UCI CURRICULUM CAPSULES
A BULLETIN FOR CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES

FALL 2000

• Quick links in this document:
  • School of Biological Sciences
  • The Henry Samueli School of Engineering
  • School of Humanities
  • School of Physical Sciences
  • School of Social Sciences
  • Department of Information and Computer Science

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major

  Effective Fall 2000, the School of Biological Sciences will offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology which provides study of the molecular basis of microbiology, immunology, virology, developmental biology, pathogenesis, and evolution. The major, based upon a background of quantitative physical sciences, is designed for advanced and motivated students interested in pursuing careers founded in research sciences including academic and industrial biomedical research. Graduates will also be well positioned to pursue graduate degrees emphasizing basic research skills or careers in business, education, law, or public affairs.

  Because the major is intended for a select group of students it is not available to incoming freshman or transfer applicants. Transfer students wishing to pursue the major should prepare for, and declare a Biological Sciences major (see below); the lower-division Biochemistry and Molecular Biology curriculum is identical to that of the Biological Sciences major. To be eligible for the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major, transfer students must have completed:

  1. three quarters in residence at UCI;
  2. all lower-division Biological Sciences Core courses; and
  3. one year each of general and organic chemistry with laboratory.
  
  Complete degree requirements can be found on page 125 of the 2000-2001 UCI General Catalogue.
  
  
• Neurobiology Major

  The School of Biological Sciences will also offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Neurobiology designed to teach students how scientists tackle complex problems using multiple levels of investigation. Students develop analytical and reasoning skills while they learn how neurobiologists apply cellular, molecular, systems and behavioral analyses to understand how the nervous system works. The hallmark of the major is a year-long, in-depth exploration of the intellectual tools used to create, advance, and disseminate knowledge about the nervous system. Graduates will be competitive for positions in the pharmaceutical industry, health care delivery industry, or in medically or biologically related technologies, law, business, or government policy. Students completing the major will be well qualified for admission to graduate or professional schools or for careers in biological research, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, nursing, and teaching.

  Because the major is intended for a select group of students it is not available to incoming freshman or transfer applicants. Transfer students wishing to pursue the major should prepare for and declare a Biological Sciences major (see below); the lower-division Neurobiology curriculum is identical to that of the Biological Sciences major. To be eligible for the Neurobiology major, Biological Sciences majors must have completed:

  1. all lower-division Biological Sciences Core course; and
  2. one year each of general, and organic chemistry with laboratory.
  
  Biological Sciences 110 (Neurobiology and Behavior) must also be completed at the upper-division level prior to declaring the major. Complete degree requirements can be found on page 125 of the 2000-2001 UCI General Catalogue.
  
  
• Changes to the School of Biological Sciences Lower-Division Core

  The content and titles of three of the lower-division core courses required for all three School of Biological Sciences majors have been updated to reflect modern concepts and reinforce the sequential nature of the courses. Biological Sciences 94 (Patterns of Diversity, Ecology, and Evolution) covers evolutionary biology and evolutionary genetics, as well as the different habitats and animals that compose natural communities. The course also focuses on the theoretical bases of all biology, in addition to the realities of the natural world. Biological Sciences 96 (Processes of Ecology and Evolution) includes topics such as competition, population genetics, speciation, and life history evolution which illustrate how interactions between the environment and species produce the dynamic changes that result in natural communities. Biological Sciences 97 (Genetics) centers on molecular and cellular genetics. There are no changes to Biological Sciences 98 (Biochemistry) and 99 (Molecular Biology).

  Although the lower-division Biological Sciences Core is not required for transfer admission, it is recommended that students complete as much of the Core as possible prior to transfer, along with course work in calculus, organic chemistry, and physics. One year of general chemistry with laboratory is required for admission to the School of Biological Sciences.

• Materials Science Engineering Major

  The Henry Samueli School of Engineering has added a major in Materials Science Engineering. The major is designed to provide education and training areas related to the impact of materials on the environment and biotechnology, and has several distinctive features:

  • A multi- and interdisciplinary curriculum which develops students' communication and computer skills and draws from the physical sciences as well as other engineering disciplines such as chemical, civil, and mechanical engineering
  • Fundamental understanding of structure, properties, processing, and performance
  • Emphasis on engineering aspects of materials and the selection of materials to meet design provisos
  • Emphasis on the role of materials in addressing topics related to environmental effects, corrosion phenomenon, and biotechnology
  • Emphasis on the processing of materials and its role in controlling properties
  • Involvement of the local industry in student design projects, internships, and lectures
  
  To be competitive for admission to the major, transfer students should complete one year of calculus, one year of engineering physics with laboratory, and two additional courses approved for the major. Students would be well served to take courses in thermodynamics, statics, materials, dynamics, and either FORTRAN, C, or C++ prior to transfer, if possible. Complete degree requirements are available from The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at www.eng.uci.edu.
  
  
• Civil Engineering Specializations

  The Civil Engineering major has been restructured with emphasis on basic skills that lay the foundation for lifelong learning in a dynamic technical environment, and a systems-level approach to the analysis and design of civil infrastructure. The modified major features specializations that allow students to focus their studies based upon their career goals. Majors must choose from one of five specializations: environmental, general civil, structural, transportation information and control systems, and water resource engineering. Complete degree requirements are found on page 178 of the 2000-2001 UCI General Catalogue.

• European Studies Major and Minor

  Effective fall 2000, the School of Humanities will offer a major and minor in European Studies, providing a multidisciplinary view of Europe as a whole and its historical, political, cultural formation and global implications. The program provides students with the opportunity to study Europe from the vantage points of several disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. The major requires completion of a two-quarter, upper-division core course that introduces students to interdisciplinary research and the problems related to the study of a complex entity such as Europe, and a senior seminar. Students may choose an emphasis in:

  • Medieval Studies
  • Early Modern Europe (1450-1789)
  • Modern Europe (1789-present)
  • Encounters with the Non-European World
  • British Studies
  • French Studies
  • German Studies
  • Italian Studies
  • The Mediterranean World: Past and Present
  • Russian Studies
  • Spanish-Portuguese Studies
  
  Career options for majors include international banking, law, journalism, management, public relations, publishing, government service, and graduate study in international business, history, law, and political science.

  In preparation for the major, transfer students will be well served to complete two years of college-level study in French, German, Latin, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish; and one course each in English literature, history, and philosophy. Additional information about the major and minor is available at www.humanities.uci.edu.
  
  

• Russian Studies Minor

  The Russian Studies minor is designed to introduce students to the rich history and culture of Russia and provide them with the intellectual and linguistic tools necessary for sustained engagement with this area of the world. Although the minor may be taken in conjunction with any major, it is likely to be of most interest to students in International Studies, History, Comparative Literature, and the Arts who wish to pursue careers in education, journalism, law, and international affairs. Transfer students can prepare for the minor by completing two years of college-level Russian, or the equivalent. Complete requirements can be found on page 253 of the 2000-2001 UCI General Catalogue.
  
  

• African-American, Asian American, and Women's Studies
  Join the School of Humanities

  The interdisciplinary majors in African-American Studies, Asian American Studies, and Women's Studies have become a permanent part of the School of Humanities, resulting in revised degree requirements for the three majors. Consistent with School of Humanities requirements, majors will complete two years of college-level language other than English, or the equivalent, and the Humanities Core course, or its alternative. School of Humanities requirements can be found on pages 203-204 of the 2000-2001 UCI General Catalogue; degree requirements for African-American Studies, Asian American Studies, and Women's Studies majors may be found on pages 205, 210, and 263 respectively.

• Earth and Environmental Sciences Major

  The new Earth and Environmental Sciences major prepares students to understand the rapidly evolving field of Earth system science. Students will acquire a quantitative understanding of the Earth system, with attention focusing on global reservoirs (atmospheric, terrestrial biosphere, and ocean) and on the processes that can change this system over a human lifetime. Having acquired the analytical skills needed to understand sensitive environmental issues, graduates will put these skills to use in the public, private, and educational sectors.

  The curriculum is interdisciplinary and focuses on the processes that link the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biota. The lower-division curriculum includes one year each of calculus, chemistry, and physics; a course in the physical environment; and a course in computer programming. For admission to the major, transfer students should complete one year of calculus, and one year of either general chemistry with laboratory or calculus-based physics with laboratory. Complete degree requirements can be found on page 309 of the 2000-2001 UCI General Catalogue.
  
  

• Chemistry Major Adds Concentrations in Biochemistry and
  in Chemistry Education

  Students majoring in Chemistry now have the option of pursuing a concentration in Biochemistry or in Chemistry Education. The concentration in Biochemistry emphasizes the underlying chemical basis of biology. In addition to the regular Chemistry curriculum, students will take lower-division courses in genetics, biochemistry, and molecular biology followed by advanced Biological Sciences courses at the upper-division level. Students in this concentration will be well prepared for employment or graduate study at the exciting and dynamic interface between chemistry and biology.

  The Chemistry Education concentration will appeal to Chemistry majors interested in secondary teaching, and requires course work in the theory of learning and the practice of teaching. Upon completion of the program, students will be in a strong position for admission to credential programs. See pages 301-302 of the 2000-2001 UCI General Catalogue for concentration requirements.
  
  

• Increased Options for Mathematics Majors

  A concentration in Mathematics for Economics and a specialization in Applied and Computational Mathematics are now available to Mathematics majors. The concentration in Mathematics for Economics combines analytical and quantitative skills with a solid background in economics and prepares graduates for direct entry into the job market or for advanced study in economics or business. In addition to the lower-division major requirements in mathematics and science, students will complete three year-long sequences in economics including micro- and macro-economics at the lower-division level, and 12 upper-division mathematics courses.

  The specialization in Applied and Computational Mathematics is directed toward students seeking a strong mathematical background with a focus on classical applied mathematics, for employment in high-tech industrial areas or for graduate work in applied mathematics. The curriculum includes upper-division courses in numerical analysis, mathematical modeling, and mathematical methods for science and engineering. See pages 313-314 of the 2000-2001 UCI General Catalogue for requirements for the two new programs and existing specializations in Mathematics for High School Teaching and in Statistics.
  
  

• Philosophy of Physics and Physics Education Concentrations

  Physics majors may now choose concentrations in either Philosophy of Physics or Physics Education. The Philosophy of Physics concentration is concerned with the study of the conceptual history of physics, the method of inquiry that led to fundamental physical theories, and the structure and interpretation of the theories themselves. Students will develop tools for carefully constructing and analyzing arguments and be well prepared for graduate study in philosophy, law, or careers that employ both verbal and quantitative analysis and expression.

  The concentration in Physics Education is designed for students who wish to pursue a career teaching physics at the secondary school level. To supplement the regular physics curriculum, students in this concentration will complete additional courses in education and in the biological, chemical, or earth sciences; they will also act as teaching aides or tutors for high school or college-level physics courses.

  In preparation for the Physics major and either concentration, transfer students are advised to complete a minimum of one year each of calculus, and approved calculus-based physics. Additional information can be found on pages 321-322 of the 2000-2001 UCI General Catalogue.

• New Requirements in Anthropology, Economics,
  and International Studies Majors

  Listed below are course/requirement additions to three majors in the School of Social Sciences. Prospective transfer students are encouraged to complete similar courses at the community college prior to transfer, if possible. See the 2000-2001 UCI General Catalogue for complete degree requirements.

  Anthropology

  • Global Issues in Anthropological Perspective (Anthropology 30A) OR Ethnography and Anthropological Methods (Anthropology 30B)
  
  Economics
  • Introduction to Econometrics (Economics 30)
  
  International Studies
  • Global Economy (Social Science 13)
  • Majors are required to fulfill some type of international study experience either abroad or through a domestic internship
  • Increased language requirement to five quarters (four semesters) of a modern international language other than English, or equivalent

• Importance of JAVA for Information and Computer Science Majors

  Transfer students planning to major in Information and Computer Science (ICS) are strongly encouraged to enter UCI with knowledge of Java which is used in the lower-division computer science requirement, and serves as a foundation for upper-division programming-related courses.

  Admission to the ICS major is selective and requires: one year of discrete mathematics or calculus; completion of one year of computer science courses including one UC transferable programming course involving concepts such as those found in C++, Java, Eiffel, or another object-oriented, high-level language. (Programming-only courses in Basic, FORTRAN, Cobol, Pascal, and C are not acceptable.) It is strongly recommended that students select UC transferable courses that do not focus strictly on learning a programming language but rather focus on topics such as object-oriented design, data structures, algorithms, and computer architecture, if such courses are available. Additional courses beyond the programming course required for admission must be taken to satisfy the year-long lower-division computer science degree requirement. Consult page 269 of the 2000-2001 UCI General Catalogue for degree requirements.

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