MIMG New Student Resources - First-Year-Admitted Students

MIMG Life Sciences: First- Year New Student Orientation Information (Presentation Copy)

Presentation Copy: First-Year MIMG New Student Orientation

About the MIMG Major (B.S.):

What is the MIMG major / What Do MIMG Students Study?

  • The MIMG major focus on infectious diseases & immune responses, the study of bacterial & viral mechanisms, & the integration of molecular genetics with microbiological systems.
  • Big questions you’ll explore:
    • How do infections start and spread?
    • Why do some people get sicker than others?
    • How do genes and immune responses shape health?
  • Develop core scientist skills:
    • Reading and discussing scientific papers
    • Designing experiments and asking testable questions
    • Analyzing data and interpreting results
    • Communicating findings in writing and presentations
  • Get hands-on research experience (a major highlight):
    • Guaranteed authentic research through Path 1 research-immersion courses (2 quarters required)
    • Take lab-based courses and present at an undergraduate research symposium

Why Students Choose MIMG:

  • Training that’s directly relevant to today’s biggest challenges: infectious diseases, cancer, climate change, and food security
  • Research experience with award-winning faculty and opportunities to publish in academic journals as an undergraduate
  • Diverse specialization options through the major with electives covering fields including cell & gene therapy, virology, parasitology, genomics, microscopy, human genetics, & quantitative regulatory biology

Career Pathways after MIMG:

We recommend checking out MIMG's undergraduate overview, MIMG major requirements, and MIMG career resources to get insight into our major as well.

MIMG Major Preparation/Lower-Division Requirements (Life Sciences Core Curriculum)

  • Students must take each course for a letter grade and earn a C- or better.
  • Key areas:
    • Biology (1 series)
    • Calculus (1 series)
    • Chemistry (1 series)
    • Statistics (1 course)
    • Physics (1 series)

Life Science/Biology Series

All four courses required. 

Calculus Series

1 Calculus series:

***AP/IB credit may apply. If students completed MATH 31A and 31B and these transfer over as a minimum of 12.0 units, MATH 32A can potentially be exempt. 

Calculus & AP Credit

  • A.B. Exam:
    • If scored a 5: credit for MATH 31A or 3A → enroll in MATH 3B or 31B
    • If scored a 4: no credit, enroll in LIFESCI 30A, MATH 3A, or MATH 31A
  • B.C. Exam:
    • If scored a 5: credit for MATH 3B/31B → enroll in MATH 3C or 32A. 
    • If scored a 4: credit for MATH 31A or 3A → enroll in MATH 3B or 31B

Note: AP credit does NOT count toward Pre-Health calculus reqs.

Calculus Diagnostic Test

  • UCLA offers a math diagnostic test which is required to enroll in the Math 3A/3B/3C or Math 31A/31B/32A series.
  • 80% or above = placed in MATH 3A or MATH 31A
  • 60-80% required to enroll in MATH 31AL
  • 30-60% required to enroll in MATH 1 before taking series
  • Students may have AP/IB credit that can be counted toward these series- information on next slide. 

Chemistry Series

1 Chemistry series:

Both Chemistry series required Chemistry Diagnostic exam which should have been completed prior to orientation. 

Statistics Course*

1 course required:

  • STATS 13 or LIFESCI 40

*STATS 10 is not considered an equivalent course and is not an accepted alternate. STATS 10 can be accepted for the STATS 13/LIFESCI 40 MIMG requirement only if students have completed this course at a community college or another institution PRIOR to starting at UCLA. 

Physics Series

1 Physics series required:

MIMG Major Requirements (Upper-Division, 10 Courses Minimum)

Students will complete these upper-division MIMG major requirements by graduation (by the end of your “Degree Expected Term”). 

5 Foundation Courses:

  • MIMG 101 - Introductory Microbiology (4 units)

  • CHEM 153A - Biochemistry (4 units)

  • LIFESCI 107- Genetics (5 units)

  • CHEM 153B - or - MIMG 132- Cell Biology (4 units)

  • MIMG 185A- Immunology (5 units)

MIMG Research Series (2 Quarters)

Path 1: Research Immersion Series (Automatic Option, 2 Courses)

  • MIMG 103AL - Research Immersion Lab in Virology (5 units) + MIMG 103BL - Advanced Research Analysis in Virology (4 units)

    -OR-

  • MIMG 109AL - Research Immersion Lab in Microbiology (5 units) + MIMG 109BL - Advanced Research Analysis in Microbiology (4 units)

Path 2 (Independent Research and Application Required, 4 Courses):

  • Path 2 requires that students already be working in an MIMG lab or UCLA faculty lab conducting MIMG research. Please see MIMG’s Undergrad. Research Guide for suggested steps and resources. 

  • Path 2 is not guaranteed, and students must apply to Path 2 no later than Fall of their senior year. 

  • Path 2 students are enrolled in 2 classes (180A/B seminar + 196A/B research contract course) per quarter enrolled in Path 2 (4 courses total, 12 units). 

2 MIMG Focus Electives

Students will choose two total “Focus Electives” to complete from our MIMG Focus Electives list.

Note: Any single course can be used in only ONE category of the major. For example, students cannot use CHEM 153B nor MIMG 132 as both a Foundation course and an elective. If students take both CHEM 153B and MIMG 132, the second course completed will be counted toward the Focus Elective requirement unless requested otherwise. 

1 MIMG General Elective 

Students will choose one total “General Elective” to complete from our MIMG General Electives list.

Note: Any single course can be used in only ONE category of the major. For example, students cannot use CHEM 153B nor MIMG 132 as both a Foundation course and an elective. If students take both CHEM 153B and MIMG 132, the second course completed will be counted toward the Focus Elective requirement unless requested otherwise. 

Pre-Health Planning

What is “Pre-Health”?

  • “Pre-Health” is an umbrella term, referring to the pathways that prepare students for careers in healthcare professions (i.e. medicine, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, dental, physical therapy, veterinary fields, etc.). 
  • UCLA has several Pre-Health services and Pre-Health resources for students. 
  • Pre-Health students MUST consult individual professional schools in addition to UCLA general guidance as professional schools can theoretically change their individual admission requirements at any time. 

Pre-Health Requirements Overview

  • Pre-Health students applying to health professional programs such as medical school will have additional Pre-Health requisite requirements needed for application. Many of these requirements will align with the Life Science Core.
  • Pre-Health students MUST consult individual health professional schools in addition to this general guidance.
  • A.P. coursework does not typically apply toward Pre-Health/Pre-Med requirements. Only community college or four-year institution coursework is considered “college-level” for medical school or Pre-Health purposes.

Pre-Health Requirements 

  • 3 courses of Writing (“W”), English (ENGL), and/or Comparative Literature (COM LIT). A.P. credit does not typically apply; courses must be taken at UCLA or another institution like a community college. 
  • 3 courses of Math/Calculus and Statistics. This may be covered by Life Science Core requirements depending on your major. A.P. credit does not typically apply; courses must be taken at UCLA or another institution like a community college. 
  • Biology Series with Lab (“1 year of Biology” covered by Life Science Core)
  • Chemistry Series with Labs (i.e. Life Science Core series in addition to Chem 14CL or 30BL - Organic Chem. lab). 
  • Physics Series with Lab (covered by Life Science Core)
  • Students should please review additional requirements by field. 
    • Example: Recommended for Medical School
      • PSYCH 10 (Psychology) - MCAT preparation
      • SOCIOL 01 (Sociology) - MCAT preparation
      • Spanish is recommended for competitiveness, especially if practicing in California. 

Pre-Health Course Planning Requirements Support

Pre-Health Application & Career Planning

Getting Involved in MIMG Undergraduate Research

  • All students who enter the major are automatically enrolled in Path 1: MIMG Research Immersion Laboratories, an authentic research experience within a two-course series. We offer two focuses: virology and microbiology. 
  • Students may also engage in research in UCLA faculty member's labs. Please see the MIMG Undergraduate Research Guide for steps and resources on how to get connected to a lab and find research opportunities. MIMG does not place student in labs.
  • There are different options for receiving academic credit and major credit for MIMG research conducted in a UCLA faculty member's lab (including MIMG 99s and 199s, MIMG’s Path 2, and/or MIMG Departmental Honors).
  • Please contact MIMG Advisors to inquire about options for your lab once you are connected to research.
  • We recommend students explore resources from the Undergraduate Research Center - Sciences.

Biomedical Research Minor

The Biomedical Research Minor is an interdepartmental minor that is designed to involve students in laboratory research early in their college career.

Minor Highlights

  • Training as a research scientist
  • Informed lab placement
  • Undergraduate research community
  • Integration of social sciences and humanities
  • Courses in biomedical research skills & concepts, ethics, journal club & data presentation seminars (~ 33 - 34 total units)
  • Complete a thesis and research presentation
  • 80% of alumni continue to graduate school; career paths also include lab research, or health professional schools

Applying to the Minor

  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Take 1 Introductory course (BMD RES 5HA & M6H available in Fall 2026)
  • Transfer-admitted students admitted in Fall 2025 quarter must apply no later than Winter 2027 quarter (Week 4 - Week 7)
  • Students may apply while currently enrolled in the Introductory course  

MIMG Major Frequently Asked Questions (“F.A.Q.’s”)

  • What are MIMG’s “Path 1” & “Path 2”?
    • “Path 1” & “Path 2” describe the different ways students can fulfill MIMG’s upper division research requirement for the major. 
  • Can students choose between “Path 1” & “Path 2”?
    • All MIMG students are automatically Path 1, and a majority of MIMG students are Path 1. 
    • Students must already be engaged in MIMG research in a faculty mentor's lab/meet eligibility requirements and apply to Path 2. Path 2 is not guaranteed.

Fall '26 Enrollment Recommendations for First-Year MIMG Majors

3 Courses Total (12+ units = full-time courseload):

  • 2 Life Sciences Core/ MIMG Major Preparation Requirements:
    • Any combination of Calculus (i.e. LIFESCI 30A), Life Sciences (LIFESCI 7A), and/or Chemistry (i.e. CHEM 14A). Students must be eligible to enroll (note math and chemistry diagnostic exam information above).
    • Examples:
      • LIFESCI 30A (5 units) & LIFESCI 7A (5 units) 
      • LIFESCI 30A (5 units) & CHEM 14A (4 units) 
  • 1 UCLA College of Letters and Sciences Requirement (Non-Major Course)
    • Examples: Cluster, ENG COMP 3 course, UCLA G.E. course as recommended by UCLA New Student Advisor (NSA). 

What to Expect for Fall ‘26 Enrollment During New Student Orientation

  • UCLA New Student Advisors (NSAs) can support with timely guidance during your orientation enrollment time during New Student Orientation.
  • UCLA New Student Advisors (NSAs)  have training about Life Science requirements and have a copy of your major preparation course recommendations for this Fall quarter.
  • Students will have the same opportunity to enroll in courses regardless of which orientation for which you are registered. Students will not have an advantage in enrollment if registered in an earlier orientation session, and students will not have a disadvantage if registered for a later orienation session. 

UCLA Life Sciences Majors

UCLA Life Sciences Minors

Switching Your Life Science Major During Orientation: 

Switching Your Major Beginning Fall 2026 Quarter:

  • First-year admitted students should please connect with UCLA College Advisors in addition to the respective UCLA Major Departmental Advisors to inquire about switching majors.
  • Each UCLA Life Science Major will have a different requirements for major entry, and some programs will require applications.

UCLA Resources:

MIMG Student Resources:

For questions about this information, support navigating resources, or to inquire about alternate formats of the presentation, please contact MIMG advisors via email (undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu) with your UID.