Admission to the Major
To enter the Physiological Science major, students must complete Chemistry 14A, 14B, and 14C or 20A, 20B, and 30A, Life Sciences 7A, 7B, 7C, Mathematics 3A, 3B, and 3C or 31A, 31B, and 32A or Life Sciences 30A, 30B, and Physics 1A or 5A, with a minimum grade of C in each course and a grade point average of 2.5 or better in all before fall quarter of their third year. Repetition of more than one of these nine preparation courses results in denial of admission to the major. After successful completion of the courses, students must contact the Undergraduate Advising Office to declare the major.
Major Requirements Effective Fall 2026
The following major requirements apply to students who are admitted to the Physiological Science major from Fall 2026 onwards.
Preparation for the Major
| Life Sciences series | Physical sciences series | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences | 7A, 7B, 7C, 7L | ||
| Chemistry | 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D, 14BL, 14CL | OR | 20A, 20B, 30A, 30B, 20L, 30AL, 30BL |
| Mathematics | LIFESCI 30A, 30B, LIFESCI 40 or STATS 13 OR MATH 3A, 3B, 3C | OR | MATH 31A, 31B, 32A |
| Physics | 5A, 5B, 5C | OR | 1A, 1B, 1C, 4AL, 4BL |
Preparation for the Major Policies
- For all preparation courses, students must complete each course with a grade of C or better.
- Repetition of more than one preparation course results in dismissal from the major.
The Major
| Course number | Course name | units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 153A | Biochemistry: Introduction to Structure, Enzymes, and Metabolism | 4 |
| PHYSCI 107 | Systems Anatomy | 5 |
| PHYSCI 111A | Foundations in Physiological Science | 6 |
| PHYSCI 111B | Foundations in Physiological Science | 6 |
| Elective Requirement | |
| 5 upper division major electives | – One elective may be an approved non-PHYSCI course from the list below. – Up to two courses from PHYSCI 199 OR PHYSCI 198A/B may be applied toward the elective requirement. |
Approved Upper Division Physiological Science Electives
| course number | course name | units |
|---|---|---|
| PHYSCI 100 | Experimental Statistics | 4 |
| PHYSCI 105 | Physiological Mechanisms of Social Behavior | 4 |
| PHYSCI M106 | Neurobiology of Bias and Discrimination | 4 |
| PHYSCI 108 | Head and Neck Anatomy: Evolutionary, Biomechanical, Developmental, and Clinical Approach | 4 |
| PHYSCI 109 | Cellular and Molecular Insights into Cardiovascular Development and Disease | 4 |
| PHYSCI 110 | How Cancer Co-Opts Normal Physiology | 4 |
| PHYSCI 112 | Translational Physiology: Basic Science to Clinical Care | 4 |
| PHYSCI 120 | Kidney: Understanding It from Development to Disease to Therapy | 4 |
| PHYSCI 121 | Disease Mechanisms and Therapies | 5 |
| PHYSCI 122 | Biomedical Technology and Physiology | 4 |
| PHYSCI CM123 | Neurobiology of Sleep | 4 |
| PHYSCI 124 | Molecular Biology of Aging | 4 |
| PHYSCI 125 | Molecular Systems Biology | 5 |
| PHYSCI C126 | Biological Clocks | 4 |
| PHYSCI C127 | Neuroendocrinology of Reproduction | 4 |
| PHYSCI 128 | Me, Myself, and Microbes: The Microbiome in Health and Disease | 5 |
| PHYSCI C130 | Sex Differences in Physiology and Disease | 4 |
| PHYSCI M135 | Dynamical Systems Modeling of Physiological Processes | 5 |
| PHYSCI 136 | Pathophysiology of Cardiovascular Diseases | 5 |
| PHYSCI 138 | Neuromuscular Physiology and Adaptation | 4 |
| PHYSCI 140 | Hormones and Behavior in Humans and Other Animals | 4 |
| PHYSCI M141 | Aging Brain: Neuroscience of Getting Older and Wiser | 4 |
| PHYSCI C144 | Neural Control of Physiological Systems | 4 |
| PHYSCI M145 | Neural Mechanisms Controlling Movement | 5 |
| PHYSCI 146 | Principles of Nervous System Development | 5 |
| PHYSCI 147 | Neurobiology of Learning and Memory | 5 |
| PHYSCI 148 | Physiological Regulation of Metabolism and Nutrient Sensing | 4 |
| PHYSCI 149 | Systems Biology and Mechanisms of Major Cardiometabolic Diseases | 4 |
| PHYSCI C150 | Musculoskeletal Mechanics | 5 |
| PHYSCI C152 | Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Physiology, and Biomechanics | 5 |
| PHYSCI 153 | Dissection Anatomy | 5 |
| PHYSCI 154 | Cellular Communication and Regulation of Physiological Processes | 4 |
| PHYSCI 155 | Development and Structure of Musculoskeletal System | 4 |
| PHYSCI 156 | Molecular Mechanisms and Therapies for Muscular Dystrophy | 4 |
| PHYSCI M164 | Physiological and Sociocultural Disparities of Brain Aging and Neurodegeneration | 4 |
| PHYSCI 165 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 5 |
| PHYSCI 166 | Animal Physiology | 6 |
| PHYSCI 167 | Physiology of Nutrition | 4 |
| PHYSCI 173 | Anatomy and Physiology of Sense Organs | 4 |
| PHYSCI 174 | Cell Biophysics in Physiology and Disease | 5 |
| PHYSCI 175 | Why Fido Can’t Speak: Biological Evolution of Language | 5 |
| PHYSCI M176 | Auditory Neuroscience of Speech Perception and Vocal Communication | 4 |
| PHYSCI 177 | Neuroethology | 5 |
| PHYSCI M178 | Quantitative Regulatory Biology and Signal Transduction | 4 |
| PHYSCI M180A | Neuroscience: From Molecules to Mind—Cellular and Systems Neuroscience | 5 |
| PHYSCI M180B | Neuroscience: From Molecules to Mind—Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience | 5 |
| PHYSCI M180C | Neuroscience: From Molecules to Mind—Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience | 5 |
| PHYSCI 198A | Honors Research in Physiological Science | 4 |
| PHYSCI 198B | Honors Research in Physiological Science | 4 |
| PHYSCI 199 | Directed Research or Senior Project in Physiological Science | 4 |
Approved Upper Division Non-Physiological Science Electives*
*Only one course from this list may be applied toward the major elective requirement.
| course number | course name | units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 153B | Biochemistry: DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis | 4 |
| CHEM 153C | Biochemistry: Biosynthetic and Energy Metabolism and Its Regulation | 4 |
| EE BIOL 100 | Introduction to Ecology and Behavior | 5 |
| EE BIOL 110 | Vertebrate Morphology | 6 |
| EE BIOL 111 | Biology of Vertebrates | 5 |
| EE BIOL 120 | Evolution | 5 |
| EE BIOL 121 | Molecular Evolution | 4 |
| EE BIOL 162 | Plant Physiology | 4 |
| ENV HLT 100 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 4 |
| LIFESCI 107 | Genetics | 5 |
| MCD BIO 138 | Developmental Biology | 5 |
| MCD BIO 144 | Molecular Biology of Cellular Processes | 5 |
| MIMG 101 | Introductory Microbiology | 4 |
| MIMG 102 | Introductory Virology | 4 |
| MIMG 185A | Immunology | 5 |
| PSYCH 110 | Fundamentals of Learning | 4 |
| PSYCH 118 | Comparative Psychobiology | 4 |
| PSYCH 119A | Neuropsychopharmacology of Emotion and Cognition | 4 |
| PSYCH 119B | How Brains Learn to Construct Models of Environment | 4 |
| PSYCH 119C | Cognitive Neuroscience | 4 |
| PSYCH 119D | Learning in Biological and Artificial Neural Networks | 4 |
| PSYCH 119E | Neurobiology of Memory and Fear | 4 |
| PSYCH 119F | Neural Basis of Behavior | 4 |
| PSYCH 119G | Reinforcement Learning in Biological and Artificial Agents | 4 |
| PSYCH 119I | Integration of Face and Brain | 4 |
| PSYCH 119J | Brain Bugs: Understanding Brain through Its Flaws | 4 |
| PSYCH 119K | Neurophilosophy | 4 |
| PSYCH 119L | Human Neuropsychology | 4 |
| PSYCH 119M | Neural Circuits of Learning and Memory | 4 |
| PSYCH 119N | Visual System | 4 |
| PSYCH 119O | Psychology of Aging | 4 |
| PSYCH 119P | Emerging Topics in Neuroscience | 4 |
| PSYCH 119Q | Psychobiology of Sleep and Dreams | 4 |
| PSYCH 119U | Neural Correlates of Psychotic Disorders | 4 |
| PSYCH 119V | Brain and Art | 4 |
| PSYCH 119X | Biology and Behavioral Neuroscience of Aging | 4 |
| PSYCH 124A | Language as Cognitive Science | 4 |
| PSYCH 127A | Clinical Psychological Science | 4 |
| PSYCH 127B | Clinical Psychological Science: Biological Bases | 4 |
| PSYCH 127C | Clinical Psychological Science: Developmental Perspectives | 4 |
| PSYCH 152 | Mind-Body Interactions and Health | 4 |
The Major Policies
- One 200-level graduate course may be applied toward the elective requirement with department approval.
- PHYSCI 189HC, 191H, 192, 193, 195, 196, and graduate courses at the 300, 400, or 500 level may not be applied toward the elective requirement.
- Each required and elective course must be taken for a letter grade and a C average (2.0 GPA) must be maintained in all upper division courses taken for the major.
- A grade of C or better is required in PHYSCI 107 and 111A to enroll in PHYSCI 111B.
- Students may be dismissed from the major if they fail to meet these requirements.
Important Note on Upper Division Units
Students are required to complete a minimum of 60 upper division units to graduate. The Phy Sci upper division requirements from Fall 2026 onwards satisfy approximately 41-45 upper division units. Students must take additional upper division courses (numbered between 100-199) outside of the Phy Sci major to meet the minimum upper division unit requirement for graduation.
Major Requirements Prior to Fall 2026
The following major requirements apply to students who were admitted to the Physiological Science major prior to Fall 2026:
Preparation for the Major
| Life Sciences series | Physical sciences series | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences | 7A, 7B, 7C, 7L | ||
| Chemistry | 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D, 14BL, 14CL | OR | 20A, 20B, 30A, 30B, 20L, 30AL, 30BL |
| Mathematics | LIFESCI 30A, 30B, LIFESCI 40 or STATS 13 OR MATH 3A, 3B, 3C | OR | MATH 31A, 31B, 32A |
| Physics | 5A, 5B, 5C | OR | 1A, 1B, 1C, 4AL, 4BL |
Preparation for the Major Policies
- For all preparation courses, students must complete each course with a grade of C or better.
- Repetition of more than one preparation course results in dismissal from the major.
The Major
| Course number | Course name | units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 153A | Biochemistry: Introduction to Structure, Enzymes, and Metabolism | 4 |
| PHYSCI 107 | Systems Anatomy | 5 |
| PHYSCI 111A | Foundations in Physiological Science | 6 |
| PHYSCI 111B | Foundations in Physiological Science | 6 |
| PHYSCI 111L* | Physiological Science Laboratory | 3 |
*PHYSCI 111L will not be offered beginning Fall 2025. Students may satisfy this requirement by completing an additional upper division elective (for a total of 6 electives).
| Elective Requirement | |
| 6 upper division major electives | – One elective may be an approved non-PHYSCI course from the list below. – Up to two courses from PHYSCI 199 OR PHYSCI 198A/B may be applied toward the elective requirement. |
Approved Upper Division Physiological Science Electives
| course number | course name | units |
|---|---|---|
| PHYSCI 105 | Physiological Mechanisms of Social Behavior | 4 |
| PHYSCI M106 | Neurobiology of Bias and Discrimination | 4 |
| PHYSCI 108 | Head and Neck Anatomy: Evolutionary, Biomechanical, Developmental, and Clinical Approach | 4 |
| PHYSCI 109 | Cellular and Molecular Insights into Cardiovascular Development and Disease | 4 |
| PHYSCI 110 | How Cancer Co-Opts Normal Physiology | 4 |
| PHYSCI 120 | Kidney: Understanding It from Development to Disease to Therapy | 4 |
| PHYSCI 121 | Disease Mechanisms and Therapies | 5 |
| PHYSCI 122 | Biomedical Technology and Physiology | 4 |
| PHYSCI CM123 | Neurobiology of Sleep | 4 |
| PHYSCI 124 | Molecular Biology of Aging | 4 |
| PHYSCI 125 | Molecular Systems Biology | 5 |
| PHYSCI C126 | Biological Clocks | 4 |
| PHYSCI C127 | Neuroendocrinology of Reproduction | 4 |
| PHYSCI 128 | Me, Myself, and Microbes: The Microbiome in Health and Disease | 5 |
| PHYSCI C130 | Sex Differences in Physiology and Disease | 4 |
| PHYSCI M135 | Dynamical Systems Modeling of Physiological Processes | 5 |
| PHYSCI 136 | Pathophysiology of Cardiovascular Diseases | 5 |
| PHYSCI 138 | Neuromuscular Physiology and Adaptation | 4 |
| PHYSCI 140 | Hormones and Behavior in Humans and Other Animals | 4 |
| PHYSCI C144 | Neural Control of Physiological Systems | 4 |
| PHYSCI M145 | Neural Mechanisms Controlling Movement | 5 |
| PHYSCI 146 | Principles of Nervous System Development | 5 |
| PHYSCI 147 | Neurobiology of Learning and Memory | 5 |
| PHYSCI 148 | Physiological Regulation of Metabolism and Nutrient Sensing | 4 |
| PHYSCI 149 | Systems Biology and Mechanisms of Major Cardiometabolic Diseases | 4 |
| PHYSCI C152 | Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Physiology, and Biomechanics | 5 |
| PHYSCI 153 | Dissection Anatomy | 5 |
| PHYSCI 155 | Development and Structure of Musculoskeletal System | 4 |
| PHYSCI 156 | Molecular Mechanisms and Therapies for Muscular Dystrophy | 4 |
| PHYSCI M164 | Physiological and Sociocultural Disparities of Brain Aging and Neurodegeneration | 4 |
| PHYSCI 165 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 5 |
| PHYSCI 167 | Physiology of Nutrition | 4 |
| PHYSCI 173 | Anatomy and Physiology of Sense Organs | 4 |
| PHYSCI 174 | Cell Biophysics in Physiology and Disease | 5 |
| PHYSCI 175 | Why Fido Can’t Speak: Biological Evolution of Language | 5 |
| PHYSCI M176 | Auditory Neuroscience of Speech Perception and Vocal Communication | 4 |
| PHYSCI 177 | Neuroethology | 5 |
| PHYSCI M178 | Quantitative Regulatory Biology and Signal Transduction | 4 |
| PHYSCI M180B | Neuroscience: From Molecules to Mind—Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience | 5 |
| PHYSCI M180C | Neuroscience: From Molecules to Mind—Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience | 5 |
| PHYSCI 187A AND PHYSCI 187B | Seeing Brain in Action AND From Cell to Circuit | 2 each |
| PHYSCI 198A | Honors Research in Physiological Science | 4 |
| PHYSCI 198B | Honors Research in Physiological Science | 4 |
| PHYSCI 199 | Directed Research or Senior Project in Physiological Science | 4 |
Approved Upper Division Non-Physiological Science Electives*
*Only one course from this list may be applied toward the major elective requirement.
| course number | course name | units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOSTAT 100 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 4 |
| CHEM 153B | Biochemistry: DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis | 4 |
| CHEM 153C | Biochemistry: Biosynthetic and Energy Metabolism and Its Regulation | 4 |
| EE BIOL 100 | Introduction to Ecology and Behavior | 5 |
| EE BIOL 110 | Vertebrate Morphology | 6 |
| EE BIOL 111 | Biology of Vertebrates | 5 |
| EE BIOL 120 | Evolution | 5 |
| EE BIOL 121 | Molecular Evolution | 4 |
| EE BIOL 162 | Plant Physiology | 4 |
| ENV HLT 100 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 4 |
| LIFESCI 107 | Genetics | 5 |
| MCD BIO 138 | Developmental Biology | 5 |
| MCD BIO 144 | Molecular Biology of Cellular Processes | 5 |
| MIMG 101 | Introductory Microbiology | 4 |
| MIMG 102 | Introductory Virology | 4 |
| MIMG 185A | Immunology | 5 |
| PSYCH 110 | Fundamentals of Learning | 4 |
| PSYCH 118 | Comparative Psychobiology | 4 |
| PSYCH 119A | Neuropsychopharmacology of Emotion and Cognition | 4 |
| PSYCH 119B | How Brains Learn to Construct Models of Environment | 4 |
| PSYCH 119C | Cognitive Neuroscience | 4 |
| PSYCH 119D | Learning in Biological and Artificial Neural Networks | 4 |
| PSYCH 119E | Neurobiology of Memory and Fear | 4 |
| PSYCH 119F | Neural Basis of Behavior | 4 |
| PSYCH 119G | Reinforcement Learning in Biological and Artificial Agents | 4 |
| PSYCH 119I | Integration of Face and Brain | 4 |
| PSYCH 119J | Brain Bugs: Understanding Brain through Its Flaws | 4 |
| PSYCH 119K | Neurophilosophy | 4 |
| PSYCH 119L | Human Neuropsychology | 4 |
| PSYCH 119M | Neural Circuits of Learning and Memory | 4 |
| PSYCH 119N | Visual System | 4 |
| PSYCH 119O | Psychology of Aging | 4 |
| PSYCH 119P | Emerging Topics in Neuroscience | 4 |
| PSYCH 119Q | Psychobiology of Sleep and Dreams | 4 |
| PSYCH 119U | Neural Correlates of Psychotic Disorders | 4 |
| PSYCH 119V | Brain and Art | 4 |
| PSYCH 119X | Biology and Behavioral Neuroscience of Aging | 4 |
| PSYCH 124A | Language as Cognitive Science | 4 |
| PSYCH 127A | Clinical Psychological Science | 4 |
| PSYCH 127B | Clinical Psychological Science: Biological Bases | 4 |
| PSYCH 127C | Clinical Psychological Science: Developmental Perspectives | 4 |
| PSYCH 152 | Mind-Body Interactions and Health | 4 |
The Major Policies
- One 200-level graduate course may be applied toward the elective requirement with department approval.
- PHYSCI 189HC, 191H, 192, 193, 195, 196, and graduate courses at the 300, 400, or 500 level may not be applied toward the elective requirement.
- Each required and elective course must be taken for a letter grade and a C average (2.0 GPA) must be maintained in all upper division courses taken for the major.
- A grade of C or better is required in PHYSCI 107 and 111A to enroll in PHYSCI 111B.
- Students may be dismissed from the major if they fail to meet these requirements.
Important Note on Upper Division Units
Students are required to complete a minimum of 60 upper division units to graduate. The Phy Sci upper division requirements prior to Fall 2026 satisfy approximately 45-49 upper division units. Students must take additional upper division courses (numbered between 100-199) outside of the Phy Sci major to meet the minimum upper division unit requirement for graduation.
