Gain a sound understanding of biological principles from molecular through ecological levels.
The Bachelor of Science program in Molecular Environmental Biology in the Rausser College of Natural Resources trains students in the organization and function of biological organisms and their integration into the environment. Molecular approaches are expected to play an increasing role in environmental problem-solving in the near future, and their success will depend upon a sound understanding of biological principles from molecular through ecological levels.
Offered by the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, Molecular Environmental Biology is a classic pre-medical or pre-health science major. The breadth of the major program provides a valuable perspective for students who have a passion for biology and are interested in the application of biological principles to learn how organisms function in their environment.
Highlights
- Connect with other students in Molecular Environmental Biology at Berkeley.
- Tailor your studies with one of six major concentrations.
- Enrich your major with a minor program like Food Systems.
Curriculum
Students in the Molecular Environmental Biology major will have a solid foundation of math, chemistry, physics, statistics, and biology prior to beginning their upper division coursework.
At the upper division level, students choose from among six different emphases depending on specific interests and career plans:
- Animal Health and Behavior
- Biodiversity
- Ecology
- Environment and Human Health
- Global Change Biology
- Insect Biology
Learn more at nature.berkeley.edu/advising/majors/molecular-environmental-biology
About ESPM
The Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management is a multidisciplinary program that recognizes the urgency of the challenges facing our environment, and the enormous opportunities that may lead to transformative change. We have award-winning faculty in climate science, biodiversity, environmental policy, land use, and community outreach—all driven by a collective interest in our environmental future.
Declaring the Major
First-year and transfer students accepted to UC Berkeley and who selected Molecular Environmental Biology on their undergraduate admissions application will be admitted directly to the Rausser College of Natural Resources and the MEB major (no declaration required).
If you are currently a Rausser student and wish to declare a new major within the college, you must meet with the advisor for your intended major after completing the requirements to declare. If you are a UC Berkeley student in another college, you must meet the requirements to change into Rausser and declare a new major.
Students acquire a broad foundation in biology, and are well-prepared for graduate education in a biological area or for careers related to biology and the environment such as scientific research in government, industry, or academia; biological assessment for governmental agencies; and environmental consulting firms. Graduates can also pursue a range of careers such as human or veterinary medicine; health professions; environmental or science education; and non-technical work in writing, illustration, photography, sales, or legislation.
UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for students studying Molecular Environmental Biology. Rausser College partners with Berkeley Career Engagement to help students access resources, events, and professional opportunities related to their studies. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career counseling, professional and graduate school advising, job and internship listings, and events such as career and graduate school fairs.
Employment
Alumni find employment in a variety of fields and industries after graduation. Examples include:
- Analyst
- Biological Lab Technician
- Bioprocess Technician
- Community Health Fellow
- Conservation Policy Analyst
- Curator Assistant
- Environmental Consultant
- Field Biologist
- Health Educator
- Lab Assistant
- Ophthalmic Technician
- Park Ranger
- Research Associate
- Teacher
Graduate Study
Alumni pursue graduate education to gain more depth of knowledge in their field as well as prepare for jobs that require advanced degrees. Examples include:
- Biological Sciences
- Botany
- Entomology
- Environmental Sciences
- Medicine
- Plant Sciences
- Public Health
- Veterinary Medicine
Nikita, class of 2025
UC Berkeley stood out to Nikita Bahadur because of Rausser College and the Molecular Environmental Biology major. At Berkeley, Nikita immersed herself in research opportunities offered across campus, completed a Rausser College honors thesis under the supervision of Professor Todd Dawson, and spent a semester studying at Gump Station on Mo'orea in French Polynesia.
“I was mostly interested in the scientific and biological aspects of environmental studies, and wanted to learn more about molecular approaches to solving environmental problems, so MEB was a great fit for me. It felt kind of perfect—I didn't find anything like it anywhere else.”
First Year
Plan Your Studies
- Familiarize yourself with the MEB major; check out the Major Snapshot and Sample Degree Plans.
- Meet with your college advisor to discuss your academic plans; begin lower division chemistry and quantitative as well as breadth, ESPM core, and electives; enroll in NATRES 76 How to Be a Rausser CNR Scientist.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar, Berkeley Changemaker, or DeCal course.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Explore the Rausser Student Resource Center and Virtual Bulletin Board.
- Join a Rausser student group like MEB at Berkeley.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Find support from the Student Learning Center and Biology Scholars Program.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Live and learn in the Global Environment Theme House.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out the MEB Career Snapshot.
- Begin making a plan to get career ready.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Start using Handshake to connect with career events and opportunities.
- Look into UC LEADS and the Goldwater Scholarship.
Second Year
Plan Your Studies
- Focus on lower division chemistry and biology; continue with breadth, ESPM core courses, and electives.
- Continue exploring with a Sophomore Seminar or Big Ideas course.
- Look into study abroad and learning a foreign language; see options in Biology and Environmental Sciences abroad.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate or minor such as CalTeach or Science, Technology, and Society.
- Decide on your major emphasis.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend Rausser and ESPM events like the Department Seminar Series.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Explore research opportunities from Rausser and OURS; apply to SPUR or URAP to work on a faculty project.
- Browse programs from the Student Environmental Resource Center.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields; look into QB3 for biotech and apply for the Rausser Summer Internship Grant.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division and BCE; meet with Health Careers Counseling if pre-health.
Third Year
Plan Your Studies
- Begin upper division coursework, including biological core, area of concentration, and lab courses; enroll in electives and lower division requirements if needed.
- Review your degree progress with your college advisor.
- Spend a term off-campus with UCDC or a field program at Gump Station or UC Nature reserve.
- Consider applying to the Rausser College Honors Program; look into Haas Scholars.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Help other students as a Rausser Peer Advisor.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Address real-world problems in the Fung Fellowship or Big Ideas Contest.
- Get involved with the Lawrence Hall of Science or Berkeley Natural History Museums.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
- Join a professional association such as the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
- Interested in public service careers? Look into the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, and Truman Scholarship.
- Connect with alumni like Rausser Alumni.
Fourth Year
Plan Your Studies
- Finish all requirements, including upper division biological core, area of concentration, lab courses, and any remaining electives.
- Apply to the Rausser College Honors Program; join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by facilitating your own DeCal course.
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Present at a Rausser Research Showcase or outside conference with the Conference Travel Grant.
- Get published! Submit your work to Perennial, Cell Mates, or the Berkeley Scientific Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs; consider the Hertz Fellowship or NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs like the Nonprofit, Environment and Public Service Career Fair.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course like ESPM 50AC or PBHLTH 162A.
- Learn the art of STEM communication in ENGIN 185 Science Writing.
- Go abroad through UCEAP or Berkeley Study Abroad.
- Participate in an NSF research experience or DOE lab internship.
- Conduct research with support from SPUR or UC Nature.
- Learn about health science with the UCSF Summer Research Training Program, Summer Student Research Program, or Undergraduate Research Internship.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
First Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Get your bearings with L&S 198 Transitioning to Cal.
- Familiarize yourself with the MEB major; check out the Major Snapshot and Sample Degree Plans.
- Meet with your college advisor to discuss your academic plans and intended major emphasis.
- Begin upper division coursework in biological core, area of concentration, and lab courses as well as electives.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Explore the Rausser Student Resource Center and Virtual Bulletin Board.
- Join a Rausser student group like MEB at Berkeley.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Find support from the Student Learning Center and Biology Scholars Program.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out the MEB Career Snapshot.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Look into UC LEADS and the Goldwater Scholarship.
Second Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Focus on electives and upper division courses for biological core and area concentration.
- Look into study abroad and learning a foreign language; see options in Biology and Environmental Sciences abroad.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate or minor such as CalTeach or Science, Technology, and Society.
- Consider applying to the Rausser College Honors Program; look into Haas Scholars.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend Rausser and ESPM events like the Department Seminar Series.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Explore research opportunities on the Rausser and OURS websites; apply to SPUR or URAP to work on a faculty project.
- Browse programs from the Student Environmental Resource Center.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields; look into QB3 for biotech and apply for the Rausser Summer Internship Grant.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division and BCE; meet with Health Careers Counseling if pre-health.
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
Third Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Continue with biological core, area of concentration, and elective courses; complete lower division physics if needed.
- Review your degree progress with your college advisor.
- Spend a term off-campus with UCDC or a field program at Gump Station or UC Nature reserve.
- Apply to the Rausser College Honors Program; join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Help other students as a Rausser Peer Advisor or Transfer Student Center Leader.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Address real-world problems in the Fung Fellowship or Big Ideas Contest.
- Get involved with the Lawrence Hall of Science or Berkeley Natural History Museums.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Join a professional association such as the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
- Interested in public service careers? Look into the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, and Truman Scholarship.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs; consider the Hertz Fellowship or NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
Fourth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Finish all upper division biological core, area of concentration, elective, and lab courses.
- If participating in the Rausser College Honors Program, enroll in the required second semester of research and complete your thesis.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by facilitating your own DeCal course.
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Present at a Rausser Research Showcase or outside conference with the Conference Travel Grant.
- Get published! Submit your work to Perennial, Cell Mates, or the Berkeley Scientific Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Connect with alumni like Rausser Alumni.
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs like the Nonprofit, Environment and Public Service Career Fair.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course like ENERES 101 or PBHLTH 162A.
- Learn the art of STEM communication in ENGIN 185 Science Writing.
- Go abroad through UCEAP or Berkeley Study Abroad.
- Participate in an NSF research experience or DOE lab internship.
- Conduct research with support from SPUR or UC Nature.
- Learn about health science with the UCSF Summer Research Training Program, Summer Student Research Program, or Undergraduate Research Internship.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
Undergraduate Advising
Have questions about Molecular Environmental Biology or the Rausser College of Natural Resources?
Rausser College provides undergraduate advising to prospective and current undergraduate students. College Advisors are available on a drop-in and appointment basis to assist students with course enrollment and academic planning, explain college and university policies and procedures, and connect students to faculty and other campus student resources. Peer Advising Leaders are trained in understanding college and University requirements, policies, and procedures, and offer personal viewpoints and experiences to current and prospective students.
Advising services are available in 260 Mulford Hall in the Office of Instruction and Student Affairs. For advising hours and contacts, visit nature.berkeley.edu/advising/undergraduate-advising or email advising.rcnr@berkeley.edu.
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