BS in Biophysics

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of California Los Angeles

Program Overview

UCLA’s B.S. in Biophysics brings together rigorous physics training with molecular biology to help students understand biological and macromolecular systems from a quantitative, physical perspective. It is well suited to students interested in biophysical research, biological physics, neuroscience, molecular science, medicine, or further study in interdisciplinary scientific fields.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students build the mathematical and scientific foundation needed for biophysics through courses such as Physics 1A/1AH, Math 32A and 32B, Chemistry 20A, and Life Science 7A. Physics laboratory work through Physics 4AL begins developing experimental skills alongside the mathematics, chemistry and life-science preparation required for the major.

Second Year: Students progress into more advanced foundational physics with Physics 1C/1CH, Physics 17: Modern Physics, Physics 32, and Physics 4BL, while continuing mathematics through Math 33B and chemistry through Chemistry 20B. This stage strengthens their understanding of modern physics and prepares them for the upper-division biophysics curriculum.

Third Year: The curriculum moves into specialist physics through Physics 105A, Physics 110A, Physics 115A, and Physics 112, followed by Physics C187A and C187B. Students begin connecting advanced physical principles with biological systems and can prepare for specialist areas such as biological physics, neuroscience, or molecular and cellular biophysics.

Fourth Year: Students complete advanced biophysics preparation through Physics 110B, Physics M180G, and upper-division electives selected from three specialist groups. Options include Neuroscience M101A, Physics 117, Physics 144, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering C286, Chemistry 153A/153L, MCDB 100, and MCDB 165A, allowing students to focus on neuroscience, biological physics, or molecular and cellular biophysics.

Focus areas:

Biophysics, molecular biophysics, biological physics, physics of neuroscience, molecular and cellular biophysics, modern physics, mathematical physics, experimental physics, molecular biology, chemistry, neuroscience, biological systems

Learning outcomes:

Students develop quantitative and analytical physics skills, mathematical problem-solving abilities, experimental and laboratory skills, an understanding of molecular and biological systems, and the ability to connect physical principles with complex biological phenomena. The program's interdisciplinary structure is designed to integrate physics with molecular biology and prepare students to investigate microbiological and macromolecular systems.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

The B.S. in Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science degree rather than a professionally licensed qualification. UCLA's official program information does not identify a separate professional accreditation for this specific Biophysics B.S.; students pursuing regulated professions or specialized clinical careers would normally require the appropriate subsequent professional or graduate education.

Reputation (employability rankings):

UCLA reports that it is ranked No. 2 among U.S. public universities and No. 17 among all national universities in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. UCLA also reports a No. 4 ranking among public universities globally in the 2026–27 U.S. News Best Global Universities rankings, reflecting the university's research reputation and international research profile.

Important program-status note: UCLA states that admission to the Biophysics B.S. is being suspended for continuing students effective Fall 2026 and for new admits effective Fall 2027, with a proposal to discontinue the major effective Fall 2027. Continuing students, including Fall 2026 entrants, will be supported through timely degree completion.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

UCLA's Biophysics students develop practical scientific skills through required physics laboratory courses, upper-division laboratory opportunities, computing resources and access to a major research environment. The Physics & Astronomy department supports undergraduate research and provides computing, technical fabrication and experimental infrastructure that can complement the program's focus on biological physics and molecular systems.

Students can build practical experience through several UCLA-specific opportunities and resources:

Physics 4AL and Physics 4BL: Required preparation includes two dedicated physics laboratory courses, giving students hands-on experimental experience alongside their physics coursework.
Upper-division laboratory courses: UCLA gives declared physics, astrophysics and biophysics majors priority when assigning PTE numbers for upper-division Physics & Astronomy laboratory courses.
Physics M180G: This upper-division course forms part of the specialist Biophysics B.S. curriculum and contributes to the program's advanced biophysics preparation.
Undergraduate research: UCLA Physics & Astronomy operates a ten-week Undergraduate Summer Research program for eligible UCLA Physics and Astronomy students, with a 2026 program stipend of $6,000.
Computing resources: The department's Computing and Information Systems group supports Physics & Astronomy students with workstations, software, networking and research applications.
Scientific software: Department-supported software includes Mathematica, MATLAB, IDL and SolidWorks, providing tools relevant to mathematical analysis, computation, modelling and technical work.
Machine Shop and Instrument Fabrication Facility: Students can access a specialist environment supporting scientific equipment development, with CNC machining, precision milling, lathes and other fabrication capabilities; a student machine shop also provides training in equipment such as lathes, mills and drill presses.
Interdisciplinary specialist options: Students can select coursework in Physics of Neuroscience, Biological Physics, or Molecular and Cellular Biophysics, including courses from Neuroscience, Chemistry, MCDB and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Center for Biological Physics: UCLA Physics & Astronomy identifies biological physics as an active research area within the department, providing a research environment aligned with the Biophysics major.
Technical and research support: The department's facilities include dedicated computing support, research infrastructure, laboratory equipment support and the Physics & Astronomy Machine Shop and Instrument Fabrication Facility.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The UCLA B.S. in Biophysics provides a strong quantitative foundation for students interested in scientific research, biological physics, engineering, medicine and other interdisciplinary fields. UCLA notes that physics graduates pursue academic, government and corporate research, engineering, hardware and software development, teaching, and professional programs such as medicine and law.

Typical career directions include Biophysicist, Biomedical Researcher, Research Scientist, Medical Physicist:

Undergraduate research opportunities: UCLA Physics & Astronomy provides undergraduate research opportunities, including its ten-week summer research program, where students develop research skills and work with faculty on physics or astronomy projects.
Research-oriented environment: UCLA identifies biophysics as one of the department's established research specialties, alongside condensed matter physics, particle physics, plasma physics, nuclear physics and other fields.
Career breadth: The department identifies academic, governmental and corporate research, engineering, teaching, hardware development and software development among career directions for physics graduates. It also notes that its majors are accepted into medical and law schools and enter areas such as finance, management, entertainment and government.
Career and employment resources: UCLA provides university-wide career resources and job opportunities, including UCLA Health positions, academic positions, student jobs and UC systemwide opportunities.
Research and industry preparation: The program's combination of advanced physics, mathematics, laboratory work, computing and biological science provides transferable preparation for research and technology-oriented employment.
Graduate and professional pathways: The interdisciplinary curriculum can support further study in biophysics, biological physics, biomedical fields, physics and related scientific disciplines, as well as professional education such as medicine. UCLA's Physics & Astronomy department specifically notes that its majors are often accepted to medical and law schools.
Research progression: UCLA's broader Physics & Astronomy research environment includes biological physics, providing students interested in research with an opportunity to continue into advanced scientific study.
University reputation: UCLA reports its 2026 position as No. 2 among U.S. public universities and No. 17 among all national universities, while its global ranking places it No. 4 among public universities. These are university-wide rankings rather than rankings specifically for the Biophysics B.S.
Accreditation value: No separate professional accreditation is identified by UCLA for this specific Biophysics B.S.; its value is primarily as an interdisciplinary scientific degree that can lead into research, technology, graduate study and professional education.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Biophysics, students can continue into graduate programs in biophysics, biological physics, physics, molecular biology, neuroscience, biomedical sciences and related interdisciplinary areas. Students interested in medicine or other professional careers can also use the strong physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics foundation as preparation for subsequent professional education.