The Biology Department encourages its students to broaden their educational
experiences by studying abroad through the Education Abroad Program.
Study abroad provides new academic insights, a broader understanding of
other cultures, and the preparation to excel in the internationally competitive
world. Many UCSB students spend a quarter or year abroad to benefit from
new perspectives, approaches, and experiences in all subdisciplines of biology
from biochemistry to ecology and environmental biology. From wildlife in
South Africa to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia to rainforests in Costa Rica
to biomedical and biochemical research programs in Sweden and the United
Kingdom, EAP students are immersed in the study of the biological sciences
around the globe.
Students in the University of California are fortunate to have available to them the premier study abroad program in the country. UC’s Education Abroad Program has programs at over 150 universities in over 35 countries on six continents. EAP enables students to spend some period of their academic career -
- a year, a semester, a quarter or summer term -- studying abroad.While abroad, they remain fully enrolled UC students.
Best of all, there is no question of transferring units to their home campus -- all courses taken through EAP are accepted as UC courses and carry UC units and grades.
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Special opportunities for field and laboratory study exist in many Education Abroad programs. Many of these programs fulfill requirements in the various biology majors at UCSB. The Tropical Biology and Conservation Program in Monteverde, Costa Rica as well as the Marine Biology and Terrestrial Ecology Program in Brisbane, Australia are particularly popular among UCSB biology majors.
Students should meet with an advisor in the Biology Department well in
advance of applying to EAP to discuss the best program options. Then students should make an appointment with an advisor in the College of Letters and Science to discuss general education, residence and other requirements.
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It is recommended that students who study abroad go during their junior or senior year, after completing much of their upper division biology major course area requirements. It is very important to meet with a Biology Advisor prior to studying abroad to ensure the completion of the major in a timely manner.
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The following are approved course substitutions for participation on the Costa Rica and Queensland EAP programs:
Costa Rica Monteverde Program
Taken in combination, 12 units of BIOL CRB 101 (4 units), BIOL CRB 102 (4 units), and ECOL CRB 188 (4 units), will apply to EEMB and MCDB majors
as follows:
• One diversity course for the following majors:
- Biology BA: Area E
- Biology BS: Area B6 and B7
- Ecology and Evolution: Area F or G
- Zoology: Area D, underlined course
• Substitute for EEMB 159
• Substitute for EEMB 197
• Elective units for Aquatic,Physiology, and Cell Developmental majors
Individually these courses count as EEMB electives and are not applicable to the Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or Pharmacology majors.
University of Queensland Marine Biology and Terrestrial Ecology Program
Ecol AQM 106, Human and Terrestrial (8 units) is an approved substitute for
EEMB 159 (4 units) and EEMB elective (4 units). Biol AQL 160, Marine Biology (13 units) is an approved substitute for EEMB 142A (4 units), EEMB 142AL (3 units), EEMB 147 (4 units) and 2 upper-division major elective units in EEMB.
Application of credit to major requirements will be subject to the discretion of the Department and approval of the College.
Keep in mind that at least 20 units of upper-division major coursework (or
12 upper-division minor units) must be completed in residence at UCSB
along with other residence requirements. Consult an advisor in the College of Letters & Science for more information.
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Consult the EAP web pages to see what programs best suit you. Check out EAP recommendations for biology majors at: http://eap.ucop.edu/eap/
discipline/bio/. Use Course Finder then navigate to host universities’ websites on the available links.
Once you have researched your options, come by the EAP office at 2431 South Hall. Peer advisors who have recently returned from studying abroad as well as staff advisors are eager to answer your questions.
Meet with a Biology advisor to discuss timely progress within the major and an advisor in the College of Letters & Science to discuss general education, residence and other requirements.
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Department of Biological Sciences
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9610
Phone: (805) 893-3512
www.lifesci.ucsb.edu
