College of Science
College Requirements
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 courses at Notre Dame, they often have a stronger science foundation in their major programs. To evaluate your credits, the Transfer Admissions Committee requires a copy of the syllabus and a course description of each course on your final transcript.
If you are a student applying for admission as a sophomore in a science curriculum, you should have completed Notre Dame’s First Year program which includes:
| Mathematics | Calculus (Two courses: 8 semester hours) |
| Chemistry | General Chemistry with laboratory (Two courses: 8 semester hours) |
| General Biology or General Physics | (calculus-based), with Laboratory (Two courses: 8 semester hours total) |
| English Composition | 3 semester hours |
| History or Social Science | 3 semester hours of Anthropology, Psychology, or Sociology |
| Transferable Elective | 3 semester hours |
If you are applying for admission as a junior in a science program you should have completed additional courses in foreign language, philosophy, theology, and science courses for your intended major.
Students intending to major in Preprofessional Studies, Biology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry must take a semester of Organic Chemistry with lab before entering Notre Dame. This applies even if you have taken a full year of General Chemistry at your current school. Without Organic Chemistry I completed, you will be out of sequence with Notre Dame’s science program. Enrolling in and completing a summer course in Organic Chemistry may be a helpful option. This summer course would need to be completed before matriculating to Notre Dame. 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. A full year of physics with lab is required for students planning to major in Chemistry or Physics and is recommended for students planning to major in Mathematics. Preprofessional Studies and Science/Business majors only need to have completed the Calculus and Chemistry requirements.
Programs of Study
Biochemistry
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Environmental Sciences
Mathematics
Physics
Preprofessional Studies
Science-Business
Science-Computing
Science-Education
