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Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy
BENCHMARKS
The College of Chemical and Life Sciences has a longstanding history of commitment to the academic success of its students. Student success is the centerpiece of our mission:
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the College of Chemical and Life Sciences Student Services Office is to provide students with useful information and quality support services, empowering them to optimize their undergraduate experience at the University of Maryland. Our individualized support and assistance spans from matriculation through graduation and includes providing accurate and timely information, appropriate referrals, and expert academic and career advising. We will work proactively with our students to ensure that they are informed about specific degree requirements, educational opportunities, and College and University policies that affect their academic progress. Recognizing that the student is ultimately responsible for his or her education, we are committed to enhancing each student’s ability to make appropriate choices and to identify and access the information that is vital to their success.
The academic programs offered by the College of Chemical and Life Sciences are designed to be completed in four (4) years or eight (8) academic semesters. Students in the College are expected to make timely progress towards their expected degree. The following Benchmarks have been developed to assist students in their understanding of what it means to be making timely progress:
SECOND SEMESTER BENCHMARKS
Biological Sciences majors (specializations in Cell Biology and Genetics; Ecology and Evolution; General Biology; Microbiology; Physiology and Neurobiology; Individual Studies; and Biological Sciences/Secondary Education) are expected to complete the following courses with a C or better by the end of their second semester (or 30 attempted credits) in the College of Chemical and Life Sciences:
MATH220 or 140
BSCI105
BSCI106
and 2 semesters of Chemistry with lab
Environmental Science and Policy majors who enter the University as freshmen do not declare as Life Sciences majors until their second semester at the earliest. Once the ENSP-Biodiversity major has been declared the student is expected to complete the following courses with a C or better by the end of their second semester in the Biodiversity concentration:
MATH220 or 140
MATH221 or 141
BSCI105
ENSP101
ENSP102
and 1 semester of Chemistry with lab
Biochemistry and Chemistry majors are expected to complete the following courses with a C or better by the end of their second semester (or 30 attempted credits) in the College of Chemical and Life Sciences:
BSCI105
and 2 semesters of Chemistry with lab
MATH140
FOURTH SEMESTER BENCHMARKS
Biological Sciences majors (specializations in Cell Biology and Genetics; Ecology and Evolution; General Biology; Microbiology; Physiology and Neurobiology; Individual Studies; and Biological Sciences/Secondary Education) are expected to complete the following courses with a C or better by the end of their fourth semester (or 60 attempted credits) in the College of Chemical and Life Sciences:
MATH220 or 140
MATH221 or 141
BSCI105
BSCI106
and 4 semesters of Chemistry with lab
Environmental Science and Policy majors are expected to complete the following courses with a C or better by the end of their fourth semester in the College of Chemical and Life Sciences:
MATH220 or 140
MATH221 or 141
BSCI105
BSCI106
ENSP101
ENSP102
and 2 semesters of Chemistry with lab
Biochemistry and Chemistry majors are expected to complete the following courses with a C or better by the end of their fourth semester (or 60 attempted credits) in the College of Chemical and Life Sciences:
BSCI105
and 4 semesters of Chemistry with lab
MATH140
MATH141
PHYS141
In counting semesters, only one semester withdrawal will be excluded from the two and four semester count. In addition to the above stated benchmarks, students who earn three (3) or more D, F or W’s in major requirements during their first year in the major are not making timely progress toward their degree. Students who are not registered for courses required for Life Sciences majors for two consecutive semesters are not making timely progress toward their degree. The aforementioned students will also be reviewed by the Assistant Dean for Student Services for continuation in the major, with the primary consideration being an acceptable plan to meet all remaining requirements within the University’s suggested standard of 10 semesters/130 credits. Those students who are unable to proceed in the major will be notified and offered assistance in the selection of a new major. They will also be referred to the Division of Letters and Sciences.
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