Integrative Biology

Students who major in Integrative Biology (IB) will gain a broad and deep knowledge in the biological sciences as well as an excellent foundation in the biology of organisms, populations, and communities. This program may be of particular interest to students who wish to pursue graduate studies in any of these research areas. It also provides superb training for students interested in health-related professions (medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, nursing, pharmacy, optometry, etc.) or careers incorporating biology (psychology, sociobiology, forestry, wildlife conservation, environmental and resource management, law, etc.).

The department's broad range of experts includes behaviorists, ecologists, evolutionary biologists, geneticists, morphologists, paleontologists, physiologists, and systematists. 

Course of Study Overview

Students majoring in Integrative Biology choose one of two emphases: Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology (Emphasis 1) or Integrative Human Biology (Emphasis 2). The lower division requirements are the same for all IB students, regardless of the emphasis. The upper division requirements differ slightly for the two emphases, but all students take lecture and lab or field lab classes from IB's three groups: Evolution and Genetics; Ecology, Behavior, and Biodiversity; Structure, Function, and Human Health. For detailed information, please see the Major Requirements tab.

Declaring the Major

In order to declare Integrative Biology as a major, students must earn a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in the required major coursework (lower and upper division combined), and a 2.0 GPA in the upper division coursework for the major. Students meet with a staff adviser and a faculty adviser as part of the declaration process.

At the time of declaration, students must be enrolled in or have completed:

• INTEGBI 77A

• or INTEGBI 77B

Students can declare in their first semester if enrolled in INTEGBI 77A or INTEGBI 77B. Transfer students are highly recommended to complete all lower division requirements before arriving at Berkeley. Please see the department's website for detailed instructions to declare the IB major.

Honors Program

Students with a minimum 3.3 overall GPA, a minimum 3.3 major GPA, and who are conducting biological research are encouraged to participate in the honors program. Interested students must identify an appropriate faculty sponsor who agrees to advise them on an original research project and enroll in two consecutive semesters of the honors thesis course (INTEGBI H196A and INTEGBI H196B). Honors students must present the results of their work in the form of a written honors thesis and a poster presentation. In order to graduate with honors, students must maintain the minimum required GPAs.

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