2024-2025 Course Catalog

Please note: The information displayed here is current as of Wednesday, September 18, 2024, but the official Course Catalog should be used for all official planning.

Natural Sciences (Interdisciplinary Major)

The interdisciplinary major in the natural sciences enables students to construct science majors around subject areas that bridge two or more disciplines in the natural sciences, leading to graduate work and/or careers in many of the rapidly growing interdisciplinary fields developing along interfaces between the traditional natural sciences.

The interdisciplinary major in the natural sciences requires a primary concentration in biology, chemistry, geosciences, or physics and a secondary concentration in another of these sciences. Students interested in this major should seek advice from the department of primary interest in order to design a major consistent with both their interests and the requirements of the major. Interdisciplinary combinations of biology and chemistry have been replaced by the biochemistry major.


Required for the interdisciplinary major in natural sciences in a primary discipline and secondary discipline

  1. Introductory requirement: An introductory sequence in physics and two additional introductory sequences chosen from those in biology, chemistry, and geosciences聽so that sequences in both the primary and the secondary disciplines are included. The introductory sequences are:

Biology:

  • BIOL 130:聽Integrative Biology: Cells to Organisms
  • BIOL 135:聽Ecology, Evolution and Society
  • BIOL 150:聽Integrative Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems

Chemistry:

  • CHEM 115:聽Principles of Chemistry: Structure and Reactivity
  • CHEM 116:聽Principles of Chemistry: Energetics and Dynamics

Geosciences:

  • GEOS 110:聽Introductory Geology
  • GEOS 210:聽History of the Earth and Life

Physics:

  • PHYS 141:聽Introduction to Physics I
  • PHYS 151:聽Introduction to聽Physics II
  1. Intermediate/advanced requirement: At least ten six-unit courses in the sciences (biology, chemistry, geosciences, physics) numbered 200 or above, with at least five in the primary discipline and at least three in the secondary discipline. More specific course and/or laboratory requirements may apply in specific departments.
  2. Participation in a Senior Experience as defined by the department of the primary discipline.