"Earth and Planetary Sciences" text placed on top of a decorative photo collage of the five main UC Davis EPS research disciplines.

MCS Orientation

Bodega Marine Lab

For New Students

Here you will find information for preparing to register for Fall classes. Please read it carefully, and feel free to contact your major advisor with any questions. 

The first step to orienting yourself to UC Davis is to complete Aggie 101 and the Aggie Advising Canvas Course online. Once you have done that, use this page to learn the basics about your major. You will get a chance to review this information in a Webinar and one-on-one appointment with your major advisor before you register for Fall classes. In addition, you will learn more about your major requirements and opportunities during Aggie Orientation in September, and through events early in Fall Quarter.

Aggie 101

In addition to completing Aggie 101, read on to learn more about the resources available to you in the Geology community. 

Welcome to UC Davis Marine and Coastal Science!

The Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute and the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences are thrilled to have you join our community. You have a lot of great resources for success to take advantage of as a Marine and Coastal Science major. Some of these include:

  • Getting involved – there are several Marine Science-related clubs you can join, as well as many other ways to get involved. These clubs give students an opportunity to meet other students, volunteer, develop professional skills, and have fun!
  • Mentorship and professional development – Each Fall, the Lead Mentor in the Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute helps pair new students with a mentor in marine sciences. The Lead Mentor also hosts a career seminar class in Winter quarters. 
  • Bodega Marine Lab (BML) – this lab on the California Coasts hosts summer classes and hands-on research or internship opportunities for students. It’s a highlight of most students’ time at Davis!
  • BML Wednesday Seminar – Every Wednesday at 4pm in Storer Hall 1347, come hear about the latest research coming out of the Bodega Marine Lab
  • Undergraduate Research– students have unique opportunities to get highly involved in research in this collaborative, creative major.
  • Take part in internships – many of our students work on campus, gaining skills for the workplace. The CalTeach/MAST program connects future teachers with classroom experience.
  • Study abroad – gain global experience while working on major or general education coursework.
  • Prepare for careers or graduate school
  • Scholarships – including merit-based or need-based scholarships, and support for research projects and Bodega Marine Lab courses.
  • Engage with faculty and advisors to support you and your individual goals
  • Find your community and support system through UC Davis’ many student resources for success in college

Aggie Advising

Preparing for Fall Quarter course registration
First-Year students | Transfer Students

First-Year students | Preparing for Fall Quarter course registration

The Marine and Coastal Science major starts with basic science preparatory courses for the first two years: Chemistry, Biology, Math, Physics, and Statistics.

Creating your first-quarter schedule:

1. Your top priority is completing the Entry-Level Writing Requirement if you haven’t yet.

2. Choose 1-2 major classes from these options:

  • Chemistry
    • Major requirement: CHE 2A or 4A. CHE 2A is recommended.
    • Complete the Chemistry Placement Requirement during the open testing window online.
    • If you have not yet placed into CHE 2A, speak with your major advisor about which chemistry preparation option is most appropriate for you.
      • CHE 1 or 1V: 3-unit course to prepare you for UC Davis Chemistry. Offered Summer Session 2 and Fall. Passing this class with a C- or Pass or better makes you eligible to take CHE 2A or 4A, no matter your placement exam score.
      • ALEKS program: Summer online chemistry preparation. If choosing this option, go ahead and register for Fall’s CHE 2A now. You will retake the Chemistry Placement test in September after completing ALEKS online
    • You can take or retake the Chemistry Placement Exam in September, and in the mean time register for the course you think you will place into. 
    • If you have AP or IB credit for a Chemistry class, it’s still recommended that you start at the “A” level.
  • Biology
    • Major requirement: BIS 2B.
  • Math
    • Major requirement: MAT 17A or 19A or 21A.
      • MAT 17A or 21A is required for the focus area in “Marine Ecology and Organismal Biology”.
    • Complete the Math Placement Requirement during the open testing window online.
    • If you have not yet placed into one of these classes, speak with your major advisor about which math class is most appropriate for you.
    • If you placed in a higher numbered course and want to take a lower numbered course, you may. Choose the course that best fits with your intended major.
    • You can take or retake the Math Placement Exam in September, and in the mean time register for the course you think you will place into. 
    • If you have AP or IB credit for a calculus class, it’s still recommended that you start at the “A” level.

3. Add non-major class(es) to get you to 12-15 units total

  • Non-science general education (don’t take anything with Writing Experience GE until you’ve completed ELWR) or
  • Lower Division College English Composition class (after completing ELWR) or
  • A First-Year Seminar or
  • BioLaunch Seminar (College of Biological Sciences only) or
  • Career Discovery Group (College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences only) or
  • Aggie Ambassadors (College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences only) or
  • GEL 16: The Oceans

Reminders:

  • Only take 12-15 units for now, with a total of 1-2 major (STEM) classes
  • Only take lower division courses for now (#1-99)
  • Prioritize your Entry-Level Writing course if it’s required. Do not take “WE” general education until you have satisfied ELWR.
  • Only take non-science General Education classes
  • Don’t take courses you already have AP, IB, or transfer credit for (unless marked as “duplicate credit allowed”)
  • If you can only get into 1 or even no major classes, that’s fine. Everything will count for something useful towards graduation at this point.
  • Create backup schedules on Schedule Builder for a smoother registration process.
  • Feel free to make an advising appointment with your Major advisor to check your Fall Quarter schedule and talk about your requirements and resources for academic success.

Planning your MCS Major: 4-year MCS Sample Academic Plan

Transfer students | Preparing for Fall Quarter course registration

1. Check your transfer coursework on assist.org. Once it is received and processed by UC Davis, it will also show up on OASIS, along with the equivalent UC Davis course.

  • If you have non-California Community College credit, contact equivalent departments at UC Davis to get courses articulated. Your major advisor can help you with this process.
  • Do not take any classes at UC Davis that you already have transfer credit for.

2. Determine what preparatory science coursework you have left to complete. Those classes are the priority for Fall. Take 2-3 major classes and fill in with non-major classes.

3. If you are done with preparatory science coursework, follow the sample academic plan for transfer students. 

  • Any specific class that’s listed (i.e. STA 100, BIS 101) can be taken in Fall if it’s offered and you have the prerequisites for it.
  • Placeholder classes like “Depth Course”, “Focus Course”, and “Breadth course” depend on your focus area. Talk with your major advisor and check the MCS Undergraduate Course List for which of these classes are offered in Fall.

4. Final course schedules should have 2-4 major classes, then fill in with non-major classes for a total of 12-15 units. Filler options:

  • Upper Division College English Composition class
  • GE classes or classes to satisfy your partial IGETC (see your College/BASC advisor for eligible classes)
  • First-Year Seminars
  • BioLaunch Seminar (College of Biological Sciences only)
  • Career Discovery Group (College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences only)
  • Aggie Ambassadors (College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences only)
  • Upper division units toward graduation (anything numbered 100-199)
  • Anything else fun!

Reminders:

  • Only take 12-15 units for now, with a total of 2-4 major (STEM) classes
  • Don’t take courses you already have AP, IB, or transfer credit for (unless marked as “duplicate credit allowed”)
  • Create backup schedules on Schedule Builder for a smoother registration process.
  • Feel free to make an advising appointment with your Major advisor to check your Fall Quarter schedule and talk about your requirements and resources for academic success.

Planning your MCSci Major: 2-year MCS Sample Academic Plan

Marine and Coastal Science Major Webinar

Review the information above in a webinar this summer. You will get a chance to meet your major advisor, learn about resources for success in your major, get a basic introduction to your major requirements, and learn how to plan your Fall quarter schedule.

Meeting with an advisor

After you have done Aggie 101, the canvas pages, and attended or viewed the major webinar, feel free to connect with an advisor to answer your questions or do a brief Fall schedule check. 

You can connect with a college advisor to ask about university-level or college-level requirements like ELWR, the College English Composition requirement, GEs, or IGETC. You can connect with a major advisor to ask about major-required classes and resources for success in your major. 

Feel free to email or make an advising appointment.

Registering for classes

Aggie 101 taught you how to register for classes and find your registration time, and canvas taught you what to register for. Again, be sure to reate your schedule ahead of your registration pass time. If you have any questions during your registration pass time, your college will let you know how to reach them for help, or you can email your major advisor at mlrousseau@ucdavis.edu. Emails to the major advisor will be answered starting 30 minutes after summer registration times open to allow you time to troubleshoot on your own.

Aggie Orientation

Watch for information from the UC Davis Orientation program regarding online Orientation between move-in and the start of Fall Quarter.

  • Marine and Coastal Science First-Year Students Major Advising session: September 20, 2024. Time and location TBD. Check your Aggie Orientation Canvas page later in the summer for the details.
  • Marine and Coastal Science Transfer Students Major Advising session: September 18, 2024. Time and location TBD. Check your Aggie Orientation Canvas page later in the summer for the details.

And save the date for October 3rd, 2024 from 2-3pm in 1350 Storer Hall for the Marine and Coastal Science Fall Welcome for a chance to meet faculty and other students in your major!