Division of Biological Sciences

Curricular Tracks

During the first year, all entering students pursue a rigorous academic program consisting of a sequence of graduate core courses and several elective courses. 

Most students participate in our standard Cell, Molecular, Genetics track but students choose more specialized training tracks if they wish. 

Tracks in Ecology, Behavior & Evolution; Microbiology; Bioinformatics; Multi-Scale Biology, and Anthropogeny are available. Some of these training tracks require coursework into the second or third year of your program.  See the sections below for more information on these tracks.

Primary Track

Standard Cell, Molecular, Genetics, Neurobiology Training Track

Required Courses:

  • BGGN 200:  Graduate School Fundamentals (Fall)
  • BGGN 208:  Biological Sciences Boot Camp (Fall)
  • BGGN 220:  Graduate Molecular Biology (Fall)
  • BGGN 222:  Graduate Cell Biology (Winter)
  • BGGN 223: Graduate Genetics (Spring)

Elective Courses:  (You must enroll in at least 2 of these courses)

  • BGGN 216 - Graduate Biostatistics
  • BGGN 224 – Graduate Neurobiology
  • BGGN 225 – Graduate Immunology
  • BGGN 226 – Graduate Virology
  • BGGN 227 – Graduate Plant Systems Biology
  • BGGN 228 – Graduate Developmental Biology
  • BGGN 229 – Graduate Oncogenes
  • BGGN 230 – Graduate Signal Transduction
  • BGGN 231 – Current Concepts in Stem Cell Biology
  • BGGN 238A – Integrative Microbiology I
  • BGGN 238B – Integrative Microbiology II
  • BGGN 242 – Graduate Cancer Biology
  • BGGN 249B – Basic Neuroscience II (must have taken BGGN 224)
  • BGGN 249C – Basic Neuroscience III (must have taken BGGN 224)

EBE: Ecology, Behavior and Evolution Track

Students who select the EBE Biology Track will take BGGN 204 each quarter of the first year.

Electives are drawn from the advanced graduate courses and undergraduate elective courses. EBE students should consult their First-Year Advisor and Section Chair to determine the most appropriate courses to take the first year.

Required Courses:

  • BGGN 200:  Graduate School Fundamentals (Fall)
  • BGGN 208:  Biological Sciences Boot Camp (Fall)
  • BGGN 204:  Topics in Community and Population Ecology (Every Quarter)

Elective Courses:  (examples)

  • BGGN 213 – Graduate Topics in Conservation Biology
  • BIEB 100 – Biometry
  • BIEB 150 – Evolution
  • BIEB 156 – Population Genetics

Microbiology Track

Students who select the Microbiology Track will take the following sequence of courses:

  • BGGN 200: Graduate School Fundamentals (Fall)
  • BGGN 208: Biological Sciences Boot Camp (Fall)
  • BGGN 220: Graduate Molecular Biology (Fall)
  • BGGN 222: Graduate Cell Biology (Winter)
  • BGGN 238A: Integrative Microbiology I (Winter)
  • BGGN 238B: Integrative Microbiology II (Spring)

Additionally, 1 of the following elective courses must be completed:

  • BGGN 216 - Graduate Biostatistics
  • BGGN 223 - Graduate Genetics
  • BGGN 224 – Graduate Neurobiology
  • BGGN 225 – Graduate Immunology
  • BGGN 226 – Graduate Virology
  • BGGN 227 – Graduate Plant Molecular Biology
  • BGGN 228 – Graduate Developmental Biology
  • BGGN 229 – Graduate Oncogenes
  • BGGN 230 – Graduate Signal Transduction
  • BGGN 231 – Current Concepts in Stem Cell Biology
  • BGGN 242 - Graduate Cancer Biology
  • BGGN 249B – Basic Neuroscience II (prerequisite is BGGN 224)
  • BGGN 249C – Basic Neuroscience III (prerequisite is BGGN 224)

Bioinformatics Specialization

Students who select the Bioinformatics Specialization must satisfy the requirements for both the Division of Biological Sciences and the Bioinformatics & Systems Biology Graduate Programs.  

Interested Biolical Sciences PhD students must first complete the program’s Standard, EBE or Microbiology Tracks, then complete the Bioinformatics course requirements.  

Get information on the Bioinformatics & Systems Biology program requirements.

Multi-Scale Biology Track

Students who select the interdisciplinary Specialization in Multiscale Biology track must satisfy the requirements for both the Division of Biological Sciences and the UCSD Interfaces Graduate Training Programs.

Interested Biological Sciences PhD students must first complete the program’s Standard, EBE or Microbiology Tracks, then complete the Multiscale Biology course requirements. 

Get information on the UCSD Interfaces Multiscale Biology program requirements.

Anthropogeny Specialization

A transdisciplinary graduate specialization in Anthropogeny is available for Ph.D. students in the Biological Sciences and other disciplines.  Information on requirements for this specialization is available through the Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA). The specialization provides students an opportunity to specialize in research and education on the origins of humans.  Top areas include:

  • Human and Primate Genetics and Evolution
  • Paleoanthropology and Hominid Origins
  • Mammalian and Primate Neurosciences
  • Primate Biology and Medicine
  • Language and Cognition
  • Nature-Nurture Interactions in Explaining Language and Cognition
  • Human and Primate Society and Culture
  • Comparative Developmental Biology or Primates
  • General Theories for Explaining Humans

Interested Biological Sciences PhD students must first complete the program’s Standard, EBE or Microbiology Tracks, then complete the Specialization in Anthropogeny’s course requirements. 

Get information on the UCSD Specialization in Anthropogeny.