OUR DIVISION & DEPARTMENTS. The Division of Life Sciences is one of five divisions within the UCLA College of Letters and Science and our scholarship is carried out in the following six departments:
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
- Integrative Biology & Physiology
- Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics
- Molecular Cell & Developmental Biology
- Psychology
- Institute for Society & Genetics
Our seventh department, Life Sciences Core Education, brings together faculty and instructional staff, from all the departments listed above, to offer a unified and integrated course series for undergraduates in their first years.
Life Sciences faculty also jointly run three interdepartmental degree-granting programs:
OUR FACULTY & RESEARCH. Across a wide range of disciplines, Life Sciences research has contributed significant impacts to benefit society. Some examples include: pioneering new treatments for leukemia and for inherited immunodeficiencies; creating better monitoring tools and contributing knowledge to protect wildlife and valuable ecosystems; and creating innumerable research centers to study and address issues of physical health, mental health, and the health of our ecosystems. Ongoing research is leading to new tools and treatments for cancers, blood disorders, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, addiction and anxiety, among other ailments of the body and mind. Scholarship in our division is also leading important conversations around science and society. Our faculty include members of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medicine, American Academy of Arts and Science, and MacArthur Foundation Fellows.
OUR MAJORS. Through our departments and interdepartmental programs, we offer 12 majors and 13 minors. Life Sciences is home to the largest number of majors, of any school or division at UCLA. Nearly a third of all undergraduates on campus are majoring in our division.
OUR STUDENTS. Our student body represents the rich diversity of UCLA, and we commit significant effort to ensuring that every student, regardless of background, thrives. We are in the top ranks for preparing the next generation of scientists, scholars, educators and health care professionals.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS. We also offer a wide range of interdisciplinary Ph.D., MD-PhD., and master’s degree programs, mostly in partnership with other campus units.