Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship

University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

The Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship (LSBE) 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. 

Through LSBE, students will earn a BS in Business Administration AND a BA in one of the following biology majors: Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) OR Integrative Biology (IB) OR Neuroscience (NEU).

Admission to LSBE is highly competitive and open only to students who enter UC Berkeley as freshmen. Course planning begins during freshman year, and students apply for admission to LSBE during the fall of sophomore year. All prerequisite requirements for Business and MCB, IB, or NEU  must be completed by the end of sophomore year.

Students who complete the 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.

Visit Program Website

Major Requirements

LSBE students complete all academic requirements for both Business Administration and Molecular and Cell Biology/Integrative Biology/Neuroscience in addition to the university and campus requirements, and all policies of each school are enforced. Additional Program requirements include a freshman introductory course and a senior capstone course. Students must contact LSBE staff to enroll in these program-specific courses.
 
Lower division and upper division Business Administration requirements can be found on the Business Administration program page.
 
Haas Prerequisites
MATH 1ACalculus4
MATH 1B/53/54/55/56Calculus4
ECON 1Introduction to Economics4
or ECON 2 Introduction to Economics--Lecture Format
Select one of the following statistics courses:4-7
Introduction to Probability and Statistics [4]
Introductory Probability and Statistics for Business [4]
Probability and Mathematical Statistics in Data Science [3]
UGBA 10Course Not Available3
MCB Prerequisites
CHEM 1AGeneral Chemistry3
CHEM 1ALGeneral Chemistry Laboratory2
CHEM 3AChemical Structure and Reactivity3
CHEM 3ALOrganic Chemistry Laboratory2
CHEM 3BChemical Structure and Reactivity3
CHEM 3BLOrganic Chemistry Laboratory2
BIOLOGY 1AGeneral Biology Lecture3
BIOLOGY 1ALGeneral Biology Laboratory2
PHYSICS 8AIntroductory Physics4
PHYSICS 8BIntroductory Physics4
IB Prerequisites
BIOLOGY 1AGeneral Biology Lecture3
BIOLOGY 1ALGeneral Biology Laboratory2
BIOLOGY 1BGeneral Biology Lecture and Laboratory4
CHEM 1AGeneral Chemistry3
CHEM 1ALGeneral Chemistry Laboratory2
INTEGBI 77AIntegrative Human Biology1
or INTEGBI 77B Integrative Human Biology
PHYSICS 8AIntroductory Physics4
Neuroscience Prerequisites
BIOLOGY 1AGeneral Biology Lecture3
BIOLOGY 1ALGeneral Biology Laboratory2
CHEM 1AGeneral Chemistry3
CHEM 1ALGeneral Chemistry Laboratory2
PHYSICS 8AIntroductory Physics4
PHYSICS 8BIntroductory Physics4
Program Prerequisite
UGBA C95B/MCELLBI C75Introduction to the Biotechnology Field and Industry2
 
 
 
Students have a choice between six emphases within Molecular and Cell Biology:
  • Biochemistry, Biophysics, & Structural Biology 
  • Cell Biology, Development & Physiology
  • Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development
  • Immunology & Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Therapeutics
  • Neurobiology

LSBE Program plans can be found on our website.

College Requirements

Undergraduate students must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.

For a detailed lists of L&S requirements, please see Overview tab to the right in this guide or visit the L&S Degree Requirements webpage. For College advising appointments, please visit the L&S Advising Pages. 

University of California Requirements

Entry Level Writing

All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley and must be taken for a letter grade. 

American History and American Institutions

The American History and American Institutions requirements are based on the principle that all U.S. residents who have graduated from an American university should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.

Berkeley Campus Requirement

American Cultures

All undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass this campus requirement course in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses are plentiful and offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.

College of Letters & Science Essential Skills Requirements

Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer/data science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course taken for a letter grade.

Foreign Language

The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work taken for a letter grade.

Reading and Composition

In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College of Letters and Science requires two semesters of lower division work in composition in sequence. Students must complete parts A & B reading and composition courses in sequential order by the end of their fourth semester for a letter grade.

College of Letters & Science 7 Course Breadth Requirements

Breadth Requirements

The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship. Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.

Unit Requirements

  • 120 total units

  • Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units

  • Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department
Residence Requirements

For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters & Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes at Cal for four years, or two years for transfer students. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you graduate early, go abroad for a semester or year, or want to take courses at another institution or through UC Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to meet an L&S College adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.

Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.

Senior Residence Requirement

After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your B.A. degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.

You may use a Berkeley Summer Session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.

Modified Senior Residence Requirement

Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.

Upper Division Residence Requirement

You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding UCEAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.

Plan of Study

Each student's plan will vary depending on the chosen biology major (MCB/IB/NEU) and AP/IB exam scores, if applicable. Seek individual advising from Haas, MCB, IB, and Neuroscience.

The sample course schedules below show a four-year plan for completing all program requirements, taking classes only during Fall and Spring Semesters. Many courses are offered during the summer as well.You should schedule advising (links above) to discuss your options in detail.

MCB Plan

Please note that the MCB degree has 9 emphases, so the plan below indicates "MCB UD" for an MCB upper-division course that will depend on the emphasis you choose to pursue during your junior and senior years. 

First Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
MATH 1A4MATH 1B4
CHEM 1A3CHEM 3A3
CHEM 1AL2CHEM 3AL2
ENGLISH R1B4Breadth3-4
Breadth3-4Breadth/AC3-4
 MCELLBI C752
 16-17 17-19
Second Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
UGBA 103BIOLOGY 1A3
CHEM 3B3ECON 1 or 24
STAT 204BIOLOGY 1AL2
CHEM 3BL2PHYSICS 8B4
PHYSICS 8A4Breadth3-4
Apply to the Program Declare MCB 
 16 16-17
Third Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
UGBA 1002UGBA 102B3
UGBA 101A3UGBA 1034
UGBA 102A3Breadth3-4
BIOLOGY 1B4MCB UD4
MCB UD4MCB UD4
 16 18-19
Fourth Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
UGBA 1043UGBA 1073
UGBA 1053UGBA Elective4
LSBE Capstone (MCB + Haas Elective)4Breadth3-4
MCB UD4MCB UD4
UGBA 1063UGBA 101B3
 17 17-18
Total Units: 133-139

Plan Notes:

  • This plan assumes one Breadth course will also be an American Cultures (AC) course.
  • This plan assumes the student has completed the Entry Level Writing, American History and Institutions, and Foreign Language requirement prior to admission to UC Berkeley.
  • This plan assumes the student does not require CHEM 32 or MATH 32.
  • This plan assumes exam score or prior course works will fulfill R&C A.
  • BIOLOGY 1ABIOLOGY 1BMCELLBI 102, or MCELLBI C100A will fulfill the Biological Sciences Breadth Requirement.
  • CHEM 1ACHEM 3A, or CHEM 3B will fulfill the Physical Sciences Breadth Requirement.
  • Molecular Cell Biology accepts AP for BIOLOGY 1A/BIOLOGY 1ALBIOLOGY 1B and CHEM 1A/CHEM 1AL if not planning post-BA health-related programs. Talk with the LSBE advisor about this option.
  • Haas accepts AP for Economics.

IB Plan

IB offers two emphases, so the plan below indicates "IB UD" for an IB upper-division course that will depend on the emphasis you choose to pursue during your junior and senior years.

First Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
BIOLOGY 1A3UGBA 103
ENGLISH R1A4CHEM 1A3
BIOLOGY 1AL2CHEM 1AL2
INTEGBI 77A1MCELLBI C752
Breadth3-4Breadth/AC3-4
MATH 1A4MATH 1B4
 17-18 17-18
Second Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
BIOLOGY 1B4PHYSICS 8A4
Breadth3-4Breadth3-4
ENGLISH R1B4Breadth3-4
STAT W214ECON 1 or 24
Apply to the Program Declare IB 
 15-16 14-16
Third Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
IB UD3-5IB UD3-5
IB UD3-5IB UD3-5
UGBA 1002UGBA 101B3
UGBA 101A3UGBA 102B3
UGBA 102A3 
 14-18 12-16
Fourth Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
UGBA 1034UGBA 1053
IB UD3-5UGBA 1073
UGBA 1063IB UD3-5
UGBA Elective4Breadth3-4
LSBE Capstone (IB + Haas Elective)4UGBA 1043
 18-20 15-18
Total Units: 122-140

Plan Notes:

  • This plan assumes one Breadth course will also be an American Cultures (AC) course.
  • This plan assumes the student has completed the Entry Level Writing, American History and Institutions, and Foreign Language requirement prior to admission to UC Berkeley.
  • This plan assumes the student does not require CHEM 32 or MATH 32.
  • BIOLOGY 1A or BIOLOGY 1B will fulfill the Biological Sciences Breadth Requirement.
  • CHEM 1A will fulfill the Physical Sciences Breadth Requirement.
  • Molecular Cell Biology accepts AP for BIOLOGY 1A/BIOLOGY 1ALBIOLOGY 1B and CHEM 1A/CHEM 1AL if not planning post-BA health-related programs. Talk with the LSBE advisor about this option.
  • Haas accepts AP for Economics.

Neuroscience Plan

Neuroscience requires three electives to complete; these have been denoted as "NEU UD."

First Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
CHEM 1A3Breadth/AC3-4
CHEM 1AL2MCELLBI C752
ENGLISH R1A4BIOLOGY 1A3
PHYSICS 8A4BIOLOGY 1AL2
MATH 1A4MATH 1B4
 ENGLISH R1B4
 17 18-19
Second Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
UGBA 103STAT 204
Breadth3-4UGBA Elective4
PHYSICS 8B4UGBA 1034
Breadth3-4ECON 1 or 24
 13-15 16
Third Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
UGBA 1002NEU 100B4
UGBA 101A3UGBA 101B3
UGBA 102A3UGBA 102B3
NEU 100A4Choose one of the following:4
Breadth3-4 
  
  
 Breadth3-4
 15-16 17-18
Fourth Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
LSBE Capstone (Neuroscience + Haas Elective)4UGBA 1053
UGBA 1063UGBA 1073
NEU UD3-4NEU UD3-4
NEU UD3-4NEU 1002
UGBA 1034Breadth3-4
 UGBA 1043
 17-19 17-19
Total Units: 130-139

Plan Notes:

  • This plan assumes one Breadth course will also be an American Cultures (AC) course.
  • This plan assumes the student has completed the Entry Level Writing, American History and Institutions, and Foreign Language requirements prior to admission to UC Berkeley.
  • This plan assumes the student does not require CHEM 32 or MATH 32.
  • BIOLOGY 1A will fulfill the Biological Sciences Breadth Requirement.
  • CHEM 1A will fulfill the Physical Sciences Breadth Requirement.
  • Haas accepts AP for Economics.

Major Map

Major maps are experience maps that help undergraduates plan their Berkeley journey based on intended major or field of interest. Featuring student opportunities and resources from your college and department as well as across campus, each map includes curated suggestions for planning your studies, engaging outside the classroom, and pursuing your career goals in a timeline format.

Use the major map below to explore potential paths and design your own unique undergraduate experience:

View the Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Major Map.

Advising

Life Sciences, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program staff are available on the third floor of the Valley Life Sciences Building in room 3060. Advising hours are Monday - Thursday 9:00 - 4:00 and Friday 9:00 - 3:00. The office closes for lunch from 12:00 - 1:00 every day. Check our website for details regarding our advising hours as they are subject to change throughout the year. To schedule an appointment or for more information about the Program, email lsbe@berkeley.edu. 

Related Courses

Contact Information

LSBE Program

3060 Valley Life Sciences

Phone: 510-664-4457

lsbe@berkeley.edu

Visit Program Website

Executive Director

Deepa Prasad

221 Donner Labs

Phone: 510-664-4457

Associate Director

Shobit Singh

221 Donner Labs

Phone: 510-260-4661

shobits@berkeley.edu

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