Physiology and Exercise Science
B.S. Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences · UC Irvine · 2026-2027 Catalog
Virtually every organism is dependent on movement (both intracellular and extracellular) in one form or another. With respect to humans, physical activity imposes unique stresses on a broad spectrum of cell types, tissues, and organ systems. In so doing, physical activity plays a key role in shaping fundamental biological processes necessary for maintaining health and preventing disease. While both human and nonhuman species exhibit many common biological phenomenon, there are also many unique aspects of their physiology. This major will also highlight some of the unique physiological traits of nonhuman species and how such unique phenomenon may provide important insights into human health. Upper-division courses in this major are designed to integrate fundamental principles of biology, chemistry, and physics into a coherent understanding of how physical activity/inactivity impacts human health under healthy and diseased states
Admission
The major in Physiology and Exercise Science is open to junior- and senior-level students only. Applications to declare the major can be submitted after the spring quarter of the sophomore year, if all change of major requirements are satisfied. Review of applications submitted at that time and selection to the major by the Physiology and Exercise Science Faculty Board is completed at the end of the sophomore year. Information can also be found at UCI Change of Major Criteria website. Double majors within the School of Biological Sciences or with Public Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering: Premedical, Nursing Science, or Pharmaceutical Sciences are not permitted.
Requirements
All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
Major Requirements for the B.S. in Physiology and Exercise Science
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| A. Required Major Courses: | ||
| BIO SCI D103 | Cell Biology | |
| BIO SCI E109 | Human Physiology | |
| BIO SCI E117A & BIO SCI E117B & BIO SCI E117C | Exercise Sciences Seminarand Exercise Sciences Seminarand Exercise Sciences Seminar | |
| BIO SCI E183 | Exercise Physiology | |
| B. Upper-Division Electives: | ||
| Select three of the following: | ||
| BIO SCI D170 | Applied Human Anatomy | |
| BIO SCI E136 | The Physiology of Human Nutrition | |
| BIO SCI E138 | Comparative Animal Physiology | |
| BIO SCI E139 | Animal Locomotion | |
| BIO SCI E152 | Biochemistry of Animals in their Environments | |
| BIO SCI E147 | Behavioral Endocrinology | |
| BIO SCI E155 | Physiology in Extreme Environments | |
| BIO SCI E187 | Exercise as Medicine | |
| BIO SCI N110 | Neurobiology and Behavior | |
| Select one 4-unit course from the following: | ||
| BIO SCI D103-D190 | ||
| BIO SCI E106-E190 | ||
| BIO SCI M114-M190 | ||
| BIO SCI N110-N190 (excluding BIO SCI N120A-BIO SCI N120B-BIO SCI N120C) | ||
| C. Upper-Division Laboratories: | ||
| Complete: | ||
| BIO SCI E112L | Physiology Laboratory | |
| And select two from the following: | ||
| BIO SCI D111L | Developmental and Cell Biology Laboratory | |
| BIO SCI E106L | Habitats and Organisms | |
| BIO SCI E115L | Evolution Laboratory | |
| BIO SCI E131L | Image Analysis in Biological Research | |
| BIO SCI E140L | Evolution and the Environment Laboratory | |
| BIO SCI E166L | Field Biology | |
| BIO SCI E179L | Field Freshwater Ecology | |
| BIO SCI E186L | Population and Community Ecology Lab | |
| BIO SCI M114L | Biochemistry Laboratory | |
| BIO SCI M116L | Molecular Biology Laboratory | |
| BIO SCI M118L | Experimental Microbiology Laboratory | |
| BIO SCI M121L | Advanced Immunology Laboratory | |
| BIO SCI M128L | Introductory Bioinformatics Lab | |
| BIO SCI N113L | Neurobiology Laboratory | |
| BIO SCI N123L | Human Neuroimaging Lab | |
NOTE: No course may be used to satisfy more than one upper-division major requirement.
Sample Program
Freshman
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI 93 | BIO SCI 94 | CHEM 1C& CHEM 1LC |
| BIO SCI 90L | CHEM 1B | Lower-Division Writing1 |
| CHEM 1A | Lower-Division Writing1 | STATS 7 or 8 (or MATH 5A or General Education) |
| BIO SCI 2A | General Education | |
| General Education |
Sophomore
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI 97 | BIO SCI 98 | BIO SCI 99 |
| CHEM 51A | CHEM 51B& CHEM 51LB | CHEM 51C& CHEM 51LC |
| CHEM 1LD | MATH 5B (or General Education) | General Education |
| MATH 5A or 5B |
Junior
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI E109 | BIO SCI E112L | UD Bio Sci Elective |
| BIO SCI 100 | BIO SCI E183 | UD Bio Sci Elective |
| PHYSICS 3A | PHYSICS 3B | BIO SCI 199 |
| PHYSICS 3LB | PHYSICS 3C | |
| PHYSICS 3LC |
Senior
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI E117A | BIO SCI E117B | BIO SCI E117C |
| BIO SCI D103 | UD Bio Sci Elective | UD Bio Sci Lab |
| UD Bio Sci Lab | General Education | UD Bio Sci Elective |
| BIO SCI 199 | BIO SCI 199 | BIO SCI 199 |
- Students have the option of taking HUMAN 1AS, HUMAN 1BS, HUMAN 1CS or WRITING 40, WRITING 50, WRITING 60 in order to fulfill the lower-division writing requirement.