Life Sciences in Japan
On this Summer Abroad program, you can
- Earn 8 quarter units in 4 weeks.
- Enroll in UC Davis courses to fulfill degree, major, minor, or GE requirements as listed in the General Catalog.
- Experience academic coursework enriched by both the program’s location(s) and activities.
Note to Non-UC Davis Students
- Students from other campuses should consult with their home campus to determine whether courses may be used to fulfill their specific academic requirements.
- Semester students who will apply for Summer Financial Aid can get an additional unit to meet unit minimums for financial aid eligibility. Please contact Summer Abroad for additional information.
Syllabus
Biological Sciences (BIS) 102 and 198 - Syllabus (PDF)
The program syllabus and schedule, including the daily itinerary and planned activities, are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
Class Format
- Your classroom experience is a combination of traditional classroom sessions and group project work complemented with guest lectures and field trips around Kyoto and Shiga Prefecture.
- On a daily basis, you will attend classes in the morning with group activities scheduled during afternoons or Fridays. Classes generally meet Monday-Thursday with weekends free. Students can plan to explore nearby Kyoto, Osaka and Nara or trek to cities like Tokyo or Hiroshima in their free time. The program instructor will provide more details with the syllabus.
Courses
You will enroll in the course set below. Auditing is not an option. UC Davis programs are academic programs so participants should expect a substantial amount of course work.
- Biological Sciences (BIS) 102. Structure & Function of Biomolecules (3 units)
- Structure and function of macromolecules with emphasis on proteins, catalysis, enzyme kinetics, lipids, membranes, and proteins as machines. Only one unit of credit for students who have completed Animal Biology 102 & 1.5 units of credit for students who have completed Biological Science 105. GE credit: SciEng | QL, SE
OR
- TUTORS ONLY: Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) 197T. Tutoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology (3 units, Pass/No Pass grading only)
- Prerequisite: upper division standing, completion of course to be tutored, and consent of instructor. Assisting the instructor in one of the section’s regular courses by tutoring individual or small groups of students in a laboratory, in voluntary discussion groups, or other voluntary course activities. May be repeated for credit.
AND
- Biological Sciences (BIS) 198. Directed Group Study (5 units, P/NP grading only)
- This course includes participation on excursions and tours and attendance to guest lectures. Students are often asked to write reflective pieces. Assignment topics vary by program.
Prerequisites
Along with the general eligibility requirements, Study Abroad will be enforcing the completion of the following prerequisites. For non-UC Davis students, the equivalent at your campus:
BIS 2A and CHE 8B or 118B or 128B
For visiting students: one semester or one quarter of a first year biology series, and one semester or two quarters of organic chemistry before departure.
BIS 2A. Introduction to Biology: Essentials of Life on Earth (5)
Lecture—3 hours; discussion—2 hours. Essentials of life including sources and use of energy, information storage, responsiveness to natural selection and cellularity. Origin of life and influence of living things on the chemistry of the Earth. Not open for credit to students who have completed course 1A with a grade of C- or better. GE credit: SciEng | SE.—F, W, S, Su. (F, W, S, Su.)
CHE 8B. Organic Chemistry: Brief Course (4)
Laboratory—3 hours; Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite(s): CHE 008A or CHE 118A or CHE 128A Laboratory concerned primarily with organic laboratory techniques and the chemistry of the common classes of organic compounds. Lecture portion a continuation of course 8A. Varying credit hours according to courses taken previously and corresponding expected workload for this course; full credit to students who complete CHE 118A or 128A; 3 units credit to students who have completed CHE 128A and CHE 129A (students who have completed CHE 129A are exempt from the laboratory portion of CHE 008B); 2 units credit to students who have completed CHE 128B; 1 unit credit to students who have completed CHE 118B or CHE 128B and CHE 129A (students who have completed CHE 118B are exempt from the laboratory portion of CHE 008B). GE credit: SE.
CHE 118B. Organic Chemistry for Health and Life Sciences (4)
Laboratory—3 hours; Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite(s): CHE 118A or CHE 128A Continuation of course 118A, with emphasis on spectroscopy and the preparation and reactions of aromatic hydrocarbons, organometallic compounds, aldehydes and ketones. Only one unit of credit to students who completed course CHE 128B.; not open for credit to students who have completed 8 or more units of CHE 128 and CHE 129 courses. GE credit: SE, SL.
CHE 128B—Organic Chemistry (3)
Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite(s): CHE 002C C or better or CHE 002CH C or better Introduction to the basic concepts of organic chemistry with emphasis on stereochemistry and the chemistry of hydrocarbons. Designed primarily for majors in chemistry. Chemistry majors should enroll in course 129A concurrently. Only two units credit allowed for students who have completed CHE 008A; not open for credit to students who have completed courses CHE 008B or 118A. GE credit: SE.
- UC Davis students: Prerequisites can only be waived by the instructor—please contact the instructor if you wish to discuss this option. Please note that you will be required to submit proof of prerequisites waived when submitting your enrollment.
- Non-UC Davis students: Prerequisites can only be waived by the instructor—please contact the instructor if you wish to discuss this option. Please note that you will be required to submit proof of prerequisites waived when submitting your enrollment. If you plan to take these courses to satisfy a requirement at your home campus, please meet with your academic advisor to make sure waiving the prerequisites does not impact that requirement.
- Failure to complete unwaived prerequisites prior to program departure can result in administrative withdrawal and fees owed accordingly.