BIO123 Administrative Information
BIO123 Series Rollout Timeline
As UC Davis begins rolling out the new BIO123 Series in Fall 2025, starting with BIO1 and 1L*, the current BIS2 series (BIS2A, BIS2B, BIS2C) will continue to be offered every quarter during the 25-26 Academic Year (Fall, Winter, and Spring). Starting in Fall 2026, the entire BIO123 Series will be offered each quarter.
*In fall 2025, BIO1 and 1L will be open only to incoming CBS freshmen during first pass. If you have questions, please contact your major's academic advisor.
Information about Transition and Cancellation of BIS2 Series
The introduction of the BIO123 Series will result in the eventual cancellation of courses in the BIS2 series. If you currently require BIS2A, B or C in your major's curriculum, or as a prerequisite for one of your courses, please use the collected BIS2 series syllabi to familiarize yourself with their content.
CBS is working with the Academic Senate to streamline the process for majors to transition between the BIS2 series and BIO123 and will post this information as it becomes available. As of May 2025, the Undergraduate Council has approved an expedited review process. For more information, please see the Process for expedited approval of inclusion of BIO 1, 2, 3, 1L, 2L courses PDF.
For Students in the BIS2 Series
The best option for students who have started the BIS2 series is to complete the BIS2 series. However, we recognize some students may need to substitute BIS2 courses with those in the BIO123 Series. To support these substitutions, we are working with BASC advisors to map various scenarios, identify suitable replacements and ensure students do not experience a delay in their time to degree.
Attention students: you must get approval from your major's academic advisor before making any course substitutions to the BIS2 series.
How Do I Add BIO123 Courses as Prerequisites Using ICMS?
Overview
Instructors should add the new BIO123 courses as options rather than replacing existing BIS2 prerequisites. For example, if a course requires BIS2B, add BIO1 as an option so that the catalogue reads "BIS2B or BIO1." This will accommodate students who have taken courses in either series. You can do this yourself if you have ICMS access. If you do not have ICMS access, you will need to contact your department's instructional support staff.
Getting Started
To add the new BIO courses as a prerequisite from an existing course, submit a Prerequisite/Restrictions ICMS proposal. If this is the only change to be made, make sure to use this proposal type for a quicker processing time.
Course Information Tab
You will need to enter the effective term for the change and fill in the remarks box. A sample for BIS 101 is below.
Prerequisites Tab
To add the appropriate BIO123 Series course(s) as prerequisites takes two steps. First, you will need to remove the existing BIS2 series course(s) from the prerequisite list, then re-enter it with the condition “or.” Second, you will add the new BIO123 Series course(s).
You can see a sample from BIS 101 below. Note the logic: ((BIS002A C- or better) or (BIO002 C- or better))
At the bottom of this page, make sure to review the Prerequisite Catalog View box to make sure it reads correctly. This is what students and advisors will see. See BIS 101’s sample below.
Approvals
The department and college course committees will review and, if approved, the proposal will go directly to the team that adds to the catalog course list.
Process for Expedited Approval of Inclusion of BIO123 Series Courses and Labs
The faculty executive committees of CAES, CBS, COE and L&S have approved an expedited process for adding the new BIO123 series to campus majors. The expedited approval process is described in the document below and should be submitted to Analyst Theresa Costa (tacosta@ucdavis.edu), no later than July 15, 2025, so the changes can be included in the 2026-27 version of the General Catalog.
Process for expedited approval of inclusion of BIO 1, 2, 3, 1L, 2L courses (PDF)
Additional FAQs
- Why are we making these changes now?
- The new course series enhances small-group discussions, hands-on labs, and active learning to better prepare students for upper-division coursework. By focusing on core concepts and practical skills, the updated series allows for greater mastery and retention while maintaining a strong foundation in biological sciences.
- How does the structure of the BIO123 Series compare to that of the BIS2ABC series?
- The new BIO123 Series must be taken in sequence and separates lectures and labs into standalone courses (e.g., BIO1 and 1L). Lecture courses are now 4 units (3 units of lecture, 1 unit of discussion), while labs are optional 1-unit courses which can be taken concurrently with the lectures. This structure facilitates small-group discussions, active learning, and scheduling flexibility while reducing the overall series by 1 unit.
- What about BIS2C, Introduction to Biology: Biodiversity and the Tree of Life?
- Key topics from BIS2C are distributed across the series. BIO1 covers the basics of phylogenies and major evolutionary innovations. BIO2 addresses the evolution of unicellular life and distinctions among bacteria, archaea, and eukarya. BIO3 highlights functional biology and adaptations in multicellular organisms (plants and animals) without systematically covering all organismal diversity. A broad survey of the diversity of life will still be available in the new 3-unit BIS 070 lecture course (Biodiversity and the Tree of Life), which will be offered after BIS2C is discontinued.
- How do I know if a course has BIS2A, BIS2B or BIS2C as a prerequisite?
- To see if a BIS2 series course is a prerequisite for one of your courses, review the ICMS impact report for each respective course. This report will also indicate which majors and minors have these courses listed under program requirements.
BIS02A Impact Report
BIS02B Impact Report
BIS02C Impact Report - How will these changes influence prerequisites for upper-division courses?
- Departments will determine which of BIO1, BIO2, or BIO3 align with their course prerequisites. For courses that previously required BIS2ABC or a full-year biology introduction, the BIO123 Series is recommended. Departments looking for broader coverage of organismal diversity across all life should consider requiring BIO70.
- How will the new series articulate with community college biology courses?
- In the short term, community college courses will continue to articulate into the BIS2ABC series. Over the next two years, CBS will work with community colleges to develop new articulation agreements for the BIO123 Series. In the longer term, the BIO123 Series is expected to articulate more easily with most community college courses than the current BIS2ABC series.