New Students
FAQ

This web site provides answers to the most recurring questions posed to Biological Sciences academic counselors. The information provided here should not be misconstrued as a replacement for direct person to person advising. For long range academic planning, course selection, career, professional or graduate school questions, and individual academic issues it is recommended that you contact the student affairs office by phone or attend a counseling session on a walk in or appointment basis.

The Biological Sciences Student Affairs Office is located on the second floor of Steinhaus Hall in room 231. The office accepts phone calls (949-824-5318) for answers to general questions and has counseling available on a walk-in basis or by appointment. To schedule a counseling appointment, please telephone the appointment phone number (949-824-5318) a week in advance on Thursday afternoon, between the hours 1pm - 4pm.

Phone hours (949-824-5318)
Monday 10am-12pm, 1pm-5pm
Tue-Fri 8am-12pm, 1pm-5pm

Appointment and Walk-in hours
Monday 10am-12pm, 1pm-4pm
Tue-Fri 9am-12pm, 1pm-4pm

1. How can I as a student speak with the Dean?
2. When is the last day I can add or drop a course?
3. When is the last day to change a grade option?
4. How many total academic units can I have on a Pass/Not Pass basis?
5. What is the lowest passing grade in a class?
6. How many classes can I repeat and what happens to the first grade?
7. What does a grade of "I" (Incomplete) and "NR" (No Record) mean and what is the difference between the two?
8. How does a "W" (Withdrew) affect my grade point average?
9. What are the conditions to change my major to Biological Sciences?
10. How do I knowwhich courses are transferable from a community college?
11. How do I petition course work completed at another school for equivalency of a Bio Sci degree or breadth requirement at UCI?
12. How do I find a research opportunity and when should I start?
13. What is the letter of recommendation file service?
14. When should I apply for graduation and how will I be informed of my graduation status?
15. How do I qualify for honors at graduation?

1. How can I as a student speak with the Dean?

The Associate Dean of Undergraduate Student Affairs, Dr. Michael Leon, has designated the senior academic counselors, Cindy Eddleman and Carolyn Willmann, to serve as his liaisons and to provide an audience and counsel to any student's special request. The senior counselors will confer with the Dean if the request requires his further consideration. To meet with a senior counselor please see the information on how to schedule an appointment at the top of this site.

2. When is the last day I can add or drop a course?

Bio Sci upper-division lab courses - students may not drop an upper-division lab course after the TELE adjustment period preceding the quarter. However, students may add an upper-division lab course during the 1^st week of the quarter only, providing there is space in the course.

Bio Sci courses - adds or drops must be effected by the end of the second week of classes by accessing the "TELE" telephone registration system, unless otherwise indicated in the schedule of classes or by the course instructor.

Non-Bio Sci courses will have add and drop deadlines determined by the course instructor and the school/department that offers these courses. However, after the sixth week of a quarter, adding or dropping a course will require approval of the Dean of Biological Sciences along with the approval of the course instructor. Dean approval after the sixth week is only given in extraordinary situations that are submitted to the student affairs office (before finals week) on a written petition and supported by documentation.

3. When is the last day to change a grade option?

Bio Sci major courses must be completed with a grade. However, breadth and elective courses, which do not apply to degree requirements (upper-division writing courses, et. al.) may be taken for a grade or on a Pass/Not Pass basis. Grade option changes on breadth or elective courses can be effected by the end of the second week of classes with an instructor's signature only. After the second week, grade option changes can be effected up until the end of the sixth week by securing the instructor's signature and the Bio Sci Dean's signature (visit the student affairs office - 231 Steinhaus Hall). Dean approval after the sixth week is only given in extraordinary situations that are submitted to the student affairs office (before finals week) on a written petition and supported by documentation.

4. How many total academic units can I have on a Pass/Not Pass basis?

"A student in good standing may take up to an average of four units per quarter on a Pass/Not Pass basis" (UCI General Catalogue). The Pass/Not Pass grading option is permissible for breadth courses and elective courses. However, it is important to remember that courses required for the major must be completed with a grade.

5. What is the lowest passing grade in a class?

A grade of D- is the lowest passing grade for a course. However, students must maintain a 2.0 (C) grade point average for all course work, as well as required Bio Sci major courses, to remain in good academic standing and to earn the baccalaureate degree.

Lower division writing courses (Writing 39A-B-C) and the upper division writing requirement are exceptions to the above. These writing courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C.

6. How many classes can I repeat and what happens to the first grade?

"Repetition of a course more than once requires approval in all instances of the School (or equivalent) in which the student is enrolled" (UCI Academic Senate Regulations). "With approval from their school or program, undergraduates may repeat courses only when grades of C-, D+, D, D-, F, or NP were received or when the course has been approved for repetition. Degree credit for courses so repeated will be given only once, but the grade assigned at each enrollment shall be permanently recorded. In computing the grade point average of an undergraduate with repeated courses in which a C-, D+, D, D-, F, or NP (if repeated for a letter grade) was received, only the most recently received grades and grade points shall be used for the first 16 units repeated. In case of further repetitions, the grade point average shall be based on all additional grades assigned" (UCI General Catalogue).

7. What does a grade of "I" (Incomplete) and "NR" (No Record) mean and what is the difference between the two?

"An I or Incomplete grade is assigned to a student by an instructor when the student's work is of passing quality but is incomplete because of circumstances beyond the student's control, and when the student has been temporarily excused by the instructor from completing the quarter's work (UCI General Catalogue)."

An NR or No Report is "given when an instructor's final grade course report is not submitted or when the student's name was on the official class roster but the instructor did not report a grade for the student" (UCI General Catalogue).

A fundamental difference between an I and NR is the length of time to make up the grade and the resulting grade options at the end of that time. "For currently enrolled students, the maximum time limit for making up an I grade is three quarters of enrollment. After this time an I grade can no longer be replaced and (the I notation) will appear permanently on the record" (UCI General Catalogue). The "NR becomes an F or NP after one quarter of subsequent enrollment or at the end of the quarter immediately preceding award of the degree, whichever come first. The instructor, at the student's request, may replace an NR with a grade within one quarter of subsequent enrollment or may authorize the student to drop the class, which would result in the NR becoming a W" (UCI General Catalogue).

8. How does a "W" (Withdrew) affect my grade point average?

"A W notation is recorded on a student's permanent record for each course a student drops after the end of the sixth week of instruction in a quarter. Courses in which a W has been entered on a student's record will be disregarded in determining the student's grade point average and will not be considered as courses attempted in assessing the student's satisfaction of the normal progress requirement" (UCI General Catalogue). A W does not indicate that a student was passing or failing the course, only that the student withdrew after the end of the sixth week of the quarter.

9. What are the conditions to change my major to Biological Sciences?

In order for the School of Biological Sciences to provide an adequate educational program for the increasing numbers of majors seeking admission to the School, it is necessary that the following conditions be met:

Revised Change of Major Policy
Effective July, 1997

For freshman and continuing students:

• Completion of Chemistry 1A, B, C, LB, LC with an average GPA of 2.0.
• Completion of an additional two required science courses for the major
  with an average GPA of 2.0 (example: any 2 of Bio 94, 96, Math 2A, B, C or Math 7).
• An average 2.0 GPA in any required science course sequence completed
  for the major (i.e. the separate GPA's for biology, general chemistry,
  organic chemistry, math and physics must each average a 2.0 GPA or above.)
• A cumulative GPA of 2.0.
• Completion of the Subject A Requirement.
• A quarterly GPA of 2.0 or better in the quarter immediately preceding
  the change of major.

For transfer students:

• Completion of at least three quarters of work done at UCI.
• Completion of Chemistry 1A, B, C, LB, LC with an average GPA of 2.0.
  If this was completed at another institution before transferring to UCI
  then at least three required sciences classes for the major must be completed
  at UCI with an average GPA of 2.0.
• An average 2.0 GPA in any required science course sequence completed
  for the major (i.e. the separate GPA's for biology, general chemistry,
  organic chemistry, math and physics must each average a 2.0 GPA or above.)
• A cumulative GPA of 2.0, and less than 120 units completed.
• A quarterly GPA of 2.0 or better in the quarter immediately preceding
  the change of major.

When to file a Change of Major Petition: Student should submit a Change of Major Petition to the Biological Sciences
Student Affairs Office in 231 Steinhaus Hall after all of the above requirements
have been completed. Bio Sci reviews change of major requests throughout the year.

10. How do I know which courses are transferable from a community college?

There are many community colleges in the Southern California area, as well as in other parts of the state, that have established articulated agreements with UCI on courses that are transferable and satisfy a major requirement or breadth requirement. To learn if a community college near you has such an agreement, please visit the Assist web site (http://www.assist.org/) which provides transfer information for the state of California.

11. How do I petition course work completed at another school for equivalency of a Bio Sci degree or breadth requirement at UCI?

If no agreement exists between your community college and UCI, you can obtain an Undergraduate Student Petition form from the Student Affairs Office and submit your request for course equivalency along with a course syllabus or catalogue description for evaluation.

12. How do I find a research opportunity and when should I start?

The Biological Sciences undergraduate research opportunity may commence as early as the sophomore year or, in the case of exceptional students, earlier. Students can conduct research in experimental laboratories, field research and clinical research. Research is conducted under the course number 199 and the Faculty listing are published in the quarterly Schedule of Classes. Students can conduct Bio 199 research with Biological Sciences and College of Medicine faculty. Students can begin the process by reviewing faculty abstracts that are on the School of Biological Sciences web site: http://www.bio.uci.edu/students/. Click on Undergraduate Research, Faculty Abstracts. Once you discover a research opportunity that interests you, schedule an appointment with the professor to discuss the research opportunity, academic requirements and approval to add the Bio. 199 course. It is recommended that students review a research publication/s of the professor to gain a sense of the research area. Bio.199 research requires careful planning, knowledge of the enrollment requirements and procedures. DEADLINES for enrollment and submission of required documents are absolute and students are expected to comply. It is recommended that students investigate the Bio. 199 research opportunities the quarter before enrollment is desired. For students conducting research in a clinical setting, additional requirements are mandatory. All enrollment procedures and policies as well as program standards are on the web site listed above. In preparation for Bio 199 enrollment, students need to complete the Bio Sciences 194, Safety and Ethics for Research course, prior to enrollment. The Bio 194 Safety course is offered each quarter and is 1 unit, Pass/ No Pass only.

13. What is the letter of recommendation file service?

The Bio Sci Student Affairs Office will establish a file to collect your individual letters of recommendation for the purpose of applying to the following professional programs: medical (allopathic and osteopathic), dental, pharmacy, optometry, podiatry, physical therapy, physician assistant, and veterinary medicine and other allied health fields.

14. When should I apply for graduation and how will I be informed of my graduation status?

Graduating students must file a graduation application in the Biological Sciences Student Affairs Office by the last day of instruction of the quarter in which you plan to graduate. However, it is advisable to submit the graduation application two quarters in advance of graduation so that students can be informed of any incomplete course work or missing course transcripts from other academic institutions. After submitting the graduation application, students should return to the Student Affairs Office two to three weeks later to receive a degree check report.

15. How do I qualify for honors at graduation?

Honors at graduation are known as "Latin" honors for the Latin phrases that describe 'with highest praise (summa cum laude),' 'with great praise (magna cum laude),' and 'with praise (cum laude).' "Of the graduating seniors, no more than 12 percent will receive honors: approximately 1 percent summa cum laude, 3 percent magna cum laude, and 8 percent cum laude. The selection for the awards is based on winter quarter rank-ordered grade point averages." (UCI General Catalogue).

To be eligible for honors at graduation, the student must do the following by the end of Winter Quarter of the senior year:

• File an application to graduate in the Biological Sciences Student Affairs Office (no additional applications are necessary).
• Be able to verify completion of all coursework by the end of Spring Quarter (Summer Graduates are NOT eligible).
• Be officially declared as a Biological Sciences major.
• Have completed at least 72 units in residence at a UC campus by the end of Winter Quarter.
• If completing the "Language other than English" (Category VI) breadth requirement with a language exemption test, pass the exemption test before the end of Winter Quarter.
• Cannot have on file any recorded acts of academic dishonesty.
• Have any corrections to your academic record processed by the Registrar's Office by the last day of Winter Quarter.
• SPECIAL NOTE: A change of grade must be processed before the end of Winter Quarter to be considered for Honors.

Honors are awarded once a year at the end of spring to qualified students who are graduated in summer, fall, winter, and spring of that academic year. If you have any questions about graduating with honors, please call the Biological Sciences Student Affairs Office at 949-824-5318.