This cluster is designed for students pursuing biological and life sciences majors, offering foundational coursework in mathematics, chemistry, and music. You will develop essential quantitative skills in Calculus I, gain a strong understanding of chemical principles in General Chemistry and its lab, and round out their experience with a course on the diverse music of groups in America. You will fulfill the Physical Sciences breadth and Arts & Literature breadth, and the American Cultures requirement.
Course Descriptions
- CHEM 1A: General Chemistry, 3 Units
Stoichiometry of chemical reactions, quantum mechanical description of atoms, the elements and periodic table, chemical bonding, real and ideal gases, thermochemistry, introduction to thermodynamics and equilibrium, acid-base and solubility equilibria, introduction to oxidation-reduction reactions, introduction to chemical kinetics. - CHEM 1AL: General Chemistry Laboratory, 2 Units
An experimental approach to chemical sciences with emphasis on developing fundamental, reproducible laboratory technique and a goal of understanding and achieving precision and accuracy in laboratory experiments. Proper use of laboratory equipment and standard wet chemical methods are practiced. Areas of investigations include chemical equilibria, spectroscopy, nanotechnology, green chemistry, and thermochemistry. Completion of, or concurrent enrollment in 1A is required. - MATH 51: Calculus I, 4 Units
This course is intended for STEM majors. An introduction to differential and integral calculus of functions of one variable, with applications and an introduction to transcendental functions. Prior to Fall 2025, this course was offered as Math 1A. - MATH 1: Foundations of Lower Division Mathematics, 2 Units
This course aims to bring students with varying Math backgrounds up-to-speed with the expectations of UC Berkeley’s lower division mathematics courses. This course will support comprehension of the fundamental concepts necessary to excel in Math 16A/16B, 1A/1B, 10A/10B, and beyond. You can take this prep course concurrently with or prior to your Calculus classes. The course curriculum covers algebraic operations, laws of exponents and logarithms, inequalities and absolute values, single-variable function properties, polynomials, power and exponential functions, logarithmic functions, trigonometric functions, coordinate geometry in two and three dimensions, complex numbers, and functions of several variables. - MUSIC 26AC: Music in American Culture, 4 Units
Two perspectives are developed: 1) diverse music of groups in America, and 2) American music as a unique phenomenon. Groups considered are African, Asian, European, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American. Lectures and musical examples are organized by topics such as music of socio-economic subgroups within large groups, survival of culture, pan-ethnicity, religious and concert music, and the folk-popular music continuum.
Meeting Schedule
- CHEM 1A: MWF 1:00-2:00 PM; Discussion T 1:00-2:00 PM
- CHEM 1AL: F 10:00-11:00 AM; Discussion W 8:00-11:00 AM
- MATH 51: TR 9:30-11:00 AM; Discussion MWF 3:00-4:00 PM
- MATH 1: TR 3:30-5:00 PM
- MUSIC 26AC: TR 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM; R 2:00-3:00 PM
Major Prerequisites and L&S Breadth/General Requirements
| Course | Major Prerequisite | L&S Breadth/General Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1A | Prerequisite for Neuroscience, MCB, All EPS majors, IB | L&S Breadth: Physical Science |
| CHEM 1AL | Prerequisite for Neuroscience, MCB, All EPS majors, IB | N/A |
| MATH 51 | Requirement for Molecular & Cellular Biology and Integrative Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astrophysics, Environmental Economics and Policy, Operations Research & Management Science, Economics, Applied Mathematics, all EPS majors, Cognitive Science, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Psychology | N/A |
| MATH 1 | N/A | N/A |
| MUSIC 26AC | N/A | L&S Breadth: Arts & Literature Requirement: American Cultures |
