College of Arts and Sciences Undeclared students
Undeclared CAS students can apply for admission to the Biological Sciences major at the end of their first year.
CAS students must declare a major before the start of their junior year to be in good academic standing.
- One-semester Introductory Biology Cluster course or Evolutionary Biology and Diversity course (foundation requirement section 1 or 3) completed before admission.
- One other course in the Biological Sciences curriculum (foundation requirement sections 1-9) completed before admission.
- Grades of C or better in completed courses for the Biological Sciences major OR a combined GPA ≥2.20 for completed courses in the Biological Sciences major. For any course repeated, the higher grade will be used.
- A realistic academic plan to graduate on time.
- Two-semesters of Introductory Biology Cluster courses or one Biology Cluster Course and the Evolutionary Biology and Diversity course (foundation requirement section 1 or 3) completed before admission.
- Two semesters of General (Inorganic) Chemistry I & II (foundation requirement 4) completed before admission.
- One semester of Calculus I and Calculus II or Statistics (foundation requirement 5) completed before admission.
- Grades of C or better in completed courses for the Biological Sciences major OR a combined GPA ≥2.20 for completed courses in the Biological Sciences major. For any course repeated, the higher grade will be used.
- A realistic academic plan to graduate on time.
- An email will be sent to the student and the student’s advising dean. If the student is interested in reapplying to the Biological Sciences major, the student will need to schedule a meeting with the Director of Advising and Operations in the OUB (bioadvising [at] corenll.edu) to discuss a plan for a possible reapplication. A detailed plan will be discussed during that appointment and shared with the student and their advising dean.
Students changing major or adding as double major
Student is within the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) or College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
Academic Requirements for the major
- Minimum cumulative Cornell GPA of 2.75
- One-semester Introductory Biology Cluster course or Evolutionary Biology and Diversity course (foundation requirement section 1 or 3) completed before admission.
- One other course in the Biological Sciences curriculum (foundation requirement sections 1-9) completed before admission.
- Grades of C or better in all completed required courses for the Biological Sciences major.
- The General Chemistry sequence must be completed prior to the beginning of Junior year.
- A realistic plan to graduate on time.
- Students who externally transferred to Cornell and are interested in applying for Internal Transfer to the Biological Sciences major will only be considered if they were admissible to the major in accordance with the transfer admissions criteria for Biological Sciences at the time of matriculation to Cornell (See criteria listed below in section D).
Internal Transfer Students Who Externally Transferred to Cornell
- Students who externally transfer to Cornell and seek to change their major to biological sciences or add as a double major will not be considered unless they were admissible to the major in accordance with the transfer admissions criteria for biological sciences at the time of matriculation to Cornell.
- If a student feels they have met the outlined criteria below, they must complete one semester at Cornell before they will be considered. They must also meet with the Director of Advising and Operations in the OUB to have their transfer credit reviewed to determine which major requirements have been met.
For transfer students entering as sophomores or with two full-time college semesters of study (post-high school) completed or in progress at the time of application.
Required:
- One full academic year of Introductory Biology with labs - AP, IB & GCE credit in Biology not accepted
- Two College Writing/English Composition courses or one writing/composition and Public Speaking
- General (Inorganic) Chemistry I & II with labs
- Calculus I and either Calculus II or Statistics
Strongly encouraged (but not required):
- Organic Chemistry I & II
- Physics I with labs
For transfer students entering as juniors or with four full-time college semesters of study (post-high school) completed or in progress at the time of application
Required:
- One full academic year of Introductory Biology with labs - AP, IB & GCE credit in Biology not accepted
- Two College Writing/English Composition courses or one writing/composition and Public Speaking
- Calculus I and either Calculus II or Statistics
- General (Inorganic) Chemistry I & II with labs
- Organic Chemistry I & II
- Physics I & II with labs