Advanced Placement
The Undergraduate Biology program begins with a single semester introductory biology course, BIO 25L (Principles of Biology). BIO 25L alone is a prerequisite for most upper-level biology courses. BIO 25L, together with an introductory Diversity course (eg, BIO 26L) makes up the first year of course work for the typical Biology major.
PLACEMENT BY EXAM OR TRANSFER
Advanced placement out of BIO 25L is possible with adequate scores on an approved examination. Advanced placement credit will be recorded as BIO 19 for a score of 4 or 5 on the American AP exam or a score of 6 or 7 on the Higher Level International Baccalaureate (IB) exam or GCE A-Levels. Transfer credit for a college-level Introductory Biology course which is not identical to BIO 25L will be recorded as BIO 20. Credit for either BIO 19, BIO 20, or BIO 25L will satisfy the biology prerequisite requirements.
Advanced placement, but not course credit, may be possible in the absence of a placement exam or transfer credit. There are two options that may be pursued in exceptional cases:
I. If a student's background is strong in a particular area, then it may be possible to take a corresponding upper-level course with the consent of the instructor. A student should meet with the course instructor and present documentary evidence that they are well prepared for the upper-level course. Consent must be sought on a course by course basis and it will not waive the introductory biology prerequisite for the Biology Major.
II. If a student believes that they are generally are well prepared for upper-level courses in biology, then they may receive a waiver out of Bio 25L with approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies(DUS) in Biology. The student must submit a written request for placement to the DUS which addresses the following concerns:
1. Was the caliber of high school training at the college level and equivalent to a standard AP Biology class? Documentation should include a syllabus, description of the text & labs, or a statement from the teacher.
2. Was the student's performance in the course was well above average, corresponding to an AP exam score of 4 or 5 had they taken the exam?. Documentation should include a grade (transcript), copies of exams, or a statement from the teacher.
3. Was there some reason that the student did not take the exam? Was it consistent with the likelihood that they would have done well had they taken it?
4. Is there are some reason that taking Bio 25L would be a significant problem for the student's academic program here at Duke?
In addition, the student should make a point of attending several lectures in Bio 25L and several lectures in an upper-level course. Based on this experience, the student should include in their written request an honest assessment of whether they are confident that they are prepared to skip BIO 25L and enter the upper-level course.
Upon approval, the student will receive a note indicating that they have a conditional waiver from taking BIO 25L. Final approval is conditional on the student's performance (B- or better) in their first upper-level course. A note will be entered into the student's transcript indicatingthat they have advanced placement in biology. In the event that the student receives a grade in the first biology course less than a B- they will be required to take BIO 25L before pursuing additional upper-level courses in biology.
A waiver of BIO 25L by the DUS will satisfy the biology prerequisite for the Biology major. Note, however, that it does not grant either course credit nor examination credit .
Trinity College Rules on Advanced Placement, IPC, and IB Credit
Duke Biology Box 90338 Durham, NC 27708 Phone: 919-660-7372 Fax: 919-660-7293