In the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, undergraduates receive a broad, rigorous education in biological sciences and can tailor the curriculum to their interests. We offer three degree programs and many enriching opportunities in and outside of the classroom.

Molecular & Cellular Biology  Neuroscience  Biochemistry  Learn more

Prospective MCB majors

First-year students

Incoming first-year students who are interested in majoring in Molecular & Cellular Biology should apply for admission to the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) and choose biology as their intended major. During your first year you will take an introductory course in Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) and an introductory course in Integrative Biology (IB). Students generally declare their major during the second semester of the first year.

Transferring to the MCB major

The process for transferring to the MCB major varies depending on your current status, whether you're a student at another university or college, another program in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, or in another unit at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

Visit the Transferring to the MCB Major page for detailed information on the process that applies to you.

Prospective Neuroscience majors

For Fall 2022 Admission

Our new neuroscience major is open to current first- and second-year UIUC students who wish to transfer into the program.

To transfer to neuroscience from another UIUC major, students must obtain approval from the school of MCB before processing in LAS Student Academic Affairs. The school broadly evaluates transfer candidates according to the following three requirements:

1. Neuroscience major GPA of 2.50 or higher, based on at least one full semester of course work at Illinois.
2. MCB 150, MCB 170 and at least one general chemistry lecture completed with grades of C or higher in each individual course.
3. Attendance at a Neuroscience information session. Email tmknox@illinois.edu for scheduled times and dates.

Students may request curricular changes two times each semester: at the beginning of each semester or at mid-semester. The Curriculum Change Form can be found on the LAS Declaring or Changing a Curriculum or Major page.

For Fall 2023 admission

For Fall 2023 admission, students can begin the application process in September 2022.

To apply as an incoming first-year student, visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website, and choose neuroscience as your major under the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

Prospective Biochemistry majors

First-year students

To apply as an incoming first-year student, visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website and choose Biochemistry as your intended major.

Transferring to Biochemistry

Visit the Major in Biochemistry page for detailed information on the process that applies to you.