Areas of Emphasis in the MCB Major
mcb
Suggested Advanced Coursework
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Undergraduate Instructional Program
revised 2011
After completing the MCB Core Courses, students may choose to take advanced coursework that
will provide them with a broad overview of MCB, or they may specialize in one or more Areas of
Emphasis. For a broad overview, students should take 15 hours of Advanced Core Courses,
including at least one Emphasis-Related Lab. For those wishing to specialize, 15 hours of advanced
coursework, including at least one lab, should be chosen based on Area of Emphasis. At least one
Advanced Core Course within the Area of Emphasis should be taken prior to the Other Advanced
Courses. Please note Areas of Emphasis will not appear on the Illinois transcript.
Area of Emphasis
Advanced Core
Courses
Emphasis-Related
Lab Courses
Other Advanced
Courses
Biochemistry
MCB 406/BIOC 406
BIOC 455
MCB 400
MCB 408
MCB 424
MCB 446/BIOC 446
MCB 480
BIOC 440B/CHEM 440B
Cells and Tissues
MCB 400
MCB 406/BIOC 406
MCB 408
MCB 480
Developmental Biology
MCB 400
MCB 410
MCB 314
MCB 317
MCB 406/BIOC 406
MCB 412/NEUR 422
MCB 460
MCB 481
Infection and Immunity
MCB 300
MCB 400
MCB 408
MCB 428
MCB 421
MCB 426
MCB 429
MCB 431
MCB 433/PATH 433
MCB 442/PATH 510
MCB 480
Microbiology
MCB 300
MCB 301
MCB 428
MCB 421
MCB 424
MCB 426
MCB 429
MCB 431
MCB 433/PATH 433
MCB 434/FSHN 471
MCB 435
Genetics
MCB 300
MCB 316 or MCB 317
MCB 301
MCB 406/BIOC 406
MCB 421
Neurobiology
MCB 314/NEUR 314
MCB 401
MCB 412/NEUR 422
MCB 403
MCB 416/NEUR 426
MCB 419/NEUR 419
MCB 481/NEUR 481
NEUR 403/PSYC 403
NEUR 411/PSYC 411
NEUR 413/PSYC 413
NEUR 414/PSYC 414
NEUR 451/PSYC 451
Physiology
MCB 401
MCB 402
MCB 403
MCB 404
MCB 314/NEUR 314
MCB 412/NEUR 422
MCB 413
MCB 416/NEUR 426
MCB 419/NEUR 419
MCB 481/NEUR 481
mcb.illinois.edu/undergrad
(217) 333-6774
advising@mcb.illinois.edu
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Biochemistry Area of Emphasis Suggestions
Advanced Core Course
MCB 406/BIOC 406 Gene Expression (Prerequisite MCB 354)
Emphasis-Related Lab Course(s)
BIOC 455 Techniques in Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Other Advanced Courses
MCB 400 Cancer Cell Biology (Prerequisite MCB 250, 251, 252, 253 & credit
or concurrent registration in MCB 354)
MCB 408 Immunology (Prerequisite MCB 250, MCB 251, MCB 252, MCB 253
& MCB 354)
MCB 424 Microbial Biochemistry (Prerequisite MCB 250 and MCB 354)
MCB 446/BIOC 446 Physical Biochemistry (Recommended Prerequisite
CHEM 440 (section B) and MCB 354)
MCB 480 Eukaryotic Cell Signaling (Prerequisite MCB 400)
BIOC 440b Physical Chemistry Principles, Biological Perspective (Prerequisite CHEM 232, PHYS 102 & MATH 241)
Cells and Tissues Area of Emphasis Suggestions
Advanced Core Course
MCB 400 Cancer Cell Biology (Prerequisite MCB 250, 251, 252, 253 & credit
or concurrent registration in MCB 354)
Other Advanced Courses
MCB 406 Gene Expression (Prerequisite MCB 354)
MCB 408 Immunology (Prerequisite MCB 250, MCB 251, MCB 252, MCB 253
& MCB 354)
MCB 480 Eukaryotic Cell Signaling (Prerequisite MCB 400)
MCB 428 Bacterial Pathogens Lab (Prerequisite MCB 250 & 251 & credit or
concurrent registration in MCB 300)
Other Advanced Courses
MCB 421 Microbial Genetics (Prerequisite MCB 300)
MCB 424 Microbial Biochemistry (Prerequisite MCB 250 and MCB 354)
MCB 426 Bacterial Pathogenesis (Prerequisite MCB 300 and MCB 354)
MCB 429 Cellular Microbiology and Disease (Prerequisite MCB 300, MCB
354 and MCB 400)
MCB 431 Microbial Physiology (Prerequisite MCB 300)
MCB 433/PATH 433 Viral Pathogenesis (Prerequisite MCB 300 or MCB 354)
MCB 434/FSHN 471 Food and Industrial Microbiology (Prerequisite MCB
301)
MCB 435 Microbial Ecology & Evolution (Prerequisite MCB 300)
Genetics Area of Emphasis Suggestions
Advanced Core Course
MCB 300 Microbiology (Prerequisite MCB 250 and credit or concurrent
registration in MCB 252)
MCB 316 Intro to Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics (Prerequisite MCB 150 &
credit or concurrent registration in MCB 250)
MCB 317 Genetics and Genomics (Prerequisite MCB 250, MCB 251, MCB 252
& MCB 253)
Emphasis-Related Lab Course(s)
MCB 301 Experimental Microbiology (Prerequisite MCB 250 & 251 & credit
or concurrent registration in MCB 300)
Other Advanced Courses
MCB 406/BIOC 406 Gene Expression (Prerequisite MCB 354)
MCB 421 Microbial Genetics (Prerequisite MCB 300)
Developmental Biology Area of Emphasis Suggestions
Advanced Core Courses
MCB 400 Cancer Cell Biology (Prerequisite MCB 250, 251, 252, 253 & credit
or concurrent registration in MCB 354)
MCB 410 Developmental Biology (Prerequisite MCB 252 & credit or concurrent registration in MCB 354)
Other Advanced Courses
MCB 314/NEUR 314 Introduction to Neurobiology (Prerequisite Junior of
senior standing)
MCB 317 Genetics and Genomics (Prerequisite MCB 250, MCB 251, MCB 252
& MCB 253)
MCB 406/BIOC 406 Gene Expression (Prerequisite MCB 354)
MCB 412/NEUR 422 Cellular Molec. Neurobiology (Prerequisite MCB 252 &
credit or concurrent registration in MCB 354)
MCB 460 Regeneration and Medicine (Prerequisite MCB 410)
MCB 481/NEUR 481 Developmental Neurobiology (Prerequisite MCB 412)
Infection and Immunity Area of Emphasis Suggestions
Advanced Core Courses
MCB 300 Microbiology (Prerequisite MCB 250 and credit or concurrent
registration in MCB 252)
MCB 400 Cancer Cell Biology (Prerequisite MCB 250, 251, 252, 253 & credit
or concurrent registration in MCB 354)
MCB 408 Immunology (Prerequisite MCB 250, MCB 251, MCB 252, MCB 253
& MCB 354)
Emphasis-Related Lab Course(s)
MCB 428 Bacterial Pathogens Laboratory (Prerequisite MCB 250 & 251 &
credit or concurrent registration in MCB 300)
Other Advanced Courses
MCB 421 Microbial Genetics (Prerequisite MCB 300)
MCB 426 Bacterial Pathogenesis (Prerequisite MCB 300 and MCB 354)
MCB 429 Cellular Microbiology and Disease (Prerequisite MCB 300, MCB
354 and MCB 400)
MCB 431 Microbial Physiology (Prerequisite MCB 300)
MCB 433/PATH 433 Viral Pathogenesis (Prerequisite MCB 300 or MCB 354)
MCB 442/PATH 510 Comparative Immunobiology (working knowledge of
genetics, cellular &molecular biology recommended)
MCB 480 Eukaryotic Cell Signaling (Prerequisite MCB 400)
Microbiology Area of Emphasis Suggestions
Advanced Core Course
MCB 300 Microbiology (Prerequisite MCB 250 and credit or concurrent
registration in MCB 252)
Emphasis-Related Lab Course(s)
MCB 301 Experimental Microbiology (Prerequisite MCB 250 & 251 & credit
or concurrent registration in MCB 300)
Neurobiology Area of Emphasis Suggestions
Advanced Core Courses
MCB 314/NEUR 314 Introduction to Neurobiology (Prerequisite Junior of
senior standing)
MCB 401 Cell and Membrane Physiology (Prerequisite MCB 252)
MCB 412/NEUR 422 Cellular Molec. Neurobiology (Prerequisite MCB 252 &
credit or concurrent registration in MCB 354)
Emphasis-Related Lab Course(s)
MCB 403 Cell and Membrane Physiology Lab (Prerequisite Credit or concurrent registration in MCB 401)
Other Advanced Courses
MCB 416/NEUR 426 Integrative Neurophysiology (Prerequisite MCB 314,
MCB 401 or MCB 412)
MCB 419/NEUR 419 Brain, Behavior, and Information Processing (Prerequisite MCB 252, CS 101 & PHYS 102 or 212)
MCB 481/NEUR 481 Developmental Neurobiology (Prerequisite MCB 400 or
MCB 412)
NEUR 403/PSYC 403 Memory and Amnesia (Prerequisite PSYC 210 and/or
PSYC 224)
NEUR 411/PSYC 411 Bio Psych Lab (Prerequisite PSYC 311)
NEUR 413/PSYC 413 Psychopharmacology (Prerequisite PSYC 210 or MCB
150)
NEUR 414/PSYC 414 Brain, Learning, and Memory (Prerequisite PSYC 210
or MCB 150)
NEUR 451/PSYC 451 Neurobio of Aging (Prerequisite PSYC 210)
Physiology
Advanced Core Courses
MCB 401 Cell and Membrane Physiology (Prerequisite MCB 252)
MCB 402 Systems & Integrative Physiology (Prerequisite MCB 252)
Emphasis-Related Lab Course(s)
MCB 403 Cell and Membrane Physiology Lab (Prerequisite Credit or concurrent registration in MCB 401)
MCB 404 Systems & Integrative Physiology Lab (Prerequisite Credit or concurrent registration in MCB 402)
Other Advanced Courses
MCB 314/NEUR 314 Introduction to Neurobiology (Prerequisite Junior of
senior standing)
MCB 413 Endocrinology (Prerequisite MCB 252)
MCB 416/NEUR 426 Integrative Neurophysiology (Prerequisite MCB 314,
MCB 401 or MCB 412)
MCB 419/NEUR 419 Brain, Behavior, and Information Processing (Prerequisite MCB 252, CS 101 & PHYS 102 or 212)
MCB 481/NEUR 481 Developmental Neurobiology (Prerequisite MCB 412)