The School of MCB welcomes transfer students in MCB, Neuroscience, and Biochemistry. The process for transferring to our majors varies depending on your current status, whether you're at another institution, another program in the College of LAS or college at UIUC.
College of LAS Transfer Handbook
Transferring to MCB, Biochemistry, or Neuroscience from another major in College of LAS
Current UIUC undergraduates who are in another LAS program and wish to change their major to MCB, Biochemistry, or Neuroscience must complete the following steps.
1. Take prerequisite classes on our campus:
- Prospective MCB majors should take MCB 150 and CHEM 102 (or another chem lecture) on our campus, earning a C or better and maintain an MCB major GPA of 2.50 or higher.
- Prospective Neuroscience majors should take either MCB 150 or MCB 170 and CHEM 102 (or another chem lecture) on our campus, earning a C or better and maintain a Neuroscience major GPA of 2.50 or higher.
- Prospective Biochemistry majors should take MCB 150, CHEM 102 (or CHEM 202), and MATH 220 (or another required MATH course), earning a C or better and maintain a Biochemistry major GPA of 2.50 or higher.
2. Signup for one of our SMCB information meetings. All meetings are identical and will be held in person. Registration is required.
3. Complete the Curriculum Change Form during the posted application period. Students will receive an email indicating whether or not they have been accepted to the major once the form has been processed.
Application periods occur one week before classes begin through the 10th day of class each semester. They are also available during the months of October, March, and June.
Transferring to MCB, Biochemistry, or Neuroscience from another college at UIUC (Intercollegiate Transfers, ICT)
Current UIUC students who wish to transfer into the College of LAS and declare MCB, Biochemistry, or Neuroscience as a major must complete the following steps.
1. Take prerequisite classes on our campus:
- Prospective MCB majors should take MCB 150 and CHEM 102 (or another chem lecture) on our campus, earning a C or better and maintain an MCB major GPA of 2.50 or higher.
- Prospective Neuroscience majors should take either MCB 150 or MCB 170 and CHEM 102 (or another chem lecture) on our campus, earning a C or better and maintain a Neuroscience major GPA of 2.50 or higher.
- Prospective Biochemistry majors should take MCB 150, CHEM 102 (or CHEM 202), and MATH 220 (or another required MATH course), earning a C or better and maintain a Biochemistry major GPA of 2.50 or higher.
2. Signup for one of our SMCB information meetings. All meetings are identical and will be held in person. Registration is required.
3. Watch the online College of LAS information session, then apply online using the link emailed to you by the College of LAS. Students will receive an email indicating whether or not they have been accepted to the major once their application has been processed.
Application periods occur one week before classes begin through the 10th day of class each semester. They are also available during the months of October, March, and June.
Transferring to MCB, Neuroscience, or Biochemistry from an outside institution
Prospective students from other institutions should schedule a prospective student advising appointment to discuss appropriate options and timing for transfer. Additionally, students are encouraged to consult the LAS Transfer Handbook for information on prerequisites for transfer to each individual major.
Interested applicants should apply as a transfer student to the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and choose either Molecular and Cellular Biology, Neuroscience, or Biochemistry as your major.
Success in the School of MCB requires a strong foundation in molecular genetics, eukaryotic cell biology, and biochemistry. As major in the School of MCB, you’ll build upon this foundation by learning to interpret experimental data and apply concepts. We are proud to offer courses delivered by research faculty who are leaders in their respective fields. We believe this is a rare opportunity, and one that we are convinced is integral to success in later courses or post-baccalaureate opportunities.
Because we feel so strongly about the importance of the research-driven delivery of our core foundation courses, and because so few institutions offer a comparable foundation, there is a strong probability that your first MCB courses will be these foundation courses. You may be initially surprised to have 100- or 200-level biology courses recommended for you if you are entering the university as an upper-division student, but rest assured we only have your long-term best interests in mind. The consequence of this placement is that transfer students typically require a total of five or six semesters on our campus to graduate. We believe that this extra semester or two is a worthwhile investment if it maximizes your chance of success, and our experience strongly suggests that it does.
Contact us
Email or call us at prospective@mcb.illinois.edu or 217-333-6774.