Program Requirements

Biological Sciences Requirements for Shady Grove

Overall

For best consideration, students applying from two-year institutions are strongly encouraged to earn an Associate’s Degree.

• Students may apply up to 60 credits from their previous two-year institution/s.
• The required GPA is 2.5 or better for best consideration and a minimum of C- or better in all prerequisites.
• Students are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment to discuss their eligibility for admission in our program.

Required

STUDENTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR ADMISSION WITHOUT THE FOLLOWING COURSES COMPLETED:

Additional Lower-Level Prerequisites

Students can be admitted into the program without completion of any TWO of the prerequisites listed below. These remaining two courses can be completed during your studies at Shady Grove by enrolling in courses at either Montgomery College (or other acceptable transfer institution) or the University of Maryland, College Park main campus.

A Note about the Physics Requirement

Effective fall 2013, students seeking to complete the Biological Sciences degree must take the Physics for Life Sciences or more advanced physics sequence. In order to ensure they are completing the correct physics requirements, students are encouraged to take Physics for Life Sciences I and II. These courses are currently offered at USG as PHYS331 and PHYS332 and are typically completed during the first year of the program. Note that PHYS121 and PHYS122 are no longer acceptable for graduation from the Biological Sciences major.

Alternatively accepted physics credit can be earned through the calculus-based PHYS161, PHYS260, PHYS261 sequence.  Students who have completed physics prior to transferring into our Biology program can search for course credit transferability at the Transfer Credit Center website.  They can also contact us at: usgbiosci@umd.edu.