As part of the campus Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy, undergraduates are expected to make satisfactory completion of benchmark requirements. Highlights of the Policy are below.
- Full-time degree-seeking students are expected to graduate in four years.
- Students are expected to create and update a four-year plan toward graduation.
- Students are expected to successfully pass important benchmark courses by certain semesters to ensure they are on track to graduate in a timely fashion.
- The exact benchmark courses and timeframe for completion vary by major.
- Students who do not successfully pass benchmark requirements risk being dismissed from their major.
- Students with questions about benchmark requirements should contact their academic advisor.
Specific benchmark requirements by major
The specific benchmark requirements listed below require a "C-" or better for all science and math courses and are based on the semester in the major unless specified otherwise.
Astronomy
Second semester benchmark
ASTR 120, 121
MATH 140
Fourth semester benchmark
MATH 141
PHYS 171, 174, 272
MATH 241
Atmospheric & Oceanic Science
Second semester benchmark
PHYS 161 OR 171
CHEM 135 AND CHEM 132 OR 136
MATH 140, 141
AOSC 200, 201
Fourth semester benchmark
MATH 241, 246
PHYS 272, 273, 275
Computer Programming course
Two 400-level AOSC Courses
Biological Sciences
Visit the Biological Sciences benchmark webpage for details on specific benchmark requirements.
Biochemistry and Chemistry
Visit the Chemistry and Biochemistry webpage for details on specific benchmark requirements.
Computer Science
Visit the Computer Science website for details on specific benchmark requirements.
Geology (All Tracks)
Second semester benchmark
Two additional Gen Ed courses
Four 3-4 credit major courses
Fourth semester benchmark
MATH 140, 141
PHYS 141 OR PHYS 161/174
Two 3-4 credit major courses
Mathematics (Applied, Traditional, and Statistics Tracks)
Second semester benchmark
MATH 140, 141
Three Gen Ed courses
Fourth semester benchmark
MATH 240, 241, 246, 310
Computer Science requirement
Sixth semester benchmark
MATH 410
Two 400-LEVEL AMSC MATH/STAT Courses
Math (Secondary Education Track)
Second semester benchmark
MATH 140, 141
Three Gen Ed courses
Fourth semester benchmark
MATH 240, 241, 310
Computer Science requirement
Sixth semester benchmark
MATH 410
Two 400-LEVEL AMSC MATH/STAT Courses
Neuroscience
Download the Neuroscience Benchmark PDF.
Physics-Professional Track
Second semester benchmark
PHYS 171, 174
MATH 140, 141
Fourth semester benchmark
PHYS 272, 273, 274**, 275, 276
MATH 241, 246
**Students planning to complete second majors that require MATH 246 and MATH240/461 can substitute these courses for PHYS274.
Physics-Education Track
Second semester benchmark
ENGL 101
PHYS 171, 174
MATH 140, 141
Fourth semester benchmark
PHYS 272, 273, 275, 276
MATH 241, 246
Physics-Meteorology Track
Second semester benchmark
PHYS 171, 174
MATH 140, 141
Fourth semester benchmark
PHYS 272, 273, 275, 276
MATH 241, 246