switch to the bsci major

The Biological Sciences major is a Limited Enrollment Program (LEP), meaning there are gateway requirements that students need to complete BEFORE they can apply and be admitted into the major.

NOTE: If you are a high school student or a student with fewer than 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours of university-level credit beyond secondary school, you should get started by applying to the University as a Freshman Applicant. Learn more through UMD’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

LEP = Limited Enrollment Program.

1. Only ONE gateway or performance review course may be repeated to earn a passing grade of “C- or better” and that course may only be repeated ONCE

2. When more than one course offering can satisfy a gateway requirement, taking the alternate course after an initial attempt will count as a repeat

3. A grade of "W" for any major course requirement is considered an attempt and the course must be repeated

4. Students who were directly admitted to the BSCI LEP and who DO NOT meet the benchmark review criteria will be dismissed from the major and may not reapply

5. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 after admission to an LEP. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the major

Any student denied admission or dismissed from the major may appeal this decision in writing to the College of CMNS

Students may only apply ONCE to an LEP

LEP-Gateway Course Requirements

—need to be completed with a minimum grade of C- BEFORE applying for admittance into the major, pulled from the Biological Sciences LEP webpage.

  • MATH130, 135 or 140 [Discrete Math or Calculus I]

  • BSCI170 + BSCI171 [Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology w/ lab]

  • BSCI160 + BSCI161 [Principles of Ecology and Evolution w/ lab]

  • CHEM131 + CHEM132 [General Chemistry I w/ lab]

  • CHEM231 + CHEM232 [Organic Chemistry I w/ lab]

A minimum grade point average of 2.7 in all courses taken at the University of Maryland and all other institutions is required for internal and external transfer students.

SCROLL DOWN to learn the next steps for your Switch to BSCI based on your Current Major and Student Type.

Current UMD students (non-lep majors / Letters & Sciences)

  • EXPLORE the major’s Curriculum & Graduation Planning webpage

  • CREATE an Individualized Graduation Plan with a CMNS Peer Mentor

  • COMPLETE the LEP-Gateway Course Requirements

  • SUBMIT the Limited Enrollment Program (LEP) application. 

    • Students must apply by the 5th business day of January for Spring semester admission, and the 5th business day of June for Fall semester admission.

    • Please note that the Biological Sciences Program does NOT administer the LEP application. All inquiries about the application itself and related deadlines should be emailed to lep@umd.edu.

Current umd Students in qualifying LEPs

—applicable to current majors in Chemistry (CHEM), Biochemistry (BCHM), and Neuroscience (NEUR)

Incoming transfer students (accepted to umd)

  • REVIEW and follow the recommendations for Current UMD Students with exception to graduation planning with a CMNS Peer Mentor

  • CONSULT with an Advisor from the College of Letters and Sciences about their Interim Advising Program (IAP), pending your LEP Application to the Biological Sciences Major

Prospective transfer students (STILL applying to umd)