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Major in MCB

Degree Title
Courses
Gen Ed
Required Hours
Distinction
Chemistry
Math
Physics
Areas of Emphasis

MCB Major—Requirements

Effective beginning fall 2004

The MCB undergraduate curriculum is focused on the fundamental structures, functions, and mechanisms of living organisms. The curriculum provides you with a solid foundation in biochemistry, cell and developmental biology, microbiology, molecular genetics, and physiology and structural biology. You will also develop a strong foundation in math and physical sciences.

The program of study begins with five required courses—MCB 250, 251, 252, 253, and 354. You then choose from a broad set of advanced offerings to complete the major. We encourage you to meet regularly with your academic advisor in the MCB Advising Program to ensure appropriate course selection and enhanced career planning.

Degree Title

Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Minimum Required Courses for the MCB Major

The minimum course work requirement will usually sum to 67–71 hours, which includes 21 hours of 300- or 400-level courses. A minimum of 12 hours of advanced level courses in the MCB major must be taken on the Illinois campus at Urbana-Champaign. Detailed course requirements are shown below.

General Education Requirements

The LAS general education requirements are designed so that you will automatically complete the campus general education requirements when all LAS requirements are met.

Minimum Hours Required For Graduation

120 hours

Distinction

To be eligible for graduation with distinction, you must complete the degree requirements with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher, and submit a thesis or report on an undergraduate research project (MCB 290 or departmental equivalent) for approval by the MCB Distinction Committee. Detailed information is available in Requirements, Procedures, and Deadlines for MCB Majors Interested in Graduating with Distinction.

MCB Major—Detailed Requirements

Hours

Requirements

(Course rubrics, numbers, and titles effective fall 2004)

Category
Subtotal

Supporting Courses^a

31–34

MATH 220 or MATH 221: Calculus I

Select one:
MATH 231: Calculus II
STAT 100: Statistics

Select one group of courses:
     CHEM 102: General Chemistry I, and
     CHEM 103: General Chemistry Lab I, and
     CHEM 104: General Chemistry II, and
     CHEM 105: General Chemistry Lab II
OR
     CHEM 202: Accelerated Chemistry I, and
     CHEM 203: Accelerated Chemistry Lab I, and
     CHEM 204: Accelerated Chemistry II, and
     CHEM 205: Accelerated Chemistry Lab II

CHEM 232: Elementary Organic Chemistry I, and
CHEM 233: Elementary Organic Chemistry Laboratory I

Select one group of courses:
     PHYCS 101: College Physics, Mech & Heat, and
     PHYCS 102: College Physics, E&M and Modern Physics
OR
     PHYCS 211: University Physics, Mechanics, and
     PHYCS 212: University Physics, Elect & Mag, and
     PHYCS 213: University Physics, Thermal Physics, and
     PHYCS 214: University Physics, Quantum Physics.

Introductory Biology Sequence

IB 150: Organismal and Evolutionary Biology^b

MCB 150: Molecular and Cellular Basis of Life

MCB Core Courses

MCB 250: Molecular Genetics (Lecture)

MCB 251: Experimental Techniques in Molecular Biology (Lab)

MCB 252: Cells, Tissues, and Development (Lecture)

MCB 253: Experimental Techniques in Cell Biology (Lab)

MCB 354: Biochemical and Physical Basis of Life (Lecture)^c

Advanced Courses^{d, e}

15–16

At least four additional MCB courses (MCB, BIOC, BIOP, NEUR) at the 300-level or 400-level are required, including one laboratory course. MCB 354 does not count toward the 15–16 advanced hours, as MCB 354 is part of the MCB core curriculum and is figured into the credit hour total in another area. Generally, students should take at least two of the following MCB advanced core courses:

MCB 300: Microbiology (3 hours)

MCB 316: Molecular Genetics of Eukaryotic Cells (3 hours)

MCB 400: Cell Structure and Function (4 hours)

MCB 401: Cell and Membrane Physiology (3 hours)

MCB 402: Systems and Integrative Physiology (3 hours)

MCB 405: Genetics and Genomics (4 hours)

MCB 406: Gene Expression (3 hours)

MCB 408: Immunology (3 hours)

MCB 414: Introduction to Neurobiology (3 hours)

MCB 435: Microbial Ecology & Evolution (3 hours)

Note: See the Approved List of Advanced Courses for MCB majors for the complete set of courses that serve to fulfill the hours in this category. Also, see Areas of Emphasis.

TOTAL HOURS

67–71

a	A more advanced course may be substituted for any of the required supporting courses in MATH, CHEM, STAT, and PHYS with permission of an academic advisor. An alternative statistics course may be substituted with permission of an academic advisor.
b	IB 150 or AP credit in IB 150 is required of all MCB majors.
c	MCB 354 counts for advanced hours in LAS. Certain advanced courses may be taken prior to completion of the MCB 250-253, 354 sequence with permission of an academic advisor. A minimum of 15 hours of 300- or 400-level courses in MCB is required. MCB 354 does not count toward the 15-16 advanced hours, as MCB 354 is part of the MCB Core Curriculum and is figured into the credit hour total in another area. Please see the Approved List of Advanced Courses for MCB majors.
d	If you plan to go to graduate school, undergraduate research (MCB 290 or departmental equivalent) is strongly recommended and is beneficial for professional school as well. If you are working with a faculty member from the Department of Biochemistry or from a department outside the School of MCB, contact the MCB Core Curriculum Office (252 Davenport Hall; (217) 244-6239) for details about how to obtain 290 credit for your work.
e	No more than 11 hours of 100-level MCB and IB courses may count toward graduation (including MCB 150 and IB 150).

Revised February 7, 2007

The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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