Bulletin 2000-2002

School of Science Science Building (LD) 222
402 North Blackford Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3276
(317) 274-0625
School of Science Home Page

The School of Science

IUPUI
Science Building, LD 222
402 N. Blackford Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3272
(317) 274-0625, FAX (317) 274-0628
The School of Science offers many undergraduate and graduate programs that will prepare students for a variety of careers open to scientists. As part of its instructional mission, the school also provides non-science majors with the scientific background to help them become more aware and better-informed consumers and citizens. Scientists push forward the boundaries of our knowledge of the natural world through applied and basic research. Science benefits society by providing fundamental knowledge and technical advances in such areas as health, ecology, computer and software design, mathematical modeling, and chemistry. Science informs the social sciences with scientific understanding of psychology, applications of statistics, and implications of environmental problems. Science contributes to the arts and humanities by offering knowledge of the physical universe and the symmetry and wonder of nature.

In addition to preparing students for traditional science-related career opportunities and preparation for advanced study in graduate school, an undergraduate program in one of the sciences is considered excellent background for professional study in medicine (including veterinary medicine), dentistry, business administration, law, and areas of the social sciences where quantitative methods are important. Scientifically trained persons are also sought as administrators for some governmental agencies and as salespersons or managers by companies producing science-based products.

Supplementing the full-time instructional staff, with ranks ranging from instructor through full professor, is a contingent of well-qualified, experienced lecturers who are recruited from the reserve of talent existing in the Indianapolis area.

The School of Science offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in biology, chemistry, geology, and psychology. Bachelor of Science degrees are offered in biology, chemistry, computer science, geology, mathematics, physics, and psychology. Master of Science degrees are offered in biology, chemistry, computer science, geology, mathematics, physics, and psychology. The Doctor of Philosophy degree program in clinical rehabilitation psychology is also offered. All degrees awarded are Purdue University degrees, except those given in geology, which are Indiana University degrees. Qualified students may be authorized to pursue a Ph.D. degree at IUPUI in areas where a program has been arranged with Purdue, West Lafayette, or the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Degree Programs in the School of Science

Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis awards students degrees from both Purdue University and Indiana University. This list shows all the degrees awarded and the institution granting the degree.

Biology
Bachelor of ArtsPU
Bachelor of SciencePU
Master of SciencePU
Chemistry
Bachelor of ArtsPU
Bachelor of Science in ChemistryPU
Master of SciencePU
Computer and Information Science
Bachelor of SciencePU
Master of SciencePU
Geology
Bachelor of ArtsIU
Bachelor of Science in GeologyIU
Master of ScienceIU
Mathematical Sciences
Bachelor of SciencePU
Master of SciencePU
Physics
Bachelor of SciencePU
Master of SciencePU
Psychology
Bachelor of ArtsPU
Bachelor of SciencePU
Master of SciencePU
Doctor of Philosophy in clinical rehabilitation psychologyPU

Qualified students may be authorized to pursue a Ph.D. degree in a science discipline at IUPUI in areas where a program has been arranged with Purdue, West Lafayette, or the Indiana University School of Medicine. Please contact the department of interest at IUPUI for further details.

Admissions and Transfers

All students entering the School of Science must have been officially admitted to the university by the Office of Admissions, Cavanaugh Hall 129, 425 University Blvd., IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5143. Further information and application forms may be obtained at this address or by calling (317) 274-4591. All applications for admission must be accompanied by a $35 nonrefundable fee. Checks should be made payable to IUPUI.

Applicants should be aware that, under Indiana law, criminal convictions may result in ineligibility for admission to certain programs at IUPUI. For the School of Science, criminal convictions may also result in ineligibility for enrollment in certain courses or participation in certain projects. Questions regarding school policy on such matters should be addressed to the associate dean for academic programs and student development.

Beginning Students

Students entering IUPUI directly from high school should file their applications for admission during their senior year.

Acceptance to the university as a new student is influenced by several factors. The Office of Admissions is guided by the following:

  1. The applicant should be a high school graduate or be scheduled to graduate before enrolling at IUPUI.

  2. The extent to which the student meets or exceeds the minimum subject requirements indicated below is considered. For admission to the School of Science, the student’s record should include the following course work:

    SubjectsSemesters
    English8
    History and Social Science4
    Algebra4
    Geometry2
    Trigonometry11-2
    Laboratory science2 2
    Combination of foreign language, additional math, laboratory science, social science, or computer science courses6-7

    Students may be admitted with some deficiencies in mathematics or laboratory science. Such deficiencies may be removed by taking courses offered by the School of Science. However, these courses may not be counted as credit toward a School of Science degree. If the high school offers more than the above mathematics courses, students may benefit from taking analytic geometry (precalculus mathematics).

    In planning high school electives, the curricula of the various departments of the School of Science contained in this bulletin should be reviewed. Departmental advisors will be glad to help with planning for admission.

  3. All applicants are required to take the Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT). It is recommended that these tests be taken in the spring of the student’s junior year in high school or fall of the senior year.

  4. Indiana Residents

    1. Residents of Indiana must rank in the upper half of their high school graduating class or have a combined verbal-math recentered SAT score of 1050. In either case, neither SAT score may be below 480.

    2. Residents of Indiana must rank in the upper half of their high school graduating class or have an ACT composite score of 23. In either case, neither the verbal nor math ACT score may be below 18.

    3. A marginal applicant may be granted admission, admitted on probation, or have admission denied.

  5. Out-of-State Residents
    If enrollment limits are in place, out-of-state applicants must rank in the top third of their high school graduating class. They must also rank in the top third of the IUPUI distribution on the SAT or ACT.

  6. Information provided by the high school counselor is considered.
    Students should declare a major when applying for admission so a departmental advisor can be assigned.

Transfer Students

From IUPUI Schools, Indiana University Campuses, and Purdue University Campuses Prospective transfer students should have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, meet the requirements of the department they wish to enter, and be in good disciplinary standing. In order to be accepted for admission to the School of Science, students must first complete the processing of appropriate materials as indicated below. Acceptance to the school also requires the signature of the chairperson of the department approving the request to pursue a degree program and the signature of the associate dean for academic programs and student development of the School of Science.

  1. An IUPUI student must file a record change form, which may be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Development of the School of Science or the student’s current school.

  2. A Purdue University campus student must make an official application through the IUPUI Office of Admissions.

From Other Colleges and Universities
Students who have earned transfer credit for 12 credit hours and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (2.5 for nonresidents of Indiana) on a 4.0 scale from other institutions may be considered for admission to the School of Science. Admittance to the school is contingent upon acceptance into a departmental program. Students should submit the following with their application for admission:

  1. A copy of their high school record showing satisfactory completion of entrance requirements;

  2. An official transcript of work completed in each institution previously attended;

  3. Evidence of good academic and disciplinary standing at the institution last attended.

Credit from other institutions is evaluated by the Office of Admissions, and its applicability toward degree requirements in the School of Science is determined by the major department and the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Development.

Transfer Credit

Acceptability of transfer credits from another college or university is determined by the student’s major department and the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Development. However, transfer credit will be allowed for the master’s degree only after one semester of satisfactory work in residence at IUPUI.

From IUPUI to Other Indiana University and Purdue University Campuses
Students transferring from IUPUI to other Indiana University and Purdue University campuses should consult the appropriate departments at those campuses about equivalence of courses.

International Students

International students seeking admission to the School of Science at IUPUI must submit the International Application for Admission, which is available from the: Office of International Affairs
Union Building 207
620 Union Drive
IUPUI
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5167
telephone (317) 274-7294
fax (317) 278-2213

Graduate Students

To be considered for admission, a candidate must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and must show promise of ability to engage in advanced work and evidence of adequate preparation to pursue graduate study in the field chosen. The minimum standard for unconditional admission to the graduate school is a graduation grade point average of 3.0 (B) or the equivalent. An applicant not meeting these requirements should take the aptitude tests section of the Graduate Record Examination. Individual departments may set higher grade point requirements and may require the submission of additional evidence of academic performance, such as Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.

A minimal score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for admission to the graduate school for applicants whose native language is not English. Departments may set higher requirements. Applicants in the Indianapolis area may substitute the IUPUI English as a Second Language (ESL) Placement Examination for the TOEFL. A brochure about this test is available from the

Office of International Affairs
Union Building 207
620 Union Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5167
telephone (317) 274-7294. Application should normally be made at least three months before the beginning of the session in which the student wishes to enroll. However, late applications will also be accepted. Applicants will be advised of the action taken on their applications by the dean of the Purdue University Graduate School. Applications to the Department of Geology will be considered by the Department of Geology and forwarded to the IUPUI office of the Indiana University Graduate School; applicants will be notified of the results by the graduate advisor in the Department of Geology.

Qualified students may be authorized to pursue a Ph.D. degree at IUPUI in areas where a program has been arranged with Purdue, West Lafayette, or the Indiana University School of Medicine. For further details, contact the department in which study is desired.

Applicants should be aware that, under Indiana law, criminal convictions may result in ineligibility for admission to certain programs at IUPUI. For the School of Science, criminal convictions may also result in ineligibility for enrollment in certain courses or participation in certain projects. Questions regarding school policy on such matters should be addressed to the associate dean for academic programs and student development.

Financial support in the form of teaching and research assistantships is available through the departments of the School of Science. Students who want to be considered for IUPUI fellowships must submit GRE (verbal/quantitative/analytic) scores. Area examination scores may also be submitted for consideration.

Degree-seeking Graduate Student Application

Application forms for admission as a degree-seeking graduate student may be obtained from the major department.

Applicants must submit complete, official transcripts of all previous college and university studies and three letters of academic reference for evaluation by the major department.

Graduate NondegreeProgram

The graduate nondegree classification is normally used for two groups of students:

(1) Students who are working on prerequisites or are in the process of filing for admission into a graduate degree program; (2) nondegree students whose intent is to take course work for personal improvement. A student who wishes to become a candidate for an advanced degree should consult with the chosen major department at the time of application for admission as a graduate nondegree student. The major department will advise applicants of the procedure for obtaining status as a degree-seeking student. Admission as a graduate nondegree student is obtained through the

IUPUI Graduate Office
Union Building 518
620 Union Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5167
telephone (317) 274-1577 No more than 12 hours of credit earned under this classification may be used on a plan of study for a Purdue University degree program without approval of the major department and the Purdue University Graduate School. Similarly, not more than 9 hours of credit earned under this classification may be used in a plan of study for an Indiana University degree program without approval of the major department.

Footnotes

1 Students who plan to major in chemistry, computer science, or physics must have taken an advanced mathematics course that includes trigonometry.

2 It is advised that one semester of chemistry be included in lab science course work.
 

INDIANA UNIVERSITY -  PURDUE UNIVERSITY  INDIANAPOLIS
425 University Blvd. Indianapolis, IN 46202-5143
Comments: IUPUI Office of the Registrar
Copyright 2000, The Trustees of Indiana University