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Your Coursework

Things are moving along now! Now that you’ve completed the [Colleges Attended] and [Terms Attended] sections, you are ready to begin adding coursework in the [College Coursework] section. Woo-hoo! Continue reading for important step-by-step instructions.

Quick Links:

 

important note

Only use official transcripts when entering your coursework. Unofficial transcripts and degree audits do not accurately reflect what appears on official transcripts. Using these unofficial copies may result in application processing delays or course deficiencies down the road!

Before beginning the next section, remember to:

  • Use your official transcripts to enter all courses attempted.
    1. Enter courses in the same order in which they are listed on your official transcript (see exception regarding winter terms on previous page).
    2. You will list all for-credit courses that you have ever enrolled in at any college you have attended and have listed in the [Colleges Attended] section. This includes:
      • College-level courses taken while in high school (i.e., dual credit courses), even if they did not count toward a degree at any college.
      • Colleges at which you took a course, even if transfer credit was later accepted by another school.
    3. List courses under the granting institution, even if you received transfer credit elsewhere.
      • If your main university transcript shows transfer credit from a community college (or other institution), do NOT enter these as transfer credits under your university
    4. Omit zero-hour and Continuing Education courses, which typically grant CUs rather than credit hours.
  • If in doubt about a course...
    All courses that appear on your official transcript(s), and for which a grade and credit were ever assigned, need to be included in your application. This includes, but is not limited to:
    • Courses that have been repeated
    • Courses that you failed or withdrew from, regardless of whether they have been repeated*
    • Courses you took in high school for college credit that appear on a college transcript
    • Courses taken at American colleges overseas
    • Withdrawn courses, with the exception of Withdrawn Fail (WF) courses, and Developmental (DV) courses will not be included in the GPA calculation. 
  • Include future/planned coursework.
    Be sure to include future/planned coursework. Remember: Terms reflecting future/planned coursework should already be listed in [Terms Attended].
    • In the [College Coursework] section you will list the courses you plan on taking in future semesters.
    • You will indicate “Not Yet Reported” for the grade.
    • If you are unsure of the courses you plan on taking, list at least one placeholder.
    • Always answer “YES” to Last Time Taken for future coursework.
    • Your application will not be processed if planned enrollment is indicated but planned coursework is not listed.
  • Refer to the Coursework Definitions and Course Listings pages on the TMDSAS website when coding your coursework.
    Coding your coursework refers to selecting a "course area" when inputting coursework information in the application.
    • If you do not see a listing for your school, please use the Coursework Definitions as a guide for coding coursework and use your best judgement. TMDSAS will review coursework during processing and make corrections as needed.

important note

Spring 2020 term: Courses that originally began as in-person, and were transitioned to an online format due to Covid-19, should be classified as regular courses (RC) rather than as distance learning (DL).

Courses after this term need to be labeled depending on how you signed up for the courses. If your school informed you that courses would be online due to COVID-19, list the courses as distance learning (DL). The schools are aware that many courses had to be online due to the pandemic.

 

Snow

Bring your questions to the weekly TMDSAS Office Hours sessions.


Live Every Tuesday at 1 pm CT


Watch recordings of previous sessions

 


Entering Your Coursework

Follow these step-by-step instructions for entering your coursework into the [College Coursework] section of the application.

Step 1: Select Term

  • Select the term from the institution you wish to enter coursework for by clicking on the [Add Course] button.

If you took Maymester coursework, you may enter these as Spring or Summer terms. If you select Spring, make sure your grades are entered in accordance to the Applicant User Agreement.

 

Step 2: Academic Status

(See below or see Glossary for definitions.)

  • Indicate your academic status for the term. TMDSAS follows the traditional status classifications for undergraduate years. Status options include:
    • PF: Pre-Freshman (courses taken in high school)
    • FR: Freshman
    • SO: Sophomore
    • JR: Junior
    • SR: Senior
    • PB: Post-Baccalaureate (courses taken after the completion of a Bachelor's degree, including those for a subsequent Bachelor's degree)
    • GR: Graduate
  • Your academic status for courses can be entered using the following example:
    • PF - Fall 2018, FR - Fall 2018, FR - Spring 2019, FR - Summer 2019, SO - Fall 2019, SO - Spring 2020, etc.

 

Step 3: Course Type (See Glossary for definitions.)

  • Indicate course type for the course you are entering. Course types are:
    • Regular Class
    • Distance Learning/Online Course
    • Honors
    • Study Abroad
    • International Baccalaureate
    • Credit by Institutional/Departmental Exam (for example: receiving credit for for courses due to an ACT/SAT score)
    • Audit
    • Developmental - Will not be included in any of the GPA calculations.
    • Dual Credit
    • Advanced Placement/CLEP

Entering Dual Credit or AP Coursework?

Check out this Office Hours Session.

 

Entering Dual Credit Coursework

important note

Dual Credit Courses - How and where should it be entered?
Enter course information exactly as it appears on your official community college transcript NOT your main institution. Otherwise, you may encounter course deficiencies later on down the road!

Enter the community college in [Colleges Attended], followed by the terms you attended at the institution in [Terms Attended]. List your courses in [College Coursework].

How to enter:


Watch the TMDSAS Office Hours to see how to enter your Dual Credit courses!

 

Entering AP Coursework

important note


AP/CLEP/IB Credit – How and where should it be entered?
You are required to enter any AP credit that appears on your official transcript as long as it is not lump sum credit.

Example of lump sum credit:
UCLA Official Transcript - Transfer exam credit: 30 hours

If your AP credit appears as a lump sum, a letter from your Registrar's Office detailing each AP course breakdown is needed (prefix, course number, course name, credit hours, etc.).

The letter may be sent to TMDSAS at info@tmdsas.com to verify the credit as soon as possible. You do not need to wait for this letter to be requested.

While waiting for TMDSAS to receive and process the letter from your registrar’s office, you may enter your AP coursework details if you already know the information for each individual course.

If you do not know what the breakdown will be, you may leave the AP credit off and a TMDSAS team member will manually add it once approved.

How to enter:

  • Academic Status is PF (Pre-Freshman) no matter if you claimed the credit at a later time.
  • Course Type is AP (Advanced Placement).
  • Grade should be CR (Credit).
  • Only code as Other Science or Non-Science unless credit was granted for an approved pre-requisite course as listed in the Course Listings.


Watch the TMDSAS Office Hours to see how to enter your AP courses!

 

FAQs About Entering AP Coursework

What do I enter for missing prefix and course numbers on AP credit?

 

Coursework With No Defined Prefix/Number?

Department = Prefix
Use the department prefix. For example: PHYS for Physics or BIO/BIOL for Biology AP credit.

Academic Status = Number
Use the numbers 1-5 to correspond with your academic status for FR - Freshman as the first number followed by 00 or 000, depending on how your institution numbers courses, either in the hundreds or thousands.

HOWEVER: If you wish for this AP credit to count as a pre-requisite and included in your PCR, you will need to contact your registrar for the course breakdown

Use your best judgement! Follow these guidelines; TMDSAS will closely review your courses and will adjust if necessary.

What do I put for 'Last Time Taken' if I retook the AP credit at my main institution?

 

If you claimed an AP credit for a course at your university and then retook that course again, you would answer ‘No’ for Last Time Taken and the repeated course as ‘Yes’ for Last Time Taken. Note: This is the case, even if the repeated course was taken at a different university.

On the other hand, if you claimed an AP credit for a course at your university and you did not repeat this course, you would answer ‘Yes’ for Last Time Taken. 

What if AP credit appears on my community college transcript and main institution transcript?

 

AP Credit courses that appear across several university transcripts as transfer credit, only need to be entered once under whichever university you prefer exactly as it appears on that school’s transcript. 

How do I enter AP credit if it is listed under the summer term before I attended my main institution?

 

List your AP credits under the first term of your undergraduate institution.

EXAMPLE: attendance at your main institution is fall 2019 - spring 2023

Using the example above, you would list your AP credit under fall 2019, because that is the first term you attended at the institution even if the transcript has your AP credit under the previous summer 2019 term. 

What if my AP credit is not assigned to a term?

 

List these courses in your first undergraduate term. For most applicants, this will be the fall of freshman year.

What if my AP credit is listed under the term I claimed the credit?

 

If AP credit is awarded under specific terms, include them with your regular coursework for those terms, but list the academic status as PF, and course type of AP.

 

Step 4: Prefix

  • Enter the departmental prefix for the course as it appears on the official transcript.
    • For example, CHEM, BIOL, PSYC, ENGL, etc.

Step 5: Course Number

  • Enter the course number as it appears on the official transcript.
  • Do not enter the section number.

Step 6: Course Name

  • Enter the course name.
  • Simply capitalize the first letters of all words, even if it appears in all CAPS on the transcript.
  • Use your best judgement - only abbreviate where necessary.

Step 7: Course Area (Course Coding)

  • View the Coursework Definitions and Course Listings to assist in coding your courses. 
    • If you do not see a course listing for your school, please use the Coursework Definitions as a guide for coding coursework and use your best judgement. TMDSAS will make corrections as needed during processing. 
  • Indicate the course area for each course.

    Course Areas

    Please open the dropdown menu (+)  to see all course area options

    Course:

    Course Area:

    Biology Lab

    BioLab

    Biology Lecture

    BioLec

    Biology Lecture/Lab

    BioLL

    English

    Engl

    General Chemistry Lab

    ChemLab

    General Chemistry Lecture

    ChemLec

    General Chemistry Lecture/Lab

    ChemLL

    Non-Science

    NonSci

    Organic Chemistry Lab

    OrgChLab

    Organic Chemistry lecture

    OrgChLec

    Organic Chemistry Lecture/lab

    OrgChemLL

    Other Science

    OthSci

    Physics lab

    PhysLab

    Physics

    PhysLec

    Physics

    PhysLL

    Calculus

    CAL

    Statistics

    STA

    Mathematics

    MATH

    Animal and Agriculture Sciences

    AniAgrSci

    Engineering

    ENGR

    Biochemistry Lab

    BioChLab

    Biochemistry Lecture

    BioChLec

    Biochemistry Lecture/Lab

    BioChemLL

  • Select course area classification based on the primary content of the course.
    • Any Math course that is not Developmental, Calculus or Statistics, should be coded as “MATH-Mathematics” in the application.
    • Social Science courses are Non-Science.
    • Certain courses with lab components might be presented on a transcript in multiple ways. Most transcripts will list these separately (See Example 1). However, some schools may combine these lecture/lab courses on their transcripts (See Example 2). Please be sure to select the correct [course area] for these types of courses.
      • Example 1:
        • CHEM 1311 General Chemistry Lecture    [ChemLec]    3 Credits
        • CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Lab    [ChemLab]    1 Credits
      • Example 2: 
        • CHEM 1411 General Chemistry Lecture/Lab [ChemLecLab] 4 Credits

Example: Entering 0 credit coursework.

 

Course worth [0.00] credit hours (image below) should not be included in the coursework section. 

chem example

  • With the exception of Canadian coursework, foreign coursework will not meet pre-requisites.  
    • Code these foreign courses ONLY as Other Science or Non-Science.

 

Step 8: Transcript Grade

  • Enter the grade exactly as it appears on the official transcript. If you earned an A, select A.
    • Do NOT include plus or minus (+/-), unless indicated on your transcript.
  • If narrative evaluations are used in your system in lieu of grades, list "Pass" if pass credit was awarded. Copies of narrative evaluations will be forwarded to your designated colleges.
  • Grades become standardized as they are entered, meaning that the application system will convert the grade to a TMDSAS Grade. The TMDSAS grading system standardizes the grades to be used in the GPA calculation and to be reported to the medical, dental or veterinary schools.
    • This means (+/-) will not be factored into the GPA, but should be recorded, again only if indicated on the official transcript. 
  • TMDSAS Grades include: A, B, C, D, F, Credit, Pass, Quit, Withdrew (W), Failed, Incomplete and Not Yet Reported (for future or planned coursework).
    • For Audited Courses, enter a grade of "Credit" if the grade listed on your transcript does not correlate with any other TMDSAS grade.
    • If Narrative Evaluations are used in your system in lieu of grades, list "Pass" if pass credit was awarded. Copies of narrative evaluations will be forwarded to your designated colleges.
    • Honors Grading System: List "H" as the course type and corresponding grades as listed on your transcript.
    • Grade Conversions: Some schools provide number values for grades, so you will need to list the letter grade equivalent. (For example, Michigan State University: 4.0 = A  3.5 = A-  3.0 = B  2.5 = B-  2.0 = C  1.5 = C-  1.00 = D  0.00 = F)
  • Please see the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rules for GPA calculations.

 

Step 9: Credit Hours

  • Enter the credit hours according to your transcript. You can enter hours up to one decimal place (00.0).
    • Be careful not to confuse this with GPA hours; credit hours typically range from 1-5 credit hours per course.
    • Credit hours may be referred to as "credit units" at some universities.
      • If listed as credit units, check to see if there is a credit unit conversion for your university. You would check this information by inquiring with your registrar's office.
  • Enter in semester or quarter hours only.
    • You will indicate whether your school operates on a semester or quarter system when adding the terms in the [Terms Attended] section.
  • Only list courses worth credit.
    • Do not list any course where 0 credit hours were earned (e.g., Chapel, Orientation, Peer Assistant, etc.) You will notice with these courses that there are no attempted hours or earned hours listed on your transcript.

      Examples of 0 credit hours earned:

      These courses should not be included in the coursework section. Please open dropdown menu (+) to see image example.
      6
  • Failed or withdrawn courses should be added to the coursework section. If you withdrew from a course, list the number of hours you would have earned had you completed the course (i.e., the number of credit hours the course was worth.)

    Examples of failed or withdrawn courses:

    These courses should be included in the coursework section. Please open dropdown menu (+) to see image example.
    1

important note

What about courses that cover multiple terms?
For example, ANSI 3543E - Principles of Animal Nutrition, is a one-year correspondence course from Oklahoma State University. This course covers multiple terms, however, an applicant would list this course only under the term in which it will be completed and credit will be earned. So if the course was started in the Summer 2021 term but won’t be completed until the end of the Fall 2021 term, this course would be listed under the Fall 2021 term.

Step 10: Last Time Taken

  • Some courses will be repeated for a better grade or to replace AP credit. The original course should still be entered into the application, even if your school excludes these credit hours from your GPA on your official transcript.
  • Answer “Yes” if:
    • You took this course only once and do not plan to retake it.
    • The course was repeated for additional credit but not for a better grade. Common examples include: Physical Education, Chorus, Band, or Research/Thesis.
    • This is a future or planned course.
  • Answer “No” if:
    • You withdrew from the course and re-took, or plan to retake, the course.
      • Answer “No” for the first time and “Yes” when taken for the last time.
    • You re-took, or plan to retake, the course for a better letter grade.
      • Answer “No” for the first time and “Yes” when taken for the last time.
    • You repeated a course at your main institution to replace AP credit.
      • Answer "No" for the first time (AP credit) and "Yes" when taken for the last time at your main institution.

Examples of Repeated Courses:

Please open dropdown menu (+) to see image example.
p


Step 11: Add Course

  • You’ve entered all the necessary information for this course, and it’s time to finish this step!
  • Click the [Add Course] button.

Steps 12-15: Enter Additional Courses as Applicable

  • Continue to add courses for the selected term by clicking [Add Another Course for this Term].
  • Once finished with all courses for the selected term, click on the [Done for this Term] button.
  • Select the next term to enter coursework from the [College Coursework] page.

SAVE and CONTINUE

Once you have finished adding all courses for all terms listed, by clicking on the [Save] button. Then click the [Continue to Next Section] button to continue with the application.


Coursework Definitions & PCR

PCR (Prerequisite Coursework Report)

The PCR currently houses your prerequisites and a few other course areas. These include: English, Statistics, Biology, Biochemistry, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, *Animal & Agriculture Science, and **Engineering.

*This area is a prerequisite for Veterinary applicants only.

**This area is not required as a general prerequisite. Please refer to the individual programs at the schools to which you are applying for any additional coursework requirements.

For more information on how to read your PCR, please click here.

The following list provides examples of how coursework is coded (also known as the course area).

Coursework Definitions and Classifications 

Coursework coding for prerequisite coursework and other course areas. Please open dropdown menu (+) to view.

Biology

Includes all biological science courses applied toward a baccalaureate degree in traditional science fields. Courses coded as Biology can include but are not limited to these topics/subject matter:

Anatomy
Bacteriology
Biology
*Biomedical/Bioengineering
Biophysics
Biotechnology
Botany
Cell Biology
Ecology
Genetics
Histology
Immunology
Microbiology
Molecular Biology
Neuroscience
Parasitology
Pathophysiology
Physiology
Virology
Zoology

 

 

 

 

 



Please note: Courses that are introductory, elementary, and/or for non-science majors may count toward BCPM GPA, however, science courses intended for non-science majors will not count towards pre-requisite coursework requirements for the TMDSAS schools.

*
Only if the course material is a primary biology topic – if not, see Engineering definition.




Chemistry

Includes all General Chemistry courses applied toward a Baccalaureate degree in traditional science fields. Courses coded as Chemistry can include but are not limited to these topics/subject matter:

Analytical Chemistry
*Chemical Engineering
General Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry

 

 




Please note: Courses that are introductory, elementary, and/or for non-science majors may count toward BCPM GPA, however, science courses intended for non-science majors will not count towards pre-requisite coursework requirements for the TMDSAS schools.

*Only if the course material is a primary chemistry topic – if not, see Engineering definition.


Organic Chemistry

Includes all Organic Chemistry courses applied toward a Baccalaureate degree in traditional science fields. Courses coded as Organic Chemistry can include but are not limited to these topics/subject matter:

Organic Chemistry
Bio-Organic Chemistry       

 



Please note: Courses that are introductory, elementary, and/or for non-science majors may count toward BCPM GPA, however, science courses intended for non-science majors will not count towards pre-requisite coursework requirements for the TMDSAS schools.



Biochemistry

Must be a course that is applied toward a baccalaureate degree in any traditional science field. Cannot be an introductory course. The course may be taught in the Biology, Biochemistry or Chemistry department. The following courses will count  towards the prerequisite:

Biochemistry

 


Please note
: Courses that are introductory, elementary, and/or for non-science majors may count toward BCPM GPA, however, science courses intended for non-science majors will not count towards pre-requisite coursework requirements for the TMDSAS schools.



Physics

Includes all physics courses applied toward a baccalaureate degree in any traditional science field. Can be algebra- based or calculus- based Physics. If a Physics course is taught in a department other than Physics, further review will need to be done to determine whether they fulfill the requirement. 

Physics 






Statistics

Most acceptable statistics courses are taught in the Statistics or Math department of your institution. Additionally, the following topics must be covered to fulfill the requirement:

Statistics


  • Inferential Statistics
  • Descriptive Statistics 
  • Multivariate Methods
  • Hypothesis Testing
  • Linear Models & Regression

If a Statistics course is taught in a department other that Math or Statistics, further review may be required to determine whether they fulfill the requirement.  



English

Any course that fulfills a general education English requirement of a baccalaureate degree will be accepted. Reading or writing intensive courses taught in the Humanities may also be considered.

English
Rhetoric (Does not include speech)
Literature
Composition







Remedial, developmental courses, or "English as a Second Language" courses will not fulfill the requirement.


Animal & Agriculture Sciences 

Any course listed below. These courses will only be included in the BCPM GPA for Veterinary applicants only.

Agriculture Science (AGSC/AGRI Departments)
Agronomy
Animal Science
Avian Science
Botany
Dairy Science
Entomology
Equine Science
Food Science
Horticulture
Livestock
Marine/Aquatic Science
Poultry
Plant Science
Soil Science
Vet Medicine
Vet Tech
Wildlife
Zoology


















Mathematics

Any course listed below or taught in a Math department (aside from Statistics). Please note: Mathematics courses do not count towards your prerequsities, however, they will be included in the BCPM GPA.  

Algebra
Applied Mathematics








Engineering


Any course taught in the Engineering department. All engineering courses will be included on the Prerequisite Coursework Report (PCR), but will not be included in the BCPM GPA. Engineering courses will be included in a separate engineering GPA. Please note: If an engineering course is already approved as a pre-requisite, it will be coded as the section it falls under (Biology/Chemistry/Physics) and included in the BCPM GPA.

Aerospace Engineering
Biomedical/Bioengineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Nuclear Engineering









Other Science

Courses coded as Other Science typically fall into these categories. This is not a complete list, and depending on the department or subject matter covered, a course may be classified differently. 
Please note: Other Science courses do not count towards your prerequisites and will typically not be included in the BCPM GPA. For more information about BCPM GPA and course exceptions, please review the GPA Information section

Behavioral Sciences/Social Sciences:
  • Anthropology, Psychology
Computer Science
Environmental Science
Health Science:
  • Allied Health, Chiropractic, Dentistry, Epidemiology, Hearing and Speech Studies, Hospital Administration, Kinesiology, Nursing, Nutrition, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Osteopathy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Public Health, Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Sports Medicine
Natural and Physical Sciences:
  • Astronomy, Geology, Landscape Architecture, Meteorology, Natural Resources, Oceanography
Technology

 

 

 

 

 











Non-Science

Courses coded as Non-Science can include but are not limited to these topics/subject matter. Please note: Non-Science courses do not count towards your prerequisites and will not be included in the BCPM GPA.

Archeology
Architecture
Art
Astrology
Behavioral Science
Bioethics
Business
Communications
Cultural Geography
Economics
Education
Emergency Med-Tech Ethics
Ethics
Fine Arts/Acting
First Aid
Foreign Languages
Geography
Government
History
Humanities
Law
Library Science
Linguistics
Philosophy
Political Science
Religion
Social Ethics
Sociology
Speech
Special Studies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The science courses listed in your PCR are not the only science courses that can be included in the BCPM GPA. Please refer to the [GPA Information] section for more information.   




GPA Information

BCPM GPA (BIOLOGY CHEMISTRY PHYSICS MATH Grade Point Average)

Any science course that is classified as a prerequsitie and listed in your PCR will be included in your BCPM GPA.

Please keep in mind that there are courses not listed in the PCR that can still be included in the BCPM GPA. The following exceptions include:

  • Any biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or physics course for non-science majors. These will be coded (course area) as [Other Science] and included in the BCPM GPA.
  • Calculus and general math courses. These will be coded as either [Math] or [Calculus] and included in the BCPM GPA.
  • Graduate science courses.

vet icon Veterinary applicants only - Animal/Agriculture courses will be included in the BCPM GPA.

For more information on what courses will be included in your BCPM GPA, please see the dropdown list below.

BCPM Inclusion

Please open dropdown menu (+) to view.

Biology

Courses taught in the departments of an undergraduate institutions typically regarded as biological in nature. Depending on the institution, these departments might include the following:

Anatomy
Bacteriology
BIology
Biomedical Engineering
Biophysics
Biotechnology
Botany
Cell Biology
Ecology

Genetics
Histology
Immunology
Microbiology
Molecular Biology

Neuroscience
Parasitology
Pathophysiology
Virology
Zoology

 

 

 

 

 


In addition, certain courses from other departments may be considered for the BCPM GPA. 

Consideration of courses not in traditional biological departments will be made on an individual basis by TMDSAS staff. Outside content experts may be consulted in some cases.



Chemistry / Organic Chemistry / Biochemistry

Courses taught in the chemistry, organic chemistry, and/or biochemistry departments of an undergraduate institution. Depending on the institution, other departments where applicable courses might be taught include the following:

Analytical Chemistry
Biochemistry
Chemical Engineering
General Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry

 

 

 




Consideration of courses not in traditional chemistry departments will be made on an individual basis by TMDSAS staff. Outside content experts may be consulted in some cases. 



Physics

Courses taught in the physics departments of an undergraduate institution. In addition, certain courses from other departments may be considered for the BCPM GPA if the course content is essentially physics in nature. Examples of this may include:

Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

 

 


Consideration of courses not in traditional physics departments will be made on an individual basis by TMDSAS staff. Outside content experts may be consulted in some cases.



Mathematics

Courses taught in the mathematics and/or statistics departments of an undergraduate institution.

Algebra
Applied Mathematics
Calculus
Statistics

 

 




Consideration of courses not in traditional mathematics/statistics departments will be made on an individual basis by TMDSAS staff. Outside content experts may be consulted in some cases.




Animal and Agriculture Sciences 

Courses taught in the Animal and/or Agriculture Science departments. These courses will be included in the BCPM GPA for Veterinary Applicants only

Agriculture Science (AGSC/AGRI)
Agronomy
Animal Science
Avian Science
Botany
Dairy Science
Entomology
Environmental Sciences
Equine Science
Food Science
Horticulture

Livestock
Marine/Aquatic Science
Poultry
Plant Science
Soil Science
Vet Medicine
Vet Tech
Wildlife
Zoology

All Other GPA Information

TMDSAS calculates the following GPA's:

Please open dropdown menu (+) to view.

Overall GPA

Comprised of all coursework (undergraduate and graduate level).

Overall Biology-Chemistry-Physics-Math (BCPM*) GPA

Comprised of all biology, chemistry, physics and math-based coursework.

Overall Non-BCPM GPA

Comprised of all other coursework not included in BCPM GPA.

Undergraduate GPA

Comprised of all undergraduate coursework.

Undergraduate BCPM* GPA

Comprised of all undergraduate biology, chemistry, physics and math coursework.

Undergraduate Non-BCPM GPA

Comprised of all other undergraduate coursework not included in BCPM GPA.

Graduate GPA

Comprised of all graduate coursework.

Graduate BCPM* GPA

Comprised of all graduate biology, chemistry, physics and math coursework.

Graduate Non-BCPM GPA

Comprised of all other graduate coursework not included in BCPM GPA.

All courses that appear on your official transcript(s), and for which a grade and credit were ever assigned, will be included in the TMDSAS GPA calculations, even if they are not included in the GPA calculations of the transcript-issuing school. 

For more information on GPA calculations, please see the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rules for GPA calculations.

Overview of course types included in the BCPM GPA and/or count towards your prerequisites:

PCR & BCPM

 

 


Study Abroad Coursework

Study Abroad Coursework

Please open dropdown menu (+) to view.

Definition of a “Study Abroad” experience:

You are a student at a U.S. college/university and you go abroad to study at a foreign institution for a period of time (summer, one semester, or an entire academic year). Typically, study abroad experiences do not result in the awarding of a degree from the foreign institution. Study abroad experiences can be sponsored by your primary college/university, another college/university in the U.S., or by a commercial study abroad company (such as ISA – International Study Abroad, Inc.).

Identify which of the following scenarios best matches your situation and follow the directions listed in RED when completing the TMDSAS online application.

SCENARIO 1

The individual coursework from your study abroad experience is listed on the transcript of your primary U.S. college/ university.

Example: You are a student at the University of Texas at Austin and the individual coursework from your study abroad experience is listed on the UT Austin transcript with course designations and credit hours awarded.

In this case, you will enter the courses indicated on your UT Austin transcript as courses from UT Austin for the semester in which they are listed. Enter the courses exactly as they appear on the UT Austin transcript into the TMDSAS application. TMDSAS must receive an official transcript from UT Austin but will NOT need a transcript from the foreign institution.

SCENARIO 2

The individual coursework from your study abroad experience is listed on the transcript of a different U.S. college/ university (one other than your primary institution).

Example: You are a student at Baylor University but the courses from your study abroad experience are not listed on the Baylor transcript but were credited through the University of Nebraska and are listed on a transcript from that school. Alternatively, the credits may appear on the Baylor transcript as transfer credit from the University of Nebraska.

In this case, you will enter the University of Nebraska as one of your colleges/universities attended and enter the courses included on the U of N transcript into the TMDSAS application just as they are listed on that transcript. TMDSAS will need an official transcript from the University of Nebraska but will NOT need a transcript from the foreign institution.

SCENARIO 3

The individual coursework from your study abroad experience is NOT listed at all on any U.S. college/university transcript but only on a transcript from the foreign institution you attended.

Example: You are a student at Lamar University and you went to France to study culinary arts during the summer of 2016. The courses you took in France did not transfer to Lamar and therefore are not on that transcript nor are they on any U.S. college/university transcript.

In this case, you will NOT enter the individual courses into the TMDSAS application at all since they were only credited by a non-U.S. institution. TMDSAS will NOT need a transcript from the foreign institution. The study abroad experience with details on the courses you took can be entered in various places in the TMDSAS application depending on the type of courses and experiences you had during the program.

SCENARIO 4

The coursework from your study abroad experience is ONLY listed on your U.S. institutional transcript as LUMP SUM credit with no individual course designations, credit hours awarded, or grades.

Example: You are a student at Austin College and you participated in a study abroad experience during your junior fall semester. The AC transcript simply lists “Study Abroad at Beijing University” with a total of 14 credit hours awarded/transferred but with no course titles or grade designations.

In this case, you will NOT enter the coursework into the TMDSAS application at all since they were only credited by a non-U.S. institution. TMDSAS will NOT need a transcript from the foreign institution. The study abroad experience with details on the courses you took can be entered in various places in the TMDSAS application depending on the type of courses and experiences you had during the program.

 

 

 


Planned Enrollment

Indicate if you plan to take any future coursework between the time of application and Summer 2023. You will indicate the college, term, and year for all future coursework. You will still need to list future terms in the [Terms Attended] section AND the planned courses in the [College Coursework] section. 

important note

If planned enrollment is indicated, planned coursework or placeholders must be listed; you will receive an ERROR message if these terms have not been added into [Terms Attended]. Make sure your Colleges Attended dates and terms are all included!

You will be able to update any Not Yet Reported "NY" grades in the application once you have received your official university grades for the course.

Here is an example of how you may choose to enter a course placeholder:
8

Updating Your Planned Coursework: 

  • Update your grades at the end of each term completed.
    • Be sure to update TMDSAS with your new grades between the application deadline and your planned entry date of Summer 2023.
    • To do so, simply log back into the application and update the [College Coursework] section by entering your grades.
    • All new grades will be verified and new TMDSAS GPAs will be computed and made available to your designated schools. 
  • Continue to update TMDSAS with any changes to planned coursework:
    • Should you need to add a new course or need to change or delete the information for your planned coursework entries after you submit your application, please reach out to TMDSAS by sending a message in the portal.


FAQs

 

How do I enter my coursework in the application?

 

You should enter your coursework as it appear on your official transcript. Do not use unofficial transcript copies or degree audits to enter your coursework since they will not accurately reflect what is on your official transcript.

If your school heavily abbreviates the course titles, you can expand the course titles so the admissions committees reviewing your application will have a better understanding of your coursework.

You can use the Course Listings page to identify examples of courses that fulfill the education prerequisites.

 

Watch these videos to see how to enter your coursework:

How do I enter my AP credit?  

 

TMDSAS does not accept lump sum AP credit.

Lump sum credit with no specific course and hour identification will not be accepted.

Lump sum credit example: UCLA transcript lists "Exam Credit: 12 hours".

If your AP credit appears as lump sum credit on your official transcript you will need to have an official letter sent to TMDSAS from your registrar's office listing the breakdown of your AP credit.

If the course breakdown of your AP credit courses are listed on your main institution transcript, list the AP credit exactly as it appears.

ALL AP CREDIT ENTRIES need to have the academic status 'PF - Pre-Freshman' selected and the grade selected should be 'CR - Credit'.

For more information, please review the Putting the "AP' in Application article.

The coursework from my community college/dual credit transferred to my university. Can I enter those credits under my main institution?  

 

No. If transfer credit appears on your official transcript, that credit should be listed under the original institution that granted you that credit (i.e., where you completed those courses).

To avoid coursework errors, list dual degree courses under the community college that granted you the credit and list the course breakdown as it appears on the community college transcript, not your main institution.

How do I code my courses?

 

Take a look at:

I can’t seem to find my school. What do I do?  

 

If you are having trouble finding your school, try typing fewer letters of the school name in the search entry.

Check out the "Education History" section within the Application Guide to see an example search. If you try this method and you are still not able to find your school, then you will have to enter it manually. (This is rare.)

I’m having trouble finding my community college. Should I add it as a new school?  

 

No. If you are having trouble finding your community college, try searching by either the specific campus or the name of the community college system.

For example: Dallas College or Lone Star College System

Can I take my prerequisites at a community or junior college?  

 

Yes. Courses taken at any regionally accredited undergraduate institution in the U.S. are accepted.

How can I be sure the courses I plan to take at a community college will count towards my prerequisites?  

 

Review the Education Requirements page and utilize the Coursework Definitions and Course Listings page to see if your course will count towards the prerequisite requirements.

All community colleges in Texas will be under the listing "Texas Community Colleges" under the letter "T" on the Course Listings page.

If you're school is not listed, review the coursework article What to Do When There Is No Course Listings Page.

Does foreign coursework apply toward prerequisite coursework?  

 

No. Foreign coursework does not count toward the prerequisite coursework requirements.

  • Undergraduate foreign coursework that appears as transfer credit on the transcript of a regionally accredited U.S. college will count towards the 90 hour requirement. Each individual transfer course credit granted by the U.S. school must be listed on the transcript.
  • Lump sum credit with no specific course and hour identification will not be accepted.
    • Lump sum credit example: UCLA Transcript lists "Transfer exam credit: 12 hours".

Do you accept Advanced Placement (AP) or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) courses?  

 

AP, CLEP, distance learning and correspondence courses are all accepted if reported on an accredited college transcript.

  • AP or CLEP credit is accepted only if the school granting the credit lists the specific course(s) and number of units granted per course on an official transcript. Lump sum credit is not accepted. If these do not appear on the transcript, an official letter from the registrar is required.
  • It is recommended that you follow your AP credit with higher level coursework.

Does AP/CLEP credit count towards pre-requisites?  

 

Yes. TMDSAS will code this credit as credit that meets the prerequisites, however, it is up to the individual schools whether they wish to accept it. Please check with the individual schools to ensure they will accept your AP credits for prerequisite coursework requirements.

Do quarter credit hours count the same as semester credit hours?  

 

Credit hours earned on the quarter system carry two-thirds the numerical value of those earned on the semester system.

  • 3 quarter hours = 2 semester hour

What does “Last Taken” mean when entering the coursework in the College and Coursework section?  

 

"Last Taken" is asking "Was this the last time you took this course?” Most coursework will be answered YES ("Y").

  • Instances where you would answer NO ("N"):
    • If you withdrew and retook the course, or plan to retake the course again. For the first time you took the course enter NO ("N"). When retaken enter YES ("Y").
    • If you retook the course for a better grade enter NO ("N") for the first time taken and enter YES ("Y") for the second time taken.
    • If the course was repeated for additional credit but not for a better grade enter YES (“Y”). Common examples include: Physical Education, Chorus, Band, or Research/Thesis.
    • For more information about this, please refer to Step 10: Last Time Taken.

Last Time Taken Help

  • Course was taken and passed:
    • Enter YES for Last Time Taken.
  • Course was taken and grade received was C, D, F, Fail or No-Credit and class was retaken for a higher grade:
    • Enter NO for first time the course was taken (with the low grade).
    • Enter YES for the last time the course was taken (with the higher grade).

I repeated a course, do I enter both into my application?  

 

Yes. You will need to enter all attempts in your application. Answer "NO" to the "Last time taken" question when entering the repeated course.

I took the same course number multiple times but they were actually different courses with different course titles, how do I answer the "Last time taken" question?  

 

You will answer "YES" to this question since the course content is different.

I took the same course at different institutions and they have different course numbers, do I list it as a repeated course?  

 

Yes. This would count as a repeated course because the course content is the same. List both attempts in your application.

The coding of one of my courses was changed after I submitted my application. Can I get it changed?  

 

When processing your application, TMDSAS reviews your coursework to verify that the courses meet the prerequisites. If we changed something, it was because the course(s) did not meet the prerequisite requirements and thus were coded incorrectly.

You are welcome to appeal this decision, but please follow the instructions under Reviewing Your Prerequisite Coursework Report (PCR) in the "After Submitting" section of the Application Guide.

I'm trying to edit a college listed in my [Colleges Attended] section but the application is not letting me.  

 

For applicants who are still working on their application:

You will need to work backwards in order to remove a college attended:

  • Start from the [College Coursework] page of the application and remove any courses listed under that school.
  • Then go to the [Terms Attended] section and remove the terms.
  • Finally, go to the [Colleges Attended] page and remove the college. Make sure to save each page after making your changes.

For applicants who have submitted their application:

  • You can only add colleges to the [Colleges Attended] section after you have submitted your application.
  • If you need to edit or delete a college, please send a message using the application's internal messaging system with the exact change that needs to be made and we will do it for you.

Can I submit my application before I have received my Spring 2023 grades?  

 

No. Only submit your application once Spring 2023 coursework and grades have been entered. You are not allowed to submit your application without your Spring 2023 grades.

Do not enter “I - Incomplete” for pending spring 2023 grades.

What if I don't know the specific courses I plan on taking in future semesters?  

 

If you have an idea of the courses you will be taking, you can enter them-- even if you are not completely certain that these will be the exact courses you'll end up registering for.

If you are unsure, enter placeholder courses:

  • Course Status: SR
  • Course Type: RC
  • Course Prefix: CHEM
  • Course Number: XXX
  • Course Name: TBD
  • Course Hours: 3
  • Course Area: Non-Science

You can update your coursework after you register for your courses each term.

I received multiple degrees from the same institution. How should I list it on my [Colleges Attended] section?  

 

You will need to list the institution separately for each degree program.

I attended the same institution multiple times for the same degree. How do I enter it in my [Colleges Attended] section?  

 

List the institution once, even if there was a break in attendance.

I can't add my primary major but it allows me to add my secondary major/minors?  

 

There is not an "Add Primary Major" button. You just need to click and highlight your primary major to select it. Your primary major will populate on your [Colleges Attended] page after you have answered and saved the [Colleges Attended Questions] section.

I'm trying to edit my terms attended but it won't let me?  

 

If you have already entered coursework for that term, you will need to remove the coursework before you will be able to edit the term.

The application won't allow me to enter my term?  

 

You will only be able to add terms that are included in the dates of attendance listed for that institution on the [Colleges Attended] page. If the term is not listed between those dates you will need to adjust your [Colleges Attended] section before entering your term.

My Winter terms are not listed correctly?  

 

For TMDSAS purposes, the Winter terms are listed with the year that the term ends and you received a grade.

For example: a Winter term from December 2022 - January 2023 needs to be entered as Winter 2023 in your application.

Fall 2022 > Winter 2023 > Spring 2023

 

I withdrew from a course, do I need to list it in [College Coursework]?  

 

Yes. All coursework needs to be listed. If the course is listed as zero credit hours on your transcript then you should list the number of credits the course is worth.

The application won't let me enter a course as zero credits even though that's how the course appears on my application?  

 

You do not need to enter courses worth zero credits on your application (ex: chapel, freshman seminars, etc).

If it was a course that is worth credit but is listed as zero due to withdrawing from the course, you need to enter the course with the number of hours you would have received when completing the course.

How do I determine my academic status if I went to multiple institutions/claimed a lot of AP credit?  

 

Only coursework taken after graduating high school will be counted towards your academic status. Start by counting the credit hours received after graduating high school and continue through each semester. If you completed dual credit or AP tests during high school, these will be listed as "Pre-freshman".

I attended a TAMS high school where I completed college coursework while finishing high school, how do I determine my academic status?  

 
Enter the courses you took during TAMS as 'FR - Freshman', and as a regular course (RC) since these were undergraduate level courses.

What if the grade listed on my application is not an option to choose from on the application?  

 

Make sure that you have scrolled to see all of the grade options available. If your grade is not listed exactly as it appears on your transcript, consult the grade key on the back of your transcript to find the closest grade.

My course is worth .5 credits but it won't let me enter it on the application?

 

You'll need to enter the course as 0.5 credits.