Frequently asked questions [17 Answers]
—Updated May 30th, 2025.
Don’t see your question on here? Reach out to your Academic Advisor for more details. If you have yet to be matched with an Academic Advisor, then send our team an email at bscique@umd.edu.
#1.
how do I switch to the bsci major?
I WANT TO BE A BIOLOGY 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 become admitted into the major.
Learn how to complete a switch to the BSCI Major on this webpage for Future Students.
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 start by applying to the University as a Freshman Applicant. Learn more through UMD’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
#2.
Who is my assigned advisor?
I don’t know who my advisor is.
All Terps in the Biological Sciences major are assigned to an Academic Advisor around mid-October or after Spring break during their first (Fall or Spring) semester at the University.
Students may log in to TerpEngage—Maryland’s central advising platform—to review their Assigned Advisor under Success Team.
If no advisor is listed under Success Team, then students may call the Undergraduate Program Office at 301-405-6892 OR email bscique@umd.edu for next steps.
BSCI Terps are matched with a Professional Staff Advisor while working on the major’s Basic Program (typically first-years and sophomores), and are later reassigned to a Faculty Advisor based on their declared major specialization and as they begin to register for upper-division courses.
#3.
I emailed my advisor and they didn’t respond.
I can’t get in contact with my advisor.
BSCI Terps can expect a response time of 2 - 3 Business Days (or less) for any inquiries or challenges sent to their Academic Advisor via email. Please be mindful that advisors are not expected to work and respond to student emails during the weekend or University Holidays.
If it’s been longer than 3 business days, and the student still without a response, then they’re advised to:
Send their advisor another message (a follow-up in the same thread) to raise the query in their Inbox.
If the student is still without a response after the second attempt, then they’re advised to copy (CC) the Undergraduate Director of the advisor’s department on any subsequent follow-up. Review the BSCI Directory to find the appropriate Undergraduate Director to copy.
#4.
Do I have to attend mandatory advising?
All students who are still completing the major’s basic program, students with a GPA below 2.5, university athletes, and students in their first semester assigned to a Faculty Advisor must meet with their advisor before they can register for upcoming courses.
Terps who do not meet these criteria may not be required to meet with their Academic Advisor, but are encouraged to do so.
Students should refer to their Academic Advisor to confirm.
#5.
I can’t schedule a meeting with my advisor.
Terp Engage says my advisor is not available.
If TerpEngage shows your Advisor as Not Available:
—This means that EITHER:
Your Advisor has yet to set up their appointment scheduling on TerpEngage.
OR
Your Advisor books sessions using another platform that is NOT TerpEngage.
Refer to any messages delivered by your Advisor via TerpEngage Advising Note OR TerpMail to learn what to expect for BSCI Advising.
#6.
am I on track to graduate?
Can someone look at my graduation plan?
Terps in the BSCI Major first create a rough draft of their graduation plan with a CMNS Peer Mentor.
The plan includes LEP-Benchmark Courses that are required to remain and make progress in the Biological Sciences major, the necessary courses for the student’s specific BSCI Specialization, and relevant coursework for additional programs.
These plans are then proofread by an Academic Advisor during scheduled advising sessions.
BSCI Advisors are responsible for ensuring that the plan only includes course combinations that are advised for students’ academic success and that follow the BSCI Curriculum.
The Peer Mentors can meet with Terps in 1317 Symons Hall, Monday-Friday from 9AM to 4PM —No Appointment Needed!
Students may also connect with their BSCI Advisor about their graduation plan by email, if and when mandatory advising is no longer required.
#7.
How do I request A CREDIT OVERLOAD (17+ Credits)?
I am planning to take more than 17 credits next semester.
A Credit Overload or Request for High Credit Load is an exception to policy delivered by the College of CMNS.
Exceptions to Policy are only granted to students for rare and extenuating circumstances.
BSCI Terps are instructed to discuss any requests for Credit Overload with their Academic Advisor during mandatory advising sessions or via email BEFORE submitting any forms to the College of CMNS. After settling on the specific courses and number of credits requested, the Advisor may elect one of two options for their advisee:
The Advisor may elect to support the request for Credit Overload.
OR
The Advisor may elect to deny support for the Credit Overload request.
The Advisor is expected to document whether they support or do not support the student’s request in TerpEngage.
Factors considered by Academic Advisors when evaluating support or non-support for a Credit Overload exception:
NECESSITY OF THE EXCEPTION
THE COMBINATION OF COURSES REQUESTED
LEP-BENCHMARK COURSES OUTSTANDING
GRADES / ACADEMIC STANDING
Students are responsible for filing their Request for High Credit Load with the College of CMNS to process the petition. The College of CMNS ultimately decides on the exception, and students have the option to appeal to the College for requests that are denied.
Refer to this webpage to access the petition form for Credit Overload.
#8.
I just joined a lab, how do I earn academic credit?
How do I get credit for my research?
Get started on this webpage, also reviewable under Research & Internships on BSCIweb’s navigation. For any specific questions about the process/forms to submit, email bscique@umd.edu.
#9.
Where can I find Learning assistance?
how can I meet with a tutor?
I need help with my courses.
BSCI Terps may review programs and resources related to Learning Assistance in the following web pages on BSCIweb.
Terps are also encouraged to review this comprehensive list of resources from the College of CMNS.
#10.
What courses satisfy the lower-level math requirement?
MATH135 (Discrete Mathematics for Life Sciences) and MATH136 (Calculus for Life Sciences). This is the preferred sequence for students who do not have MATH140 and MATH141.
MATH140 (Calculus 1) and MATH141 (Calculus 2)
MATH140 and MATH135
MATH130 (Calculus 1 for Life Sciences) and MATH131 (Calculus 2 for Life Sciences) (both courses discontinued)
MATH130 and MATH135, for students who took MATH130 before it was discontinued, but have not completed MATH131
Other course combinations are possible in unusual circumstances and require approval by an advisor.
Students cannot use MATH120, MATH121, MATH220, or MATH221 towards the Biological Sciences major.
#11.
Do I need to take PHYS131 and PHYS132?
The PHYS131/132 requirement is effective Fall 2013. If you completed PHYS121 before Fall 2013, you may complete the physics sequence by taking PHYS122. Any student who did not start on the completion of the Physics requirement before Fall 2013 must take PHYS131 and PHYS132 or a more advanced physics sequence.
#12.
may I have an extension to complete THE major LEP-benchmark requirements?
Students who study abroad for a Fall or Spring semester, or who are away from the University for a semester are eligible for an extension to their benchmark reviews.
#13.
Can I double major in Biological Sciences and Neuroscience?
Can I minor in Neuroscience?
None of the specializations for the BSCI Major can be combined with the Neuroscience Major (NEUR). This is due to a significant overlap in the requirements for these respective programs.
The Neuroscience Minor can be combined with any of the BSCI specializations except the PHNB specialization.
#14.
How do I register for my courses?
How do I waitlist for a course?
There are no more seats for the course I was advised to take.
Get started on the Registration & Waitlists webpage for BSCI Terps.
#15.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT CREDITS I EARN WITH MY AP EXAM(S)?
Do I have prior learning credit?
I TOOK THE AP EXAM.
BSCI Terps are advised to use the University's Advanced Placement Exams for GenEd Guide to assess how incoming AP Scores may be marked as Academic Credit.
If a student has already sent their AP Exam scores from the College Board to the University Registrar, then those credits will be processed and posted to their unofficial transcript, usually during the month of July. Students may review their unofficial transcript in Testudo.
#16.
Can I retake Chemistry at community college during the summer?
I’m planning to take courses at my community college.
I need to repeat a major course.
APPLICABLE TO MAJOR BSCI, CHEM, MATH, PHYS, and BCHM COURSES: If a course required for the BSCI Major has already been attempted at the University, then it needs to be completed at the University.*
* Requests for Permission to Enroll (PTE) at another institution are filed through and ultimately decided by the College of CMNS, not the Biological Sciences Program.
PTE Policy #4 for College of CMNS. - Requests to REPEAT a course at another institution once it has been attempted at UMD will be automatically denied. If you wish to do this, please submit a Petition for Exception to Policy form through the College of CMNS. Mind that an exception to policy is a request and not guaranteed.
For any questions about the PTE process or exceptions, please email cmnsque@umd.edu.
For more information about repeating courses at UMD, get started by reading the Course Repeats section of this webpage for BSCI Terps.
#17.
What is freshman forgiveness?
Will my course repeat count as freshman forgiveness?
I want to discuss freshman forgiveness.
To help freshmen and transfer students adjust to the University of Maryland, College Park, the following two exceptions allow for the cumulative GPA to be calculated so that only the higher grade is included:
When the repeated course was taken within the student's first semester at the University of Maryland, College Park,
OR
When the repeated course was taken within the student's first 24 credit hours attempted (including transfer credits earned after high school) or within the semester during which the student reached the 24th credit hour attempted. Advanced Placement (AP) Exam credits do not count toward the 24-credit count. Read more under the section titled New Student Provision on this University Policies webpage.
Mind that all attempts of a given course that was repeated would remain on the student’s transcript.
