Division of Biological Sciences

Division of Biological Sciences

Enrollment Management Information

Impacted Major-what is it?

Student interest in the Biological Sciences has increased very rapidly in the past five years.  Although the division has taken many steps to accommodate this growth, we have reached the limit of our current and projected resources (especially as it relates to lab space).  The division therefore sought and received approval from the Academic Senate to declare impacted status for all biology majors.  The division will limit the number of freshmen, transfer and continuing students who are admitted to any of the biology majors. 

The division is committed to providing the best education possible to its students.  By limiting the number of majors, the faculty and staff of the Division of Biological Sciences can ensure that the educational experience of all students is of the highest quality.

What this means:

All biology majors will be considered impacted beginning fall 2009. 

Who does this affect:

Freshmen

Beginning with the incoming class of fall 2009, all potential freshmen must indicate on the UC application if they wish to major in biology. UCSD Admissions is solely responsible for admitting students and for assuring that a target of no more than 700 new freshmen will enroll in fall 2009.

Transfer Students

For admission purposes, this cohort will not be affected until fall 2011.  Until then, transfer students will be admitted to any biology major without restriction.  In fall 2011, the target number of new transfers will be 200.  The UCSD Admissions Office will rank, according to transfer GPA, all students that applied. Admissions is solely responsible for admitting transfer students and for assuring that a target of no more than 200 new transfers will enroll as Biology majors.

The DBS expects transfer students to have completed all lower division course work for the requested biology major at the time of transfer.

For all students admitted to UCSD as a non-biology major, guidelines/procedures listed below apply.

Non-Biology/Undeclared Majors

Beginning fall 2009, all non-biology majors will be affected by the impacted major status.  Non-biology majors interested in changing to a biology major must complete an Exceptional Admission application. 

The admission policy for non-biology is:

  1. Complete at least one year/three quarters in residence at UCSD
  2. Complete all lower division requirements for the requested major
  3. Students will be ranked based on overall UCSD GPA and admitted according to rank
  4. Students who have completed more than six full quarters at UCSD will not be considered

Note: Students who meet the criteria for Exceptional Admission will be given priority to the requested biology major.  Space permitting, students who do not meet the criteria may also be considered for admission to the requested biology major.

Current/Existing Biology Majors

Students who transfer out of an impacted biology major may transfer back, one time only without meeting the full requirements of Exceptional Admission, provided they are in good academic standing.

Timeline for Students

2009-2010

UCSD Admission to a Biology major 
 freshmen:  A restricted number of students were admitted to biology via UC application.
transfer:  No restriction on admit to biology major from any two or four-year college or university via UC application.
UCSD Admission to a non-biology major/undeclared
Students may apply to a biology major via the Exceptional Admission process if undeclared or non-biology major.  Note: transfer students are not encouraged to follow this route as one of the requirements for exceptional admission is completion of at least one year/three quarters in residence at UCSD.  Transfer students wishing to apply for exceptional admission will likely delay the date to graduation.

2010-2011

UCSD Admission to a Biology major 
 freshmen:  A restricted number of students will be admitted to biology via UC application.
transfer:  No restriction on admit to biology major from any two or four-year college or university via UC application.
UCSD Admission to a non-biology major/undeclared
Students may apply to a biology major via the Exceptional Admission process if undeclared or non-biology major.  Note: transfer students are not encouraged to follow this route as one of the requirements for exceptional admission is completion of at least one year/three quarters in residence at UCSD.  Transfer students wishing to apply for exceptional admission will likely delay the date to graduation.

2011-2012

UCSD Admission to a Biology major 
 freshmen:  A restricted number of students will be admitted to biology via UC application.
transfer:  A restricted number of students will be admitted to biology via UC application.
UCSD Admission to a non-biology major/undeclared
Students may apply to a biology major via the Exceptional Admission process if undeclared or non-biology major.  Note: transfer students are not encouraged to follow this route as one of the requirements for Exceptional Admission is completion of at least one year/three quarters in residence at UCSD.  Transfer students wishing to apply for exceptional admission will likely delay the date to graduation.

FAQ's
 Exceptional Admission Information & Application n 
 Campus Information on Impacted Majors    

If you have any questions regarding this procedure, please contact Biological Sciences Student & Instructional Services at (858) 534-0557.