Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
B.S. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology · UC Irvine · 2026-2027 Catalog
In the 21st century, biologists in fields ranging from medicine to global change biology increasingly incorporate ecological and evolutionary ideas in their research. The major in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology encourages students to understand and appreciate important linkages between biological disciplines. The major is very broad, including components of evolutionary biology, ecology, and physiology. Faculty interests are also broad and include molecular evolution, population genetics, experimental evolution, microbial ecology, ecophysiology, evolutionary ecology, conservation biology, restoration ecology, biogeography, global change biology, behavioral ecology, and population and community ecology. Following graduation, students will be especially well prepared to enter graduate programs in either ecology or evolution for advanced study. The major also provides the foundation to pursue careers in governmental and non-governmental environmental organizations, in industry, and in professional schools. The Department considers undergraduate experience in research an integral component of a scientific education, and majors are required to participate in BIO SCI 199 or BIO SCI 197, in which they will be mentored by an individual faculty member within the Department.
Requirements
All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
Major Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| A. Required Major Courses: | ||
| BIO SCI 2E | Topics and Careers in Ecology and Evolution | |
| BIO SCI 4B | Introduction to Field Biology | |
| BIO SCI E106 | Processes in Ecology and Evolution | |
| BIO SCI E107 | Seminar in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | |
| STATS 8 | Introduction to Biological Statistics | |
| B. Upper-Division Laboratories: | ||
| BIO SCI E115L | Evolution Laboratory | |
| BIO SCI E166L | Field Biology | |
| and select one of the following: | ||
| BIO SCI E106L | Habitats and Organisms | |
| BIO SCI E112L | Physiology Laboratory | |
| BIO SCI E131L | Image Analysis in Biological Research | |
| BIO SCI E140L | Evolution and the Environment Laboratory | |
| BIO SCI E160L | Biology of Birds Lab | |
| BIO SCI E179L | Field Freshwater Ecology | |
| BIO SCI E186L | Population and Community Ecology Lab | |
| One laboratory can be satisfied with completion of Excellence in Research in the Biological Sciences. | ||
| C. Upper-Division Biology Electives: | ||
| Select three four-unit courses from the following: | ||
| BIO SCI E118–E190. These electives fall into three areas (ecology, evolution, and physiology), but students may take any combination of three courses from BIO SCI E118 to BIO SCI E190 and are not required to distribute them among these three areas. | ||
| D. Independent Study | ||
| Minimum one quarter of independent study, usually BIO SCI 199. BIO SCI 197 can be substituted for BIO SCI 199. | ||
Double majors within the School of Biological Sciences or with Public Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering: Premedical, Nursing Science, or Pharmaceutical Sciences are not permitted.
Sample Program
Freshman
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI 90L | BIO SCI 2E | BIO SCI 4B |
| BIO SCI 93 | BIO SCI 94 | CHEM 1C& CHEM 1LC |
| CHEM 1A | CHEM 1B | Lower-Division Writing1 |
| BIO SCI 2A | Lower-Division Writing1 | STATS 8 |
| General Education |
Sophomore
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI 97 | BIO SCI 98 | BIO SCI 99 |
| CHEM 1LD | CHEM 51B& CHEM 51LB | CHEM 51C& CHEM 51LC |
| CHEM 51A | General Education | MATH 5B |
| MATH 5A |
Junior
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI E1062 | UD Bio Sci Elective | PHYSICS 3C |
| BIO SCI E107 | PHYSICS 3B | PHYSICS 3LC |
| PHYSICS 3A | PHYSICS 3LB | UD Bio Sci Elective |
| BIO SCI 100 | Bio Sci Research | Bio Sci Research |
| Bio Sci Research | General Education |
Senior
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI E166L | UD Bio Sci Elective | BIO SCI E115L |
| UD Bio Sci Lab | Bio Sci Research | UD Bio Sci Elective |
| Bio Sci Research | General Education | General Education |
| General Elective | Bio Sci Research |
- 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.
- BIO SCI E106 is offered in all three quarters, is a prerequisite for many upper-division courses and may be taken at any time after completion of BIO SCI 94.