GPA Requirement
It is required of students in the Undergraduate Program in Biology and Medicine that a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) be maintained in the major, excluding Allied Fields courses.
Double Majors and Double Degrees
No student may declare a BA in Biology and a BS in Biological Science (Any Track). [NO DOUBLE DEGREE IN UPBM TRACKS]
No student may declare two BS degrees within the UPBM Tracks. [NO DOUBLE MAJOR WITHIN THE UPBM TRACKS]
Double majors are allowed involving one UPBM Track major and a major in an area outside UPBM as long as there is no more than a 2 course overlap. (Allied fields do not apply.)
Students seeking approval to earn two degrees (B.S. plus B.A.) involving one degree in a UPBM track and one degree in a separate academic area will need to petition the Administrative Committee of the College before the double degree program can be implemented.
Petitions
What is a petition? A petition is a written request to the UPBM Committee of Track Coordinators for a variance of the extant rules/regulations. This may be, for example, a request for substitution or acceptance of a course that is not ordinarily part of the UPBM curriculum.
How does one submit a petition? A written petition should be dilivered to the UPBM office in Hutchison Hall 402. A student may petition only once on a given matter. Otherwise, there is no limit to the number of reasonable petitions a student may submit.
How is one informed of the outcome of a petition? Students are usually informed in writing of the outcome of a petition.
Degree with Distinction in Research
The current requirements of the Undergraduate Program in Biology and Medicine for awarding levels of distinction to graduating majors in the B.A. program or the B.S. tracks are as follows:
A minimum grade point average of 2.7 in the courses comprising the track and diversification requirements, but not the required courses in the allied fields.
A Senior Thesis, which will be defended at an open meeting of the student's advisory committee. The advisory committee will consist of the thesis advisor, one faculty member in the student's track, and one faculty member appointed by the Program Director on recommendation of the pertinent track coordinator. After the advisory committee is formed by the UPBM office, it is the responsibility of the student and his/her advisor to find a date/room to hold the examination.
Application forms requesting acceptance as a candidate for the degree with distinction in research can be obtained in the UPBM office (402F Hutchison Hall) or downloaded here (Degree with Distinction) and must be returned there by February 28 of the year in which the degree will be awarded.
The thesis must be received by the UPBM office and track coordinators who will assemble the examining committee by April 15 of that year.
The result of the examination must be communicated in writing to the Undergraduate UPBM Office by the first week in May.
A certificate of achievement will be awarded at the diploma ceremony.