The Biological Data Sciences track addresses a diverse set of biological questions—ranging from medicine, to genomics, physiology, pharmacology, neuroscience, ecology, and evolution—using recent tools and advances in mathematics and computation—specifically machine learning, statistical data sciences, and informatics. Biological Data Sciences leverages new and developing courses within computational and systems biology and across UCLA, and greatly aids students who aim to go directly into industry—biotech, pharmaceuticals, and more—as well as computational biology graduate school. The track has a strong focus and deep integration with life sciences.
Track Curriculum
Biological Data Science Track Requirements (effective 22 Winter): 5 upper division courses
| 3 Courses from COM SCI CM124 OR COM SCI M226; COM SCI M146 OR STATS C161 OR MATH 156; COM SCI 161; COM SCI 168; COM SCI 180 OR MATH 182; EC ENGR C143A; EC ENGR C147; MATH 155; MATH 164; STATS 101A; STATS 101C
At most two courses may be from Mathematics 2 Courses from list of Life Science courses (see below) |
| Life Science Courses (select any two; courses can be from different areas) | |
| Biochemistry | CHEM 153A; CHEM 153B |
| Ecology | EE BIOL 100; EE BIOL 116; EE BIOL 120; EE BIOL 129; EE BIOL 161; EE BIOL C172; EE BIOL C174 |
| Epidemiology | EPIDEM 100; MIMG 101; MIMG 102; MIMG 168; MIMG C185A |
| Genetics & Molecular Biology | LIFESCI 107; MCD BIO 138; MCD BIO 140; MCD BIO 144; MCD BIO 165A OR 100 |
| Neurosystems | NEUROSC M101A OR PSYCH 115; NEUROSC M101B; NEUROSC 102; NEURO 205; NEURO 260; PHYSCI C144;PHYSICS C186; PSYCH 119M |
| Physiology | BIOENGR C102; BIOMATH 206; EE BIOL 170 OR PHYSCI 166; PHYSCI 149 |
Additional Prep for the Major:
The following courses do not have to be completed prior to admission into the major.
Biological Data Sciences Track: must also complete Computer Science 32. MATH 61 and/or MATH 115A are also recommended pre-reqs for this track depending on chosen track courses.
All Tracks: LIFESCI 23L and/or CHEM 14C/30A are recommended pre-reqs depending on chosen Life Science courses.
NOTE: Additional pre-reqs (beyond the required and recommended courses above) may be required for certain track courses. Students should check pre-reqs on the Schedule of Classes.
Track Course Planning
When planning track coursework, students must be mindful of pre-requisites. Some courses for the Biological Data Sciences track have additional pre-requisites that are not part of the CaSB major or pre-major curriculum. Additionally, students must be mindful of when classes are offered (i.e., which quarters).
The Track Course Planning document below is meant to help students plan out track coursework by providing course descriptions, requisite info, and tentative course offering info for each course option. This document was last updated October 2021. This document is provided as a tool, but requisites and course offerings can change. Planned course offerings, in particular, are tentative and subject to change by the departments offering each course. Students should check the Schedule of Classes or with respective departments for the most up-to-date course offerings. Students should also always check the Registrar’s Course Descriptions for the most up-to-date requisites.
It is recommended that students meet with their Departmental Counselor regularly to plan out major coursework.
All major courses must be taken for a letter grade, C or better.
^CaSB made a temporary exception allowing pre-major courses taken between Spring 2020 and Summer 2021 to be taken for a Pass grade. More details on this exception can be found here.
Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA in upper-division major coursework to graduate.
Students who receive a C- or below in a major course must either repeat the course or petition to have the lower grade count for the major. More information on petitioning can be found here.
Students are subject to any requirement changes in the major, including concentrations/tracks, until they are officially admitted to the major.
