Major Requirements
Plant biology students are broadly educated in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics while developing a foundation in plant biology across scales from landscapes to molecules. Classroom learning is enhanced by research experiences in the field and lab to prepare students for their future career.
After successfully completing the Plant Biology major, students will be equipped with:
- a breadth of knowledge of plant biology
- technical, analytical, and computational skills
- the ability to critically evaluate existing knowledge and generate new knowledge
- skills to communicate scientific ideas clearly
- a roadmap for postgraduate career objectives
Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative and science/math grade point average to continue in the program.
Core Requirements (starting Fall 2026)
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Lower-division requirements (68-73 units)
- Biology Series: BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA or BIOL 020, BIOL00 5B, BIOL 005C
- Chemistry series: CHEM 001A, CHEM 01LA, CHEM 001B, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 001C, CHEM 01LC
- Organic Chemistry series: CHEM 008A and CHEM 08LA or CHEM 008HA and CHEM 008HLA, CHEM 008B and CHEM 08LB or CHEM 008HB and CHEM 008HLB
- Math series: MATH 007A or MATH 009A, MATH 007Bor MATH 009B (MATH 009C recommended)
- Physics: PHYS 002A, PHYS 02LA, PHYS 002B, PHYS 02LB, PHYS 002C, PHYS 02LC
- Statistics: STAT 010
- Biochemistry: BCH 100 or BCH 100H, or BCH 110A or BCH 110HA
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Upper-division requirements (42 units for the B.S., 37 units for the B.A.)
- BIOL 102 - Introduction to Genetics
- BPSC 104/BIOL 104 - Foundations of Plant Biology
- BPSC 132/BIOL 132 - Plant Anatomy
- BPSC 133 - Plant Diversity and Evolution
- BPSC 135 - Plant Cell Biology
- BPSC 143/BIOL 143 - Plant Physiology
- BPSC 146/BIOL 146 - Plant Ecology
- For the B.S. only: Research Experience: Two (2) units of BPSC 195H, BPSC 197, BPSC 198I, or BPSC 199
- BPSC 184/ENTM 184 - Planning for a Postgraduate Career in Life Sciences
- BPSC 193 - Senior Seminar - with a grade of C- or better
- For the B.S. At least 7 additional units of upper-division life science courses and/or substantive courses in a field or fields related to the major. A list of acceptable courses is available in the CNAS Academic Advising Center. Students may apply for up to 7 units of BPSC 190 and/or BPSC 195H and/or BPSC 197 and/or BPSC 198I and/or BPSC 199. For the B.A. At least 4 additional units of upper-division life science courses and/or substantive courses in a field or fields related to the major.
Elective courses
Students are required to take 4 to 7 units of approved upper-division electives. Relevant electives for four programs of specialization are listed below. Students may select courses from more than one program, but are encouraged to discuss course options with their faculty advisors.
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Plant Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology
BCH 110B General Biochemistry
BCH 110C General Biochemistry or BIOL 107A Molecular Biology
BCH 162 Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory
BIOL 107B Advanced Molecular Biology
BIOL 114 Advanced Cell Biology: Cellular Reproduction and Signaling
BIOL 121/MCBL 121 Introductory Microbiology
BIOL 121L/MCBL 121L Microbiology Laboratory
BIOL 123/MCBL 123/PLPA 123 Introduction to Comparative Virology
BIOL 168 Developmental Biology
BPSC 109/CBNS 109 Epigenetics
BPSC 138/ BIOL 138 Plant Developmental Morphology
BPSC 155/ BIOL 155 Chromosomes
BPSC 183/BCH 183 Plant Biochemistry and Pharmacology of Plant Metabolites
BPSC 149 Nanobiotechnology
CBNS 101 Fundamentals of Cell Biology
CBNS 108 Introduction to Developmental Biology
GNBT 100 Biotechnology
GNBT 110 Advanced Genetics
GNBT 114L Molecular Genetics Lab
GNBT 120 Analysis of Genomes Lab
GNBT 130 Genomes: Structure & Evolution
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Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology
BIOL 105 Evolution
BIOL 107A Molecular Biology
BIOL 107B Advanced Molecular Biology
BIOL 108 Population Genetics and Genomics
BIOL 119 Introduction to Genomics and Bioinformatics
BIOL 148/BPSC 148 Quantitative Genetics
BPSC 109/CBNS 109 Epigenetics
BPSC 149 Nanobiotechnology
BPSC 150 Genes, Selection, and Populations
BPSC 155/BIOL 155 Chromosomes
CBNS 108 Introduction to Developmental Biology
GNBT 100 Biotechnology
GNBT 110 Advanced Genetics
GNBT 114L Molecular Genetics Lab
GNBT 120 Analysis of Genomes Lab
GNBT 130 Genomes: Structure & Evolution
STAT 011 Introduction to Statistical Modeling
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Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics
BIOL 105 Evolution
BIOL 108 Population Genetics and Genomics
BIOL 112/BPSC 112/ ENTM 112 Systematics
BIOL 101 Computer Skills for Everyday Biology
BIOL 116 Ecology and Conservation Biology
BIOL 117 Evolutionary Ecology
BIOL 166 Global Change Biology
BIOL 167/BPSC 167 Forest Ecology
BPSC 138/BIOL 138 Plant Developmental Morphology
BPSC 145/BIOL 145 Geospatial Analytics for Landscape Ecology *not currently offered
BPSC 146/BIOL 146 Plant Ecology
BPSC 165/ BIOL 165 Restoration Ecology
BPSC 166 Plant Physiological Ecology
ENSC 100 Introduction to Soil Science
ENSC 134/BPSC 134 Soil Conditions and Plant Growth
ENTM 130 Invasion Ecology
GEO 151 Principles of Paleontology
GEO 169 California Vegetation
GNBT 120 Analysis of Genomes Lab
GNBT 130 Genomes: Structure & Evolution
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Plant Pathology, Nematology, and Pest Management
PLPA 120/BIOL 120/MCBL 120 Introduction to Plant Pathology
PLPA 120L/BIOL 120L/MCBL 120L Introduction to Plant Pathology Laboratory
BIOL 121/MCBL 121 Introductory Microbiology
BIOL 124/MCBL 124 Medical Microbiology
BPSC 146/BIOL 146 Plant Ecology
BPSC 150 Genes, Selection, and Populations
BPSC 166 Plant Physiological Ecology
BPSC 183/ BCH 183 Plant Biochemistry and Pharmacology of Plant Metabolites
ENSC 100 Introduction to Soil Science
ENSC 104 Environmental Soil Chemistry
ENSC 120/NEM 120 Soil Ecology
ENSC 134/BPSC 134 Soil Conditions and Plant Growth
ENTM 100/BIOL 100 General Entomology
ENTM 109 Field Entomology
ENTM 124 Agricultural Entomology
ENTM 127/ BIOL 127 Insect Ecology
ENTM 129 Introduction to Biological Control
ENTM 129L Introduction to Biological Control laboratory
GNBT 100 Biotechnology
GNBT 110 Advanced Genetics
GNBT 114L Molecular Genetics Lab
GNBT 120 Analysis of Genomes Lab
GNBT 130 Genomes: Structure & Evolution
MCBL 128 Field Mycology: Ecology, Evolution, and Diversity of Fungi
NEM 159/BIOL 159 Biology of Nematodes
PLPA 120L/BIOL 120L/MCBL 120L Introduction to Plant Pathology Laboratory
PLPA 123/BIOL 123/MCBL 123 Introduction to Comparative Virology
PLPA 134/ BIOL 134 Introduction to Mycology
PLPA 134L/BIOL 134L Introduction to Mycology Laboratory