Building the department map…
Department paths
Courses with no prerequisites inside the department that unlock the most downstream work.
Each of these unlocks the largest share of downstream work on this map. Courses from other departments can appear here when they genuinely gate MCB coursework.
Generated from University of California, Davis’s catalog, prerequisite, and concentration data. Spotted an error? Departments can adjust labels, ordering, and notes without a code change, so contact us.
Intro tiers at the top, advanced work below; arrows point from a prerequisite to the course it unlocks. Courses from other departments appear where they gate MCB work. Click any course to see what it requires and unlocks without leaving this page; hovering lights up its neighbors. The lists on this page carry the same courses in text form.
Showing the 42 MCB and feeder courses that have prerequisite links. 19 more MCB courses have no recorded prerequisites. They are listed under Tracks below, not drawn as loose dots here.
The concentrations and majors that build on MCB, and how their requirements are structured. Expand a program to see which courses satisfy each group, then plan it in the Planner.
Preparatory Subject Matter2 required · verify with the official sheet
Biological Science; Chemistry; Choose the 002 or 004 series:; OR; Choose the 008 series or 118 series or 128 series & 129A-B:; OR; OR; Mathematics; Choose the 017 or 021 series:; OR; Physics; Choose the 007 or 009 series:; OR; Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal
Depth Subject Matterchoose 1
Biological Science; Statistics; Choose STA 100 or 130A & 130B:; Molecular & Cellular Biology; Choose two:; Restricted Electives; Choose at least 10 units:; OR; Upper division courses (unless otherwise noted) in biochemistry and molecular biology/cell biology or other fields relevant to a student’s interest chosen in consultation with the Cell Biology major advisor and BASC advisor.; No more than 4
2 courses from2 required · verify with the official sheet
Preparatory Subject Matter; Biological Sciences; Chemistry; OR; AND; OR; Mathematics; OR; Physics; Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal; Depth Subject Matter; Statistics; Genetics; Biochemistry, Bioenergetics, & Metabolism; Cell Biology; Systems Biology; Biomolecular Systems Engineering; Systems & Synthetic Biology; Molecular & Cellular Biology; Restricted Electives; Choose at least 6 additional un
Preparatory Subject Matter2 required · verify with the official sheet
Biological Science; Chemistry; Choose CHE 002 series or CHE 004 series:; OR; Choose CHE 008 series or CHE 118 series or CHE 128 series & CHE 129A - CHE 129B :; OR; OR; Mathematics; Choose MAT 017 series or MAT 021 series:; OR; Physics; Choose PHY 007 series or PHY 009 series:; OR; Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal
Preparatory Subject Matter2 required · verify with the official sheet
Biological Science; Chemistry; Choose the 002 or 004 series:; Choose the 008 or 118 series:; Mathematics; Choose the 017 or 021 series:; Physics; Choose the 001 or 007 series:; Recommended; Chemistry; Mathematics; Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal
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Chemistry; Choose a series:; Physics; Choose a series:; Mathematics; Choose a series:; Biological Science; Statistics; Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal
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Upper-level clusters, grouped by the gateway that opens them.
Gateway: BIS 102
Gateway: BIS 104
The deepest prerequisite chains in MCB. These are the routes that take the most semesters to climb.
6 courses deep, ending at MCB 110Y
6 courses deep, ending at MCB 120
5 courses deep, ending at MCB 126
3 courses deep, ending at MCB 123
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Depth Subject Matterchoose 1
Biological Science; Molecular & Cellular Biology; Choose STA 100 or STA 130A & STA 130B :; Restricted Electives; Choose at least 9 additional units:; OR; Upper division courses (unless otherwise noted) in genetics and genomics or other fields relevant to a student’s interest chosen in consultation with the Genetics & Genomics faculty major advisor and BASC advisor.; No more than 4 units of variabl
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Biological Science; Statistics; Evolution; Ecology; Microbiology; Animal Physiology, Behavior or Development; Plant Physiology or Development:; Laboratory Requirement; Choose course(s) for a minimum total of six hours/week of laboratory or field work from the list of courses below:; Choose two with three hours lab or field work/week:; Other courses with approval of the faculty advisor.; Other cour
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Depth Subject Matter2 required · verify with the official sheet
Chemistry; Choose a series:; Choose 118 series or 128 & 129 series:; OR; Choose two:; Choose at least four; not used to satisfy the above requirement:; Depth Subject Matter Subtotal
Depth Subject Matter2 required · verify with the official sheet
Biological Science; Statistics; Microbiology; Areas of Study; Choose at least one course from each of the areas of study below:; 1. Molecular Microbiology; 2. Virology; 3. Immunology; Choose at least 8 additional units from the list below:; Upper division Microbiology courses not used in satisfaction of any other requirement.; No more than 3 units of variable-unit courses (numbered 192, 198, or 19
All MCB courses in the UC Davis catalog
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