College Student Academic Services

Admission Course Requirements for Biochemistry, Biology, Human Biology, and Molecular Biosciences:
BIOL 150, Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology
BIOL 152, Principles of Organismal Biology
CHEM 188, Foundations of Chemistry II
BIOL 350, Principles of Genetics

Admissions course requirements for Microbiology:
BIOL 150, Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology
CHEM 188, Foundations of Chemistry II
BIOL 350, Principles of Genetics

Admission GPA minimum: 2.2

Admission calculation (Biochemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Molecular Biosciences):
Admission GPA calculation will include BIOL 150, BIOL 152, CHEM 188, and BIOL 350 (or equivalent courses). University repeat policy will apply to the GPA calculation.

Admission calculation (Microbiology):
Admission GPA calculation will include BIOL 150, CHEM 188, and BIOL 350 (or equivalent courses). The Microbiology admissions requirements differ from those for Biochemistry, Biology, Human Biology, and Molecular Biosciences because BIOL 152 is not required for the B.A. and B.S. Microbiology degrees. University repeat policy will apply to the GPA calculation.

Application Term:
Application to the major should occur in the term in which designated admission course requirements will be initially completed. If the student does not meet established admission GPA criteria or neglects to apply for admission in this term, the student must petition the Undergraduate Biology Program for permission for late application. The Undergraduate Biology Program, as part of an approved petition, will determine late admission requirements (including GPA and course requirements) and the final deadline for admission.

JUSTIFICATION:
Students must be well prepared academically in order to succeed in KU’s biological sciences curricula, and performance in BIOL 150, 152, and 350 and CHEM 188 are very strong indicators of that success. The broad, general concepts presented in BIOL 150 and BIOL 152 include necessary elements required for understanding more detailed material covered in upper division biology courses. BIOL 350 prepares students for grasping complex processes that occur from subcellular to ecosystem-level biology. CHEM 188 and BIOL 150 are essential prerequisites for BIOL 350.