Biological Sciences Major Change (CODO) Requirements

Major Change (CODO) Requirements

Purdue students interested in changing their major should meet with their current academic advisor to discuss their options and begin the online process. Once the student’s Major Change (CODO) has been processed, students will receive an email with instructions to authorize the change.

Students will need to meet the criteria below to be eligible for this major. A student’s catalog term, typically the semester you started at Purdue, will be used to determine the Major Change criteria that applies to you. Students can find their catalog term at the top of their MyPurduePlan below the degree progress bar.

This major change information below is for the catalog term you are currently viewing; see the University Undergraduate Academic Advising Major Change (CODO) website for prior catalog term criteria, more about the major change process and FAQs.

Students changing their major to a space restricted program, as designated by SPACE AVAILABLE BASIS ONLY, need to have their Curricular Change Request (CCR) submitted by their home college/school by 5pm the Thursday of Finals week for requests effective the following term to be considered.

Majors

• Biology, BS   (BIOL)
• Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, BS  (CMDB)
• Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, BS  (EEEB)
• Genetics, BS  (GNTC)
• Health and Disease, BS  (HLDS)
• Microbiology, BS  (MICR)
• Neurobiology and Physiology, BS  (NRPH)

General Requirements

• Minimum Semesters:  1
• Minimum West Lafayette Credit Hours:  12
• Minimum Cumulative GPA:  2.5

Course Requirements

C or better in the following:

• BIOL 11000 - Fundamentals Of Biology I or
• BIOL 12100 - Biology I: Diversity, Ecology, And Behavior or
• BIOL 13100 - Biology II: Development, Structure, And Function Of Organisms
• Note: BIOL 12100 and 13100 meet degree requirements.

•  

• CHM 11500 - General Chemistry or
• CHM 11600 - General Chemistry or
• CHM 12500 - Introduction To Chemistry I or
• CHM 12901 - General Chemistry With A Biological Focus or
• CHM 13600 - General Chemistry Honors

•  

• MA 16010 - Applied Calculus I or
• MA 16100 - Plane Analytic Geometry And Calculus I or
• MA 16500 - Analytic Geometry And Calculus I

Other Requirements

• Students are accepted for FALL, SPRING, and SUMMER.
• Students are admitted on a SPACE AVAILABLE BASIS ONLY after a holistic review.  Space is limited.
• Students must be in good academic standing (not on academic notice). 
• 2.5 GPA or better in any completed BIOL, CHM, CS, MA, PHYS or STAT course that meets degree requirements. See courses listed under program of interest in the College of Science Department of Biological Sciences  Programs section of the 2023-2024 University Catalog or current students can use the “What if” function in MyPurduePlan.
• BIOL and CHM courses considered for CODO must be taken for a letter grade on a Purdue campus.
• For CODO purposes, only the first or second attempt of a required BIOL, CHM and MA course will be considered. Course withdrawals may be included as an attempt.

Advising Website

Department of Biological Sciences Undergraduate Studies website

Student Next Steps

Meeting with an Academic Advisor is strongly recommended to provide advice and information about the programs and changing majors. Call (765) 494-4747 or email bioadvising@purdue.edu or scienceadvising@purdue.edu and request to schedule a CODO appointment.