A Guide to Biology Department Majors
Dornsife Fun Fact: Strictly speaking, there is no “biology” major at USC! Instead, under the biology department there are three different majors: Biological Sciences, Human Biology, and Quantitative Biology. At first glance, it may be hard to decide which one to choose, so here’s a guide to help you decide which biology department major is right for you!
Biological Sciences (BISC)
- Can be taken as a B.A. or B.S. degree (B.S. degree has more upper-division course requirements)
- 72 units of courses required for B.S.; 56 units required for B.A.
- Offers a strong foundation in biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics
- Biochemistry (BISC 330L) and Molecular Biology (BISC 320L) are separate courses that both have lab sections
- Great for Pre-Health, most medical school/pharmacy school prerequisites are required courses in this major, such as organic chemistry, physics, calculus, statistics
Human Biology (HBIO)
- Can be taken as a B.A. or B.S. degree (B.S. degree has more upper-division course requirements)
- 60 units of courses required for B.S.; 44 units required for B.A.
- This one’s my major! I like how it has different tracks that allow you to take courses tailored to a specific field within human biology (I chose the Health and Disease B.S. track, which focuses on nutrition and metabolic disorders)
- B.A. Tracks: Human Physiology and Metabolism, Human Evolutionary Biology, Human Performance
- B.S. Tracks: Applied Physiology, Biomedical Science, Health and Disease, Human Evolutionary Biology
- Insider tip: the major has a combined Biochemistry/Molecular Biology course without a lab (BISC 312) which is helpful for MCAT preparation!
- Organic chemistry not required unless you are Pre-Health
Quantitative Biology (QBIO)
- Can only be taken as a B.S. degree
- Total of 72 units of courses required for the major, 10 of which must be faculty-directed research (great way to make sure you have research experience!)
- Combines traditional biology classes with a strong math and computer science foundation
- If you can’t decide between biology and computer science, this offers the best of both worlds
- Calculus-based physics course required, but organic chemistry not required unless you are Pre-Health
Note: 128 total units (including major courses, general education, and electives) are required to graduate with a single bachelor’s degree. So feel free to use your elective units to add a minor or take fun courses outside your major!