[5] The idea behind the course arose from discussions in the office of then–vice rector Roberto Lobo, where, according to him, there was debate over the “[need to] dismantle the rigid curricular structure [of] department-centered courses.”[6] Its official date of creation—at the time named “Curso Experimental de Ciências Moleculares” (Experimental Course of Molecular Sciences)—can be considered 5 July 1991, when Resolution CoG (Undergraduate Council) no.

[9] Any student regularly enrolled at USP may apply, but it is common for top scorers in the vestibular to receive an invitation to the selection process.

[10] Its selection process, usually taking place at the end of the first semester, consists of a written exam on general knowledge and a group dynamic.

[13][2] Unlike most other courses at USP, the Curso de Ciências Moleculares is not attached to any department or school, but instead directly to the Provost for Undergraduate Studies.

In this sense, it maintains a degree of independence from the other university units, although it relies on their existing resources, such as laboratories and faculty who teach the basic cycle subjects.