Thrive in the business of science.
The Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program is designed to help students bridge scientific inquiry and research with entrepreneurship and commercial application. LSBE offers specialized coursework taught by award-winning faculty, networking opportunities and specialized career coaching, and mentoring opportunities within a peer-to-peer cohort of students who are working to become future leaders and innovators.
Students earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in one of the following biology majors: Integrative Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology, or Neuroscience. You will graduate equipped to tackle complex problems in research labs, startups, or your own ventures, while building a strong network that extends from the San Francisco Bay Area to global hubs of life science commercialization.
Highlights
- Get involved with student groups such as the Bio-Business Initiative or Undergraduate Biotech Association.
- Benefit from LSBE-specific courses such as Intro to Biotech.
- Participate in professional development and career events hosted by the program.
Curriculum
Coursework for the Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program is designed for you to complete two full bachelor’s degrees in four years (BS in Business Administration and BA in Integrative Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology, or Neuroscience). Course planning begins in the fall of your first year, and all prerequisite courses for Business Administration and the biology major of choice should be completed by the end of the spring semester of sophomore year.
In addition to major requirements, you will take an Intro to Biotech course in the spring semester of your first year, an LSBE New Admit Seminar in spring semester of sophomore year, and a program-specific capstone course in the fall semester of senior year. The program’s coursework meets the prerequisites to apply to medical school without taking additional classes.
Learn more at lsbe.berkeley.edu/academics
Internships
Students in the Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program secure a variety of opportunities across different industries. We encourage LSBE students to pursue at least two internships: 1) a research internship in a lab or in industry, and 2) a business internship where students pursue finance, product management, consulting, or business development. This approach equips students with the necessary skills to prepare them for future career trajectories.
Declaring the Major
Admission to the Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program is open only to students who enter UC Berkeley as first years. Planning begins during freshman year, and students apply for admission to LSBE during the fall of sophomore year.
Unfortunately the LSBE Program is very competitive and we cannot accommodate every student who wants to join the program. Students cannot reapply to the program. For more information, visit lsbe.berkeley.edu/admissions.
Students who complete the Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program will be uniquely advantaged for careers in a variety of innovative industries and research institutions and will be competitive applicants to graduate programs including pre-health, biosciences, MBA, and beyond.
UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for students in LSBE. The LSBE Program conducts professional development and industry-readiness workshops and events. The Haas Undergraduate Program provides career advising services to students through two career counselors. The College of Letters & Science offers advising for undergraduates pursuing medical or health professions programs, law school, or masters and PhD programs. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career counseling, health professional school 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:
- Business Analyst
- Capital Finance Analyst
- Clinical Research Coordinator
- Consultant
- Data Analyst
- Financial Analyst
- Private Equity Associate
- Product Marketer
- Research Associate
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:
- Biochemistry
- Bioengineering
- Biological Sciences
- Business Administration
- Law
- Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Carolyn, class of 2026
During her time at UC Berkeley, LSBE alumna Carolyn Dan-Vy Nguyen conducted research in the lab of Dr. James Nuñez, applying CRISPR technology to modulate gene expression. Beyond the lab, she was involved in Atlas Strategy Group, The Berkeley Forum, and the Undergraduate Marketing Association, and served as instructor for the DeCal course “Science and Business of Biotechnology.” Carolyn aspires to work at the intersection of biomedical research and therapeutic development, translating scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact.
First Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Start exploring with L&S 1 and the L&S New Freshmen Student Guide.
- Check out sample schedules and begin lower division prerequisites for Business and IB / MCB / NEU.
- Consider enrolling in INTEGBI 96 / MCELLBI 96 Studying the Biological Sciences.
- Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar, Berkeley Changemaker, or DeCal course.
- Join the LSBE Prospective Student Mailing List.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Join a student organization like the Bio-Business Initiative or Undergraduate Biotech Association.
- Get academic help from the Student Learning Center.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Find support and community with the Biology Scholars Program.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Start using Handshake to connect with career events and opportunities.
Second Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Meet with your major advisor for IB / MCB / NEU and college advisor for L&S to discuss your academic plans.
- Enroll in the Intro to Biotech course (MCELLB C75 / UGBA C95B) in spring.
- Continue with lower division coursework for Business and IB / MCB / NEU.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend department events like the IB or MCB Seminar Series or NEU.
- Carla and Corey Lectureship Series.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Look into the UHS Health Worker Program, Cal Sports Medicine, and other health opportunities.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out career resources on the IB / MCB / NEU website.
- Begin making a plan to get career ready.
Third Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Talk to current students about life in LSBE.
- Declare the major for IB / MCB / NEU if ready.
- Look into study abroad and learning a foreign language; see guidelines from Haas and L&S, and options in Biology and Business abroad.
- Apply for admission to the LSBE Program.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Browse research opportunities from IB / MCB / NEU and OURS; apply to URAP or Bakar Ignite Scholars to work on a faculty project.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Promote STEM to local youth with Bridging Berkeley, EYH, or SENDforC.
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.
- Look into UC LEADS, MARC, and the Goldwater Scholarship.
Fourth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Enroll in the LSBE New Admit Seminar (UGBA 199) in spring.
- Decide on your major emphasis if pursuing IB / MCB.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate such as Entrepreneurship and Technology or minor such as CalTeach or Science, Technology, and Society.
- Complete prerequisites for Business and IB / MCB / NEU by the end of spring semester.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Get involved with the Lawrence Hall of Science or Berkeley Natural History Museums.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Connect with the innovation ecosystem at Berkeley via begin.berkeley.edu.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields; look into HMAP for health and medical apprenticeships or QB3 for biotech.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division, L&S Advising, and BCE; meet with Health Careers Counseling if pre-health.
Fifth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Finish lower division requirements for IB / MCB / NEU.
- Begin upper division requirements for Business and IB / MCB / NEU (for IB / MCB, these courses should reflect your major emphasis).
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Meet students in your Haas and LSBE cohorts.
- Take your learning outside the classroom and into real-world settings while building personal and professional connections in the Immersion Program for Juniors.
- Join the Haas Business Student Association.
- Learn about exciting research taking place at Haas research institutes and centers.
- Take advantage of Haas and MCB tutoring.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet with a Haas career counselor to discuss career options and goals.
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
- Check out career resources on the Haas website and attend career events hosted by Haas-sponsored organizations.
Sixth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Review your degree progress in Haas and L&S with your college advisors.
- Focus on upper division requirements for both majors.
- Consider Special Topics courses to fulfill your Business elective requirements.
- Consider applying to the IB / MCB / NEU Honors Program; look into Haas Scholars and SURF.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Use the Business Library to find company, industry, and financial market data for courses, research, or job searches.
- Address real-world problems in the Fung Fellowship or Big Ideas Contest.
- Build your business skills by participating in an Undergraduate Case Competition.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Attend LSBE professional development workshops and recruiting events with the LSBE faculty co-directors.
- Interested in public service careers? Look into the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, and Truman Scholarship.
Seventh Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Continue making progress towards both Business and IB / MCB / NEU requirements.
- Enroll in the LSBE Capstone Course (MCELLBI C175 / UGBA C195C).
- Enroll in INTEGBI / MCELLBI / NEU H196A if doing the IB / MCB honors program.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Help other students as an IB / MCB / NEU Peer Advisor.
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by teaching your own DeCal course.
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.
- Connect with alumni groups such as the Haas Alumni Network, IB Alumni, or MCB Alumni.
Eighth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Finish all upper division requirements and electives.
- Enroll in INTEGBI / MCELLBI H196B if doing the IB / MCB honors program; join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements for Haas and L&S and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Get published! Submit your work to Cell Mates, the Berkeley Medical Journal, or Berkeley Scientific Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- 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 INTEGBI 114 or 131 or MCELLBI 102 or 104.
- Go abroad through Berkeley Study Abroad or UCEAP.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate such as Data Science, Global Public Health, or Sustainable Business and Policy.
- Learn the art of STEM communication in ENGIN 185 Science Writing(link is external).
- Participate in Amgen Scholars(link is external), an NSF research experience(link is external), or DOE lab internship(link is external).
- Learn about health science with the UCSF Summer Research Training Program(link is external), Summer Student Research Program(link is external), or Undergraduate Research Internship(link is external).
- Apply to the GiGS program(link is external) to learn about graduate school.
Undergraduate Advising
Have questions about the Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program or the College of Letters & Science or Haas School of Business?
The Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program offers academic and admissions advising for students interested in the LSBE Program. Visit lsbe.berkeley.edu/about/meet-team or email lsbe@berkeley.edu.
The Undergraduate Student Services Office in L&S Biological Sciences offers advising for students in the Integrative Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology, and Neuroscience majors. Email ibusso@berkeley.edu (IB), mcbuao@berkeley.edu (MCB), or neuro-uao@berkeley.edu (NEU).
The College of Letters & Science helps students with non-major-specific academic topics, including major exploration, general program planning, finding campus resources, and pre-professional graduate programs. Visit lsadvising.berkeley.edu or email asklns@berkeley.edu.
The Haas School of Business offers undergraduate advising for students in the Business Administration major. Visit haas.berkeley.edu/undergrad/academics/advising.
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