Research Courses
EEB majors may receive credit for participating in research at UCSC. Completion of 5 units of undergraduate research may be used to satisfy one EEB General Elective.
START HERE: View an overview of EEB Undergraduate Research Courses here.
All Research Courses require a faculty sponsor. How to find a faculty sponsor:
- Familiarize yourself with the research in the department.
- Identify an area of research you are interested in.
- Review faculty research focus and publications.
- Attend office hours or make an appointment to meet with the faculty member. Be clear about your intentions and what you have to offer. Consider bringing a copy of your transcript.
Research Courses offered:
All courses are offered fall, winter and spring.
Enrollment requires submission of an Undergraduate Research Contract.
Courses require 3 hours of field or lab work per week per unit.
- BIOE 182F Exploring Research in EEB, 2 units
A chance to try out research. Does not provide credit toward major requirements. - BIOE 183W Undergraduate Research in EEB - Writing, 2 units
Core undergraduate research course. Required as prerequisite for enrollment in further undergraduate research courses. - BIOE 183L Undergraduate Research in EEB, 3 units
May be taken concurrently with BIOE 183W. - BIOE 193 Independent Research in EEB, 5 units
BIOE 193F Independent Research in EEB, 2 units
Opportunity to earn units for continued research work. - BIOE 195 Senior Thesis
Only taken in the quarter the thesis will be completed. Successful completion of the course requires submission of completed senior thesis.
BIOE 182F Exploring Research in EEB:
Opportunity for students to try on research and explore the possibility of doing further independent study in EEB. Students coordinate with an EEB faculty member, affiliate, or adjunct to participate in research for one quarter. Course requires @6 hours of field or lab work per week (@60 hours for the quarter). Course may not be repeated with the same instructor twice.
Offerings: Fall, Winter and Spring quarters. Note: this course does not appear in the Schedule of Classes.
Enrollment: Submit completed undergraduate research contract. Once prerequisites are verified you will be emailed enrollment information. May not be repeated with same faculty sponsor.
Credit: 2 units; no credit towards major.
Grading Basis: Course may only be taken Pass/No Pass.
BIOE 183W Undergraduate Research in EEB - Writing:
Working in coordination with an EEB faculty member, affiliate or adjunct, students develop and write a formal research proposal or report and give a presentation on their research project. Course includes weekly class meetings focused on the philosophy of science, basic statistics, library searches, inputting data, creating graphs, and preparing results for publication, posters, and talks.
Prerequisite: BIOE 107, 108, or 109; C1 and C2 writing requirement. Students who have completed the introductory biology series, but not yet Bioe 107, 108 or 109, are encouraged to speak with their faculty sponsor about beginng their research work without the formal prerequisites.
Offerings: Fall, Winter and Spring quarters.
Enrollment: Students enroll directly but must have faculty sponsor arranged and completed undergraduate research contract on file with the department by first class meeting. May not be repeated for credit.
Credit: 2 units; satisfies the comprehensive (senior exit) requirement.
Grading Basis: Letter grade, based on the quality of writing.
BIOE 183L Undergraduate Research in EEB:
Supervised undergraduate research on a project with an EEB faculty member, affiliate or adjunct.
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in BIOE 183W.
Offerings: Fall, Winter and Spring quarters. Note: this course does not appear in the Schedule of Classes.
Enrollment: Submit completed undergraduate research contract. Once prerequisites are verified, you will be emailed enrollment information. May not be repeated for credit.
Credit: 3 units; for major credit see Elective Credit section at the top of this page.
Grading Basis: Students are graded on the quality of their research and meeting the terms agreed to in the undergraduate research contract.
BIOE 193 Independent Research in EEB:
Continued undergraduate research on a project sponsored by an EEB faculty member, affiliate, or adjunct.
Prerequisite: BIOE 183W.
Offerings: Fall, Winter and Spring quarters. Note: this course does not appear in the Schedule of Classes.
Enrollment: Submit completed undergraduate research contract. Once prerequisites are verified, you will be emailed enrollment information. May be repeated for credit.
Credit: 5-15 units; for major credit see Elective Credit section at the top of this page.
Grading Basis: Students are graded on the quality of their research and meeting the terms agreed to in the undergraduate research contract.
BIOE 193F Independent Research in EEB:
Continued undergraduate research on a project sponsored by an EEB faculty member, affiliate, or adjunct.
Prerequisite: BIOE 183W.
Offerings: Fall, Winter and Spring quarters. Note: this course does not appear in the Schedule of Classes.
Enrollment: Submit completed undergraduate research contract. Once prerequisites are verified, you will be emailed enrollment information. May be repeated for credit.
Credit: 2 units; for major credit see Elective Credit section at the top of this page.
Grading Basis: Students are graded on the quality of their research and meeting the terms agreed to in the undergraduate research contract.
BIOE 195 Senior Thesis:
Faculty-mentored production of a senior thesis.
Prerequisite: BIOE 183W.
Offerings: Fall, Winter and Spring quarters. Note: this course does not appear in the Schedule of Classes.
Enrollment: Submit completed undergraduate research contract. Once prerequisites are verified, you will be emailed enrollment information. May not be repeated for credit. Students submit the finished thesis electronically to EEB advising along with the Thesis Submission Form by the end of the seventh week of the quarter they are enrolled in the BIOE 195 Senior Thesis course.
Credit: 5 units; for major credit see Elective Credit section at the top of this page.
Grading Basis: Students are graded on the quality of their senior thesis. The completed thesis must be submitted in the quarter of enrollment.
