Limited Enrollment Programs
Biological Sciences

Applying to the Major


Transfer Students


Students applying to the University of Maryland, College Park from other institutions apply to LEPs through the general application for admission to the University by indicating their major of interest. Students are first reviewed for admission to the University, and then, if admitted, are reviewed for admission to Limited Enrollment Program majors based on LEP standards.

Applicants who have completed all required Gateway courses at the time of their application are notified of their admission decision in late April for fall admission and late October for spring admission. Students who are in the process of completing the required Gateways at the time of their application are notified of their admission decision to the university at the previously mentioned times, but will be notified about the major decision after the semester has ended and final grades for the semester have been calculated. Students should be sure to send their final transcript from their previous institution if they are taking classes at the time of application.


  • Completion of MATH130, 135 or 140 [Calculus I] with a minimum grade of C-
  • Completion of BSCI170 AND BSCI171 [Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology and lab] with minimum grades of C-
  • Completion of BSCI160 AND BSCI161 [Principles of Ecology and Evolution and lab] with minimum grades of C-
  • Completion of CHEM131 AND CHEM132 [General Chemistry I and lab] with minimum grades of C-
  • Completion of CHEM231 AND CHEM232 [Organic Chemistry I and lab] with minimum grades of C-

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.


The following guidelines pertain to all Limited Enrollment Programs:

  • Only one gateway or performance review course may be repeated to earn the required grade and that course may only be repeated once. 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.
  • Students may apply once to an LEP.
  • Students who were directly admitted and fail to meet the performance review criteria will be dismissed from the major and may not reapply.
  • 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 in writing to the individual LEP.


Transfer Students may use the Transfer Credit Services Database of Course Evaluations to determine how past, current or future courses may transfer to the University of Maryland.


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Current Students


Students currently attending the University of Maryland who wish to switch to an LEP or add an LEP as a second major can submit an LEP application through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The LEP application is made available following the add/drop deadline of each semester. Internal transfer students should complete the application either during the semester in which they complete the required gateway courses or at the end of the semester. This timeline is dependent upon the application deadline for the student’s preferred major. When previewing the application prior to submission, you will see all portions of the online application form, including those not relevant to the program for which you are applying. This is to be expected and will not impact your application provided you completed the sections relevant to your desired LEP major.

Please note: Students applying for the fall semester are able to complete a gateway course during the summer, either at UMD or another institution. In order to be considered, courses must be taken during UMD’s Summer 1 Session. If the course is taken at another institution, it must be completed by the end of UMD’s Summer 1 Session. Students applying to change their major for the spring semester are not able to complete gateway courses during the winter term.


  • Completion of MATH130, 135 or 140 [Calculus I] with a minimum grade of C-
  • Completion of BSCI170 AND BSCI171 [Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology and lab] with minimum grades of C-
  • Completion of BSCI160 AND BSCI161 [Principles of Ecology and Evolution and lab] with minimum grades of C-
  • Completion of CHEM131 AND CHEM132 [General Chemistry I and lab] with minimum grades of C-
  • Completion of CHEM231 AND CHEM232 [Organic Chemistry I and lab] with minimum grades of C-

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.


The following guidelines pertain to all Limited Enrollment Programs:

  • Only one gateway or performance review course may be repeated to earn the required grade and that course may only be repeated once. 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.
  • Students may apply once to an LEP.
  • Students who were directly admitted and fail to meet the performance review criteria will be dismissed from the major and may not reapply.
  • 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 in writing to the individual LEP.


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Freshman Students


All students accepted directly as freshman into Biological Sciences and Biochemistry and Chemistry must complete a series of gateway courses and a review at 45 credits.


  • Completion of MATH130, 135 or 140 [Calculus I] with a minimum grade of C-
  • Completion of BSCI170 AND BSCI171 [Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology and lab] with minimum grades of C-
  • Completion of BSCI160 AND BSCI161 [Principles of Ecology and Evolution and lab] with minimum grades of C-
  • Completion of CHEM131 AND CHEM132 [General Chemistry I and lab] with minimum grades of C-
  • Completion of CHEM231 AND CHEM232 [Organic Chemistry I and lab] with minimum grades of C-

A minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all courses is required at the 45-credit review.


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Contact

College Park Campus

College of Computer, Mathematical, & Natural Sciences

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Program

Contact: Eden Garosi, Coordinator of Admissions Counseling and Recruitment

Phone: 301‐405‐2080

Email: egarosi@umd.edu

Majors offered:

  • General Biology
  • Cell Biology & Genetics
  • Ecology & Evolution
  • Microbiology
  • Physiology & Neurobiology


Shady Grove Campus

Biological Sciences

Phone: 301‐738‐6007

Email: usgbiosci@umd.edu

Biological Sciences at Shady Grove is not a Limited Enrollment Program. All students entering a Biological Sciences major at Shady Grove will have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA, completed 60 credits and successfully completed the following courses/requirements:

  • BSCI 170 & 171 Principles of Biology I
  • CHEM 131 & 132 General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 271 & 272 General Chemistry II
  • CHEM 231 & 232 Organic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 241 & 242 Organic Chemistry II
  • MATH 130 or 140 Calculus I
  • All General Education requirements with the exception of Professional Writing