College of Science

Programs of Study:

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Biochemistry
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Environmental Sciences
Mathematics (includes computing and other specialized programs)
Physics
Preprofessional Studies (preparation for the fields of medicine, dentistry and allied health)
Science-Business
Science-Computing
Science-Education

Although the College of Science reviews both sophomore and junior applicants, it prefers to admit incoming sophomores. The College has found that junior transfer students often have more difficulty making the academic adjustment to Notre Dame because they lack a common science background. Since sophomores complete more of their science core at Notre Dame, they have a stronger science foundation in their major programs.

If you are a student applying for admission as a sophomore in a science curriculum, you should typically have completed Notre Dame’s First Year program which includes:

  • Calculus (Two courses: 8 semester hours)
  • General Chemistry with laboratory (Two courses: 8 semester hours) See note below
  • General Biology or General Physics (calculus-based), with Laboratory (Two courses: 8 semester hours total) **See note below
  • English Composition (3 semester hours)
  • History or Social Science (3 semester hours)
  • Transferable Elective (3 semester hours)

Students who have strong academic records, but have not fulfilled all of the course requirements indicated, may be offered admission with the stipulation that it will take extra semesters to complete degree requirements.

  • Students intending to major in Preprofessional Studies, Biology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry are encouraged to take a semester of organic chemistry with lab before entering Notre Dame, if possible. This applies even if you have taken a full year of general chemistry at your current school. If this is not possible, the College of Science recently decided (December of 2007) that it will continue offering Organic Chemisty I in the fall and Organic Chemistry II in the spring for at least the 2008-09 academic year. This decision was made to ease the transition into the new sequence of beginning to offer Organic Chemistry I in the spring of the first year. Math and Physics majors have the option of completing this requirement at Notre Dame.
  • A full year of General Biology with lab is required for students planning to major in Biological Sciences or Biochemistry. Physics with lab is required for students planning to major in Chemistry or Physics and is recommended for students planning to major in Mathematics.

To evaluate your math and science credits during the application evaluation process, the Committee requires a copy of the syllabus and a course description for each course on your final transcript.