Admission to majors in the Eberly College of Science 

To be eligible for entrance to a major in the Eberly College of Science, a degree candidate must be enrolled in the college or satisfy requirements for entrance to the college. In addition, by the beginning of the fourth semester, the degree candidate must meet entrance-to-major requirements (given below) of the University, of the college, and of the program area. Under certain circumstances, the University may need to limit enrollments in the college or in certain majors because of space limitations. The criteria listed for each major below were last revised 8/30/2001.
 

General notes:

• When students repeat science or mathematics courses, only the best grade will be used in the calculation of the grade point average in all science and mathematics courses applicable to the major.
• Some courses do not result in credit (even as electives) towards graduation for majors in ECoS. Some students place into these preparatory courses (i.e., English 4, Chem 11, or Math courses with numbers less than 140) during Freshman Testing, Counseling, and Academic Planning (FTCAP). Successfully completing the preparatory courses improves the odds that you will succeed on your first attempt in the required courses that do count toward graduation. If FTCAP places you into these preparatory courses, you may need to take some credits during summer school so that you've completed the courses used for entrance-to-majors shown below. See your advisor for details.

• Requirements for entrance to the major: GPA > 2.00 in all courses; C or better in Astro 291, Chem 12, Math 140, Math 141, Phys 211, and Phys 212.
• Link to Bulletin http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/major/astro.htm
• Link to Department http://www.astro.psu.edu/

BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (BMB)

• Requirements for entrance to the major: GPA > 2.00 in all courses; C or better in Chem 12, Chem 13, Chem 14, and Math 140.
• Link to Bulletin http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/major/b_m_b.htm
• Link to Department http://www.bmb.psu.edu/

BIOLOGY (BIOL)

• Requirements for entrance to the major: GPA > 2.00 in all courses; C or better in BIOL 110, CHEM 12, MATH 140, and at least one of the following: Biol 220W, Biol 230W, or Biol 240W.
• Link to Bulletin http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/major/biol.htm
• Link to Department http://www.bio.psu.edu/

BIOTECHNOLOGY (BIOTC)

(this major offered by the Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

• Requirements for entrance to the major: GPA > 2.00 in all courses; C or better in Chem 12, Chem 13, Chem 14, and Math 140.
• Link to Bulletin http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/major/biotc.htm
• Link to Department http://www.bmb.psu.edu/

CHEMISTRY (CHEM)

• Requirements for entrance to the major: GPA > 2.00 in all courses; C or better in CHEM 12, Chem 13, Chem 14, Chem 15, Chem 38, MATH 140, Math 141, Math 231 and combined GPA of at least 2.50 in these courses.
• Link to Bulletin http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/major/chem.htm
• Link to Department http://www.chem.psu.edu/

MATHEMATICS (MATH BA or MATH BS)

• Requirements for entrance to the major: GPA > 2.50 in all courses; C or better in MATH 140, and Math 141. To begin fifth semester, student must have overall GPA of at least 2.50. Additional requirements must be met for the 'teach' option.
• Link to Bulletin
• Link to Department http://www.math.psu.edu/

MICROBIOLOGY (MICRB)

(this major offered by the Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

• Requirements for entrance to the major: GPA > 2.00 in all courses; C or better in Chem 12, Chem 13, Chem 14, and Math 140.
• Link to Bulletin http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/major/micrb.htm
• Link to Department http://www.bmb.psu.edu/

PHYSICS (PHYS)

• Requirements for entrance to the major: GPA > 2.00 in all courses; C or better in Chem 12, Math 140, Math 141, PHYS 211, and Phys 212. Additional requirements exist for the 'teach' option.
• Link to Bulletin http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/major/phys.htm
• Link to Department http://www.phys.psu.edu/

PREMEDICINE (P M)

• Requirements for entrance to the major: GPA > 2.00 in all courses; C or better in Biol 110, Chem 12, and MATH 140.
• Link to Bulletin http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/major/p_m.htm
• Link to Department - none yet available

SCIENCE - BA or BS (SC BA or SC BS)

• Requirements for entrance to the major: GPA > 2.00 in all courses; C or better in Math 140 and at least two of following: Biol 110, Chem 12, Phys 211 or Phys 215.
• Link to Bulletin
• SC BA -  http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/major/sc_ba.htm
• SC BS -  http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/major/sc_bs.htm
• Link to Department - none yet available

STATISTICS

• Requirements for entrance to the major: GPA > 2.00 in all courses; C or better in MATH 140, and Math 141.
• Link to Bulletin http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/major/stat.htm
• Link to Department http://www.stat.psu.edu/

If you didn't quite find the major you were looking for, try looking through my compilation of science-related majors. Many of these majors use a strong science basis for more applied purposes.

Please contact an advisor if you have questions or wish to discuss a specific major.

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