Graduate Courses & Registration

Graduate Courses & Registration

The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering offers a wide range of graduate courses. See the links below to review suggested core courses, sample plans of study, and course descriptions.

  • Detailed course descriptions for BAE graduate courses (200-299) can be found in the UC Davis Catalog.
  • Suggested core courses, by disciplinary area.
  • Sample plans of study, by disciplinary area.

📚 Registering for Classes

You must enroll in at least 12 units each quarter to maintain full-time status, employment eligibility, and fellowship funding. You may take no more than 16 units per quarter.

Use Schedule Builder to build your schedule and register: Schedule Builder Tutorial. Registration is open any time during or after Pass 1 each quarter (see UC Davis Registration Calendar).

Learn more: Graduate Studies Registration Requirements.

  • Full-Time Enrollment 

  • All GBSE students are expected to enroll full-time each quarter unless otherwise discussed with the program and written permission is provided. Full-time enrollment is required to maintain eligibility for employment, fellowships, and access to university services.

    It is your responsibility to understand and meet all GBSE degree requirements, so please read them thoroughly. Knowing what is required of you ensures timely progress toward your degree.

  • How to make up to full-time (12 units)

  • If the total units from your registered courses are less than 12, add additional EBS 299 units with your major professor to reach the 12-unit minimum.

    Example:
    - EBS 200 – 2 units
    - EBS 290 – 1 unit
    - EBS 290C – 1 unit
    - EBS 265 – 4 units
    Total: 8 units → Add 4 units of EBS 299 to reach 12 units.

    How to adjust units in schedule builder (variable unit change)

  • PhD and MS Plan I (thesis) Registration

  • Your major professor and graduate advisor will work with you each quarter to select courses that align with your academic progress, research goals, and degree requirements. Together, you’ll balance core courses, electives, and research units (EBS 299) in a way that supports both timely degree completion and your professional development.

    Typical Quarterly Course Load:
    A typical schedule might look like this:

    - Two-three 200- or 100-level courses (lecture, lab, and/or seminar) (6-10 units)
    - EBS 290C - Grad Research Conference with Major Professor (1 unit)
    - EBS 299 - Research units with Major Professor (variable)

    Once coursework is complete, students primarily register for EBS 290C and EBS 299 while working on comprehensive exams, thesis, or dissertation.

  • MS Plan II (Coursework/Exam) Registration

  • You’ll follow a suggested 12-unit plan for each quarter. Full details are in your GBSE Handbook, but here’s a quick summary:

    Fall Quarter:
    •    EBS 200 (2 units)
    •    EBS 290C (1 unit)
    •    One engineering graduate course (any 200-299 level course within the College of Engineering, 3 units)
    •    One technical elective (200-level, any department, 3 units)
    •    One additional elective (100- or 200-level, 3 units)

    Winter 
    •    EBS 290 (1 unit)
    •    EBS 290C (1 unit)
    •    EBS 299 (3 units)
    •    EBS 270 (4 units)
    •    One technical elective (100- or 200-level, any department, 3 units)

    Spring
    •    EBS 290C (1 unit)
    •    EBS 299 (3 units)
    •    EBS 265 (5 units)
    •    One technical elective (200-level, any department, 3 units)

    Summer
    •    You’ll complete your Comprehensive Exam (no enrollment required)

    📌MS-II students should consult with their Graduate Faculty Advisor on course registration.

  • Course Registration Tips

  • •    Enroll by the first day of the quarter to process your fee remission (only applicable if employed)
    •    Must take at least 12 units/quarter for full-time status and employment eligibility
    •    At least 1 letter-graded course required to stay in good standing
    •    Undergraduate courses (100–199) require a petition if prerequisites are unmet. The system will prompt you.
    •    Faculty and staff approve prerequisite petitions until after Pass 2 starts; please be patient.

📝 EBS 299 & EBS 290C Registration Guidelines

All GBSE graduate students conducting research must register for EBS 290C and EBS 299 each quarter. These courses are taken concurrently and are essential to document research activities and maintain full-time enrollment.

Course Details

  • EBS 290C – Research with Your Faculty Advisor
    • Represents meetings and guidance from your faculty advisor.
    • Always 1 unit.
  • EBS 299 – Research Units
    • Represents the time spent conducting research.
    • Default is 1 unit, but students may request additional variable units to reach the 12-unit full-time minimum.

CRNs and Enrollment

  • Each GBSE faculty member is assigned individual EBS 299 and EBS 290C CRNs each quarter.
  • CRNs are emailed by the Graduate Program Coordinator each quarter just before registration starts.
  • Enrollment in both courses must be completed by the 10th day of instruction of the quarter.
  • After obtaining the CRNs, students search for their sections on Schedule Builder to enroll - be sure to adjust your 299 units accordingly when registering.

Quarterly EBS 299 Agreements

  • Purpose: Serves as a syllabus for research units, documenting goals, deliverables, and expectations for both students and faculty.
  • Requirements:
    1. Completed collaboratively by the student and their faculty advisor.
    2. Due by the 10th day of instruction each quarter
    3. Submit the signed form via the Box link provided in the form.
  • PDF of the EBS 299 Agreement can be found here.

Questions? Email baeadvising@ucdavis.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I am in my first quarter as a graduate student at UC Davis. Do I register for EBS 290C and 299 units?

  • Generally, yes — Ph.D. and M.S. Plan I students will register for EBS 290C and 299 units in their first quarter. All incoming Ph.D. and M.S. Plan I students are assigned a major professor prior to the start of the quarter, and you should consult with your major professor to confirm whether you should enroll in EBS 290C and 299.

    M.S. Plan II students follow a slightly different path and should check in with the M.S. Plan II Graduate Advisor for guidance on 290C and 299 unit registration.

  • What are EBS 289 courses and how can I register for them?
  • EBS 289 courses are new courses that don’t yet have a permanent course number, but they can count towards your degree as long as they are letter-graded. Announcements about EBS 289 courses are sent to GBSE graduate students via email and include information such as the course’s instructor, subject, grading, units, and CRN. If you are registering for a EBS 289 course, you will need to use the CRN sent in the announcement email and adjust the units to the appropriate number for the course. The CRN and units will not be posted on Schedule Builder.
  • Can I be a part-time student?

  • Part-time status is only available to graduate students who are unable to pursue their studies full-time under the following circumstances:

    • Employment (30 hours or more worked per week).

    • Health conditions.

    • Accommodation for disability.

    • Primary care responsibilities.

    Doctoral students who have passed the Qualifying Examination are not eligible for part-time status.

    Learn more about part-time status and how to apply for it by reviewing the Office of the University Registrar’s webpage.

    For additional information about this process, you may also review the Graduate Studies Website.