Geometric line pattern of red, black, and yellow.
Black serif text reads "Declare Biological Sciences."

Students must satisfy all LEP requirements and the gateway courses with a minimum grade of C- before they can apply and declare Biological Sciences.

Biological Sciences is a Limited Enrollment Program (LEP). LEPs have specific gateway requirements for admission and determine their enrollments on a space-available basis.

Students can be admitted as either a first-year applicant through the competitive University application, or as an internal or external transfer student—which is a non-competitive application.

  • Transfer students must satisfy all LEP-Gateway courses and requirements to be eligible for admission

  • Students who were not admitted into Biological Sciences as first-year applicants may apply as an internal transfer student once

If you are in high school, or if you have fewer than 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours of university-level credit, then you must apply to the University of Maryland as a freshman applicant to be considered for admission.

Limited Enrollment Program (LEP)

ACADEMIC POLICIES

1. Only one gateway course may be repeated to earn the required grade of C- or better and that course may only be repeated once.

2. When more than one course can satisfy a gateway requirement, taking a second course from the list will count as a repeat. Please note that a grade of "W" is considered an attempt and must be repeated.

3. Students may apply once to an LEP.

4. Students who were directly admitted and fail to meet the performance 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.

6. Any student denied admission or dismissed from the major may appeal in writing to the individual LEP.

LEP-Gateway Courses

  • MATH135 or MATH140 — Discrete Math or Calculus I

  • BSCI160 — Ecology & Evolution

  • BSCI170 — Molecular & Cell Biology

  • BSCI180 or both BSCI161 & BSCI171 — Intro 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.

» NEXT STEPS

To declare Biological Sciences are based on your current major / admission status.

  • For those who want to switch their degree program to Biological Sciences (leave current major) or want to add Biological Sciences as a second major or degree:

    1. Review specializations for Biological Sciences and choose the one you want to pursue

    2. Read both the degree requirements and the sequencing of courses for your specialization on bsci.umd.edu/gradplan

    3. Meet with a peer mentor to create a rough grad plan for Biological Sciences

    4. Complete all LEP-Gateway courses with at least a C-

    5. Submit the Limited Enrollment Program (LEP) application after completing all LEP-Gateway courses

      • 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

      • Do NOT submit the LEP application until all LEP-Gateway course requirements are satisfied

      • 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

  • Applicable to Chemistry (CHEM) and Biochemistry (BCHM) majors who are looking to switch their degree program to Biological Sciences or to add BSCI as a second program.

    Applicable to Neuroscience (NEUR) majors who are looking to change their degree program to Biological Sciences.

    None of the specializations for Biological Sciences can be combined with Neuroscience (NEUR) major due to a significant overlap in the requirements for both programs.

    1. Review specializations for Biological Sciences and choose the one you want to pursue

    2. Read both the degree requirements and the sequencing of courses for your specialization on bsci.umd.edu/gradplan

    3. Meet with a peer mentor to create a rough grad plan for Biological Sciences

    4. Complete all LEP-Gateway courses with at least a C-

    5. Submit a major change form via TerpEngage after completing all LEP-Gateway courses

      • Do NOT submit the major change form until all LEP-Gateway course requirements are satisfied

  • Connect with an academic advisor from the College of Letters and Sciences about their Interim Advising Program (IAP), pending your LEP application to the Biological Sciences major

Black serif logo for the College of CMNS with a red sub-header for Biological Sciences.