreting data.
Students will demonstrate an ability to understand and apply fundamental quantitative skills, including models and statistical analyses, so as to properly interpret published research and apply such skills in their own research.
Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate original scientific work in the form of a scientific paper, as well as in oral or poster presentations.
Students will exhibit strong teamwork and problem solving skills. They will demonstrate the ability to make arguments from evidence and work together to find optimal solutions.

Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process

Major Qualification

All courses must be taken for a letter grade. The following qualification courses, or their equivalents, must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better:

All of the following courses:

CHEM1A	General Chemistry	5
CHEM1B	General Chemistry	5
BIOL20A	Cell and Molecular Biology	5
BIOE20B	Development and Physiology	5
BIOE20C	Ecology and Evolution	5

And one of the following courses:

MATH11A	Calculus with Applications	5
MATH19A	Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics	5

Students with one grade of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in one of the qualification courses are eligible to declare after successfully repeating the same or an equivalent course with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

Students with two or more grades of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in the qualification courses are not eligible to declare. Mathematics courses will not be included in this calculation.

Students with AP credit for any of the qualification course(s) are eligible to declare after successfully completing the remaining qualification courses.

Consult with an EEB undergraduate adviser when requesting to declare the major after the campus declaration deadline. Transfer students should also review the Transfer Information and Policy Section.

For information on qualifying for the Environmental Studies/Biology combined major, please see Environmental Studies in this catalog.

Appeal Process

Students who are not eligible to declare the major may appeal this decision after they have successfully completed the qualification courses by submitting an appeal letter to EEB undergraduate advising. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department will notify the student and college of the decision. For more information about the appeal process, see the appeal process website.

How to Declare a Major

Students may submit a petition to declare after successful completion of the qualification policy courses. Students who have reached their major declaration deadline and are enrolled in their final qualification policy course(s) may submit the petition, but will not be declared until grades have been posted. Information on major declaration can be found here. Additional questions may be directed to eebadvising@ucsc.edu.

Transfer Information and Policy

Transfer Admission Screening Policy

To be considered for admission to UC Santa Cruz as a proposed major in ecology and evolution (B.S.), marine biology, or plant sciences, transfer students must pass equivalents of the following preparatory courses with a C (2.0) or better prior to transfer:

BIOL20A	Cell and Molecular Biology	5
BIOE20B	Development and Physiology	5
BIOE20C	Ecology and Evolution	5
CHEM1A	General Chemistry	5
CHEM1B	General Chemistry	5

Plus, one of the following calculus courses:

MATH11A	Calculus with Applications	5
MATH19A	Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics	5

More information on qualifying for the major as a transfer applicant is here.

While it is not required for UC Santa Cruz admission, transfer students are strongly encouraged to complete equivalents of the complete general chemistry series, a second quarter of calculus, and the physics series (PHYS 6A/PHYS 6L, plus PHYS 6B or PHYS 6C) prior to transfer. Students who transfer without having completed this additional recommended introductory coursework may require more than two years to complete the major requirements. Additional transfer preparation information is here.

Getting Started at UCSC as a Transfer Student

Transfer students who satisfy the major screening requirements may declare the major at any time after matriculation only after their official transcripts have been posted to their MyUCSC student portal by the UCSC Office of Admissions.

Beginning in late June and early July (for fall transfer students) EEB advising will review admitted students' reported transfer course work and determine how it applies to their major's requirements.
EEB advising will contact admitted students via email. The email will include information on how students' transfer coursework fulfills major requirements. We will suggest courses for students' fall enrollment, and invite you to make an appointment to talk with EEB undergraduate advising or direct questions to eebadvising@ucsc.edu. Transfer students may also expect to receive regular email messages from EEB advising in June, July, and August with additional information about the major.

Letter Grade Policy

All courses used to satisfy any major requirement must be taken for a letter grade.

Course Substitution Policy

To discuss the process for a course substitution, contact an EEB undergraduate adviser.

At least half of the upper-division courses (numbered BIOE 100–BIOE 179) required for each major must be taken in EEB at UC Santa Cruz not as transfer credits from another department or institution.

Transfer students are advised to contact an EEB undergraduate adviser before enrolling in numerous upper-division courses at other institutions. For more information on transferring courses to UCSC, please consult the Transfer Student website. Additional information for transfer students is provided above in the “Transfer Students” section.

Only one upper-division course requirement may be met with a research-based independent study or graduate-level UCSC biology course.

Double Majors and Major/Minor Combinations Policy

Students interested in pursuing multiple majors within the biological sciences may not declare any combination of Biology (B.A., B.S., or minor), Ecology and Evolution B.S., Marine Biology B.S., Plant Sciences B.S., or Environmental Studies/Biology B.A. combined major.

Study Abroad

The UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) offers qualified students unique opportunities to broaden their educational horizons. The EEB Department encourages interested students to participate. It is possible to satisfy major requirements abroad and graduate on time; consult with an EEB undergraduate adviser early in the planning process.

Many programs are in English-speaking countries or use English for advanced courses. Many programs offer small classes, extensive laboratories, and/or field research experience.

There are excellent programs in Costa Rica, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Germany, among others. The Costa Rica Tropical Biology Program is of note to students interested in tropical biology and ecology. Held spring and fall quarters at the Monteverde research station, this program gives students experience with hands-on field research and offers a homestay program. The University of Queensland (Australia) offers an intensive, full-semester marine science program, which includes stays at research stations on the Great Barrier Reef and in sheltered mangrove and seagrass habitats near Brisbane.

Students interested in study abroad need to get an early start on their introductory requirements, including chemistry, mathematics, and biology and must declare their major prior to going abroad. Visit the UCEAP office as soon as possible to begin planning and seek advice and approval for your UCEAP plan from an EEB undergraduate adviser prior to participation in UCEAP.

Honors

Honors in the biological sciences majors are awarded to graduating students whose academic performance demonstrates excellence at a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or above. Highest honors are awarded to those students whose performance demonstrates the highest level of excellence and results in a GPA of 3.8 or above.

Requirements and Planners

Course Requirements

Lower-Division Courses

Introductory Biology:

BIOL20A	Cell and Molecular Biology	5
BIOE20B	Development and Physiology	5
BIOE20C	Ecology and Evolution	5

General Chemistry:

CHEM1A	General Chemistry	5
CHEM1B	General Chemistry	5
CHEM1C	General Chemistry	5
CHEM1N	General Chemistry Laboratory	2

Calculus:

Choose one of the following options:

Either these courses
MATH11A	Calculus with Applications	5
MATH11B	Calculus with Applications	5
or these courses
MATH19A	Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics	5
MATH19B	Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics	5

Biostatistics:

STAT7	Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences	5
STAT7L	Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory	2

Physics:

Choose one of the following options:

Either these courses
PHYS7A	Elementary Physics I	5
PHYS6L	Introductory Physics Laboratory	1
PHYS7B	Elementary Physics II	5
or these courses
PHYS6A	Introductory Physics I	5
PHYS6L	Introductory Physics Laboratory	1
PHYS6B	Introductory Physics II	5
or these courses
PHYS6A	Introductory Physics I	5
PHYS6L	Introductory Physics Laboratory	1
PHYS6C	Introductory Physics III	5

PHYS 7A, PHYS 6L, PHYS 7B: recommended

Upper-Division Courses

A total of 11 upper-division courses, including relevant electives; two must include laboratory or fieldwork. Courses appearing in more than one category can fulfill only one requirement.

Three core courses:

BIOL105	Genetics	5
BIOE107	Ecology	5
BIOE109	Evolution	5

One plant physiology course from the following:

NOTE: Lecture/lab combinations count as one course

BIOE135	Plant Physiology	5
BIOE135L	Plant Physiology Laboratory	2
ENVS162	Plant Physiological Ecology	5

One botany course from the following:

NOTE: Lecture/lab combinations count as one course

BIOE117	Systematic Botany of Flowering Plants	5
BIOE117L	Systematic Botany of Flowering Plants Laboratory	2
BIOE120	Marine Botany	5
BIOE120L	Marine Botany Laboratory	2

Electives

Three topical electives chosen from the following:

NOTE: Lecture and 2-credit lab combinations count as one course.

Biological Sciences-EEB

BIOE117	Systematic Botany of Flowering Plants	5
BIOE117L	Systematic Botany of Flowering Plants Laboratory	2
BIOE118	Plants and Society: the Biology of Food, Shelter, and Medicine	5
BIOE120	Marine Botany	5
BIOE120L	Marine Botany Laboratory	2
BIOE125 /ENVS 125	Ecosystems of California	5
BIOE135	Plant Physiology	5
BIOE135L	Plant Physiology Laboratory	2
BIOE137	Molecular Ecology	5
BIOE137L	Molecular Ecology Laboratory	2
BIOE145	Plant Ecology	5
BIOE145L	Field Methods in Plant Ecology	5
BIOE148A	Quantitative Ecology	5
BIOE148B	Quantitative Methods in Ecology and Evolution	5
BIOE149	Disease Ecology	5
BIOE151A /ENVS 109A	Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods	5
BIOE151B /ENVS 109B	Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory	5
BIOE151C /ENVS 109C	Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Functions and Processes of Terrestrial Ecosystems	5
BIOE151D /ENVS 109D	Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Conservation in Practice	4
BIOE153A	Introduction to Arctic Ecology	5
BIOE153B	Arctic Ecology	5
BIOE153C	Disciplinary Communication for Biologists	5
BIOE161	Kelp Forest Ecology	5
BIOE161L	Kelp Forest Ecology Laboratory	5

Biological Sciences-MCDB

BIOL100	Biochemistry	5
BIOL101	Molecular Biology	5
BIOL101L	Molecular Biology Laboratory	2
BIOL110	Cell Biology	5
BIOL115	Eukaryotic Molecular Biology	5

Environmental Studies (enrollment by permission of instructor)

ENVS104A	Introduction to Environmental Field Methods	5
ENVS104L	Field Methods Laboratory	2
ENVS129	Integrated Pest Management	5
ENVS130A	Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture	5
ENVS130L	Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Laboratory	2
ENVS130B	Justice and Sustainability in Agriculture	5
ENVS131	Insect Ecology	5
ENVS160	Restoration Ecology	5
ENVS161A	Soils and Plant Nutrition	5
ENVS162	Plant Physiological Ecology	5
ENVS163	Plant Disease Ecology	5

Science Communication

SCIC160

/BIOE 188

Introduction to Science Writing

Three general electives chosen from the following:

NOTE: Lecture/lab combinations count as one course.

Biological Sciences-EEB

Any upper-division BIOE course numbered BIOE 100-BIOE 179 of 5 or more credits

Biological Sciences-MCDB

BIOL100	Biochemistry	5
BIOL101	Molecular Biology	5
BIOL101L	Molecular Biology Laboratory	2
BIOL110	Cell Biology	5
BIOL115	Eukaryotic Molecular Biology	5
BIOL120	Developmental Biology	5

Earth and Planetary Sciences

EART100	Vertebrate Paleontology	5
EART100L	Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory	2
EART101	Invertebrate Paleobiology	5
EART101L	Invertebrate Paleobiology Laboratory	1
EART102	Marine Geology	5
EART105	Coastal Geology	5

Economics

ECON166A /CSE 166A	Game Theory and Applications I	5
ECON166B /CSE 166B	Game Theory and Applications II	5

Environmental Studies (enrollment by permission of instructor)

ENVS104A	Introduction to Environmental Field Methods	5
ENVS104L	Field Methods Laboratory	2
ENVS107A	Natural History Field Quarter	5
ENVS107B	Natural History Field Quarter	5
ENVS107C	Natural History Field Quarter	5
ENVS108	General Entomology	5
ENVS115A	Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Applications	5
ENVS115L	Exercises in Geographic Information Systems	2
ENVS120	Conservation Biology	5
ENVS122	Tropical Ecology and Conservation	5
ENVS123	Animal Ecology and Conservation	5
ENVS129	Integrated Pest Management	5
ENVS130A	Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture	5
ENVS130L	Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Laboratory	2
ENVS130B	Justice and Sustainability in Agriculture	5
ENVS131	Insect Ecology	5
ENVS160	Restoration Ecology	5
ENVS161A	Soils and Plant Nutrition	5
ENVS162	Plant Physiological Ecology	5
ENVS163	Plant Disease Ecology	5
ENVS167	Freshwater and Wetland Ecology	5
ENVS168	Biogeochemistry and the Global Environment	5

Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology

METX119	Microbiology	5
METX119L	Microbiology Laboratory	5

Ocean Sciences

OCEA118	Marine Microbial Ecology	5
OCEA130	Biological Oceanography	5

Psychology

PSYC123

Cognitive Neuroscience

One of the following may also be used as an upper-division general elective:

Biological Sciences-EEB

Any 5 credits of undergraduate research

BIOE183W	Undergraduate Research in EEB--Writing	2
BIOE183L	Undergraduate Research in EEB	3
BIOE193	Independent Research in EEB	5
BIOE193F	Independent Research in EEB	2
BIOE195	Senior Thesis	5

Environmental Studies

ENVS183

Environmental Studies Internship

Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement

Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division disciplinary communication (DC) requirement. The DC requirement in plant sciences is satisfied by completing two of the following ecology and evolutionary biology courses:

NOTE: Lecture and 2-credit lab combinations count as a single course.

BIOE108	Marine Ecology	5
BIOE114	Herpetology	5
BIOE114L	Field Methods in Herpetological Research	2
BIOE117	Systematic Botany of Flowering Plants	5
BIOE120	Marine Botany	5
BIOE120L	Marine Botany Laboratory	2
BIOE122	Invertebrate Zoology	5
BIOE122L	Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory	2
BIOE127	Ichthyology	5
BIOE127L	Ichthyology Laboratory	2
BIOE128L	Large Marine Vertebrates Field Course	5
BIOE129	Biology of Marine Mammals	5
BIOE129L	Biology of Marine Mammals Laboratory	2
BIOE137	Molecular Ecology	5
BIOE141L	Behavioral Ecology Field Course	5
BIOE145	Plant Ecology	5
BIOE145L	Field Methods in Plant Ecology	5
BIOE150L	Ecological Field Methods Laboratory	5
BIOE151B /ENVS 109B	Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory	5
BIOE153C	Disciplinary Communication for Biologists	5
BIOE158L	Marine Ecology Laboratory	5
BIOE159A	Marine Ecology Field Quarter: Marine Ecology with Laboratory	5
BIOE161L	Kelp Forest Ecology Laboratory	5
BIOE171	Disciplinary Communication for Biologists	5
BIOE172	Population Genetics	5
BIOE172L	Population Genetics Laboratory	2

For 2-credit laboratory courses taken concurrently with 5-credit lectures, both courses must be passed to receive one half of the DC requirement.

Comprehensive Requirement

All majors in the biological sciences require completion of a comprehensive requirement. This requirement can be satisfied in one of the following ways:

Receiving a passing grade in an independent research course, or field/laboratory course listed below.
Completing a senior thesis.
Achieving a graduate record examination (GRE) score at or above the 50th percentile on the biology subject test or the biochemistry, cell, and molecular biology subject test. Reports of GRE scores must be submitted to the EEB undergraduate advising office before the last day of the graduating quarter.
Obtaining a medical college admission test (MCAT) score at or above the 50th percentile on the biological sciences section. Reports of MCAT scores must be submitted to the EEB undergraduate advising office before the last day of the graduating quarter.

Comprehensive courses offered by Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

NOTE: Lab courses may have associated prerequisite or corequisite lecture courses.

BIOE112L	Ornithology Field Studies	2
BIOE114L	Field Methods in Herpetological Research	2
BIOE117L	Systematic Botany of Flowering Plants Laboratory	2
BIOE120L	Marine Botany Laboratory	2
BIOE122L	Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory	2
BIOE124L	Mammalogy Laboratory	2
BIOE127L	Ichthyology Laboratory	2
BIOE128L	Large Marine Vertebrates Field Course	5
BIOE129L	Biology of Marine Mammals Laboratory	2
BIOE131L	Animal Physiology Laboratory	2
BIOE133L	Exercise Physiology Laboratory	2
BIOE134L	Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Laboratory	2
BIOE135L	Plant Physiology Laboratory	2
BIOE137L	Molecular Ecology Laboratory	2
BIOE141L	Behavioral Ecology Field Course	5
BIOE145L	Field Methods in Plant Ecology	5
BIOE150L	Ecological Field Methods Laboratory	5
BIOE151A /ENVS 109A	Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods	5
BIOE151B /ENVS 109B	Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Ecological Field Methods Laboratory	5
BIOE151C /ENVS 109C	Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Functions and Processes of Terrestrial Ecosystems	5
BIOE151D /ENVS 109D	Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse: Conservation in Practice	4
BIOE153A	Introduction to Arctic Ecology	5
BIOE153B	Arctic Ecology	5
BIOE153C	Disciplinary Communication for Biologists	5
BIOE155L	Freshwater Ecology Laboratory	5
BIOE158L	Marine Ecology Laboratory	5
BIOE159A	Marine Ecology Field Quarter: Marine Ecology with Laboratory	5
BIOE159B	Marine Ecology Field Quarter: Ichthyology with Laboratory	5
BIOE159C	Marine Ecology Field Quarter: Methods in Field Ecology	5
BIOE159D	Marine Ecology Field Quarter: Methods in Field Ecology Laboratory	5
BIOE161L	Kelp Forest Ecology Laboratory	5
BIOE163L	Ecology of Reefs, Mangroves, and Seagrasses Laboratory	2
BIOE172L	Population Genetics Laboratory	2
BIOE183W	Undergraduate Research in EEB--Writing	2

Comprehensive courses offered by Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology

BIOL100L	Biochemistry Laboratory	5
BIOL105L	Eukaryotic Genetics Laboratory	5
BIOL109L	Yeast Molecular Genetics Laboratory	5
BIOL115L	Eukaryotic Molecular Biology Laboratory	5
BIOL120L	Development Laboratory	5
BIOL121L	Environmental Phage Biology Laboratory	5
BIOL186L	Undergraduate Research in MCD Biology	5
BIOL186R	Undergraduate Research in MCD Biology	5
BIOL189	Health Sciences Internship	3

Comprehensive courses offered in other departments

BIOC110L	Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory	5
METX119L	Microbiology Laboratory	5

Planners

In addition to the specific courses shown in these planners, a student must complete courses satisfying the IM, TA, PE, PR, CC, ER and C campus general education requirements.

Sample Frosh Planner

1st (frosh)	BIOE 20C	MATH 11A or MATH 19A	MATH 11B or MATH 19B
		CHEM 1A	CHEM 1B

2nd (soph)	BIOL 20A	BIOE 20B	BIOL 105
	CHEM 1C & CHEM 1N	STAT 7 & STAT 7L	PHYS 6A & PHYS 6L

3rd (junior)	BIOE 109	BIOE 107	EEB general elective
	PHYS 6C	*PLNT topical elective	Botany & lab

4th (senior)	EEB general elective	*PLNT topical elective	EEB general elective
	Plant physiology	*PLNT topical elective

*PLNT = Plant Sciences BS

Electives must be chosen to satisfy the Disciplinary Communication and Comprehensive requirements.

Additional Frosh sample planners may be found on the EEB website.

Sample Transfer Planner

For students who transferred in after completing the transfer screening courses and:

MATH 11B
CHEM 1C/CHEM 1N
PHYS 6A/PHYS 6L, and PHYS 6B or PHYS 6C

	Fall	Winter	Spring
3rd (junior)	BIOL 105	BIOE 107	BIOE 109
	*PLNT topical elective	*PLNT topical elective	*PLNT topical elective
	STAT 7 & STAT 7L
4th (senior)	EEB general elective	Botany & lab	EEB general elective
	Plant physiology	EEB general elective

*PLNT = Plant Sciences B.S.

Electives must be chosen to satisfy the Disciplinary Communication and Comprehensive requirements.

Additional sample Transfer student sample planners may be found on the EEB website.