Alternative Section of BIS 2A for Fall 2014
Information about the Course and the Placement Exam
*This exam is available ONLY for students admitted into the College of Biological Sciences
The College of Biological Sciences will offer an alternative section of BIS 2A in Fall 2014. Students with a strong
foundation in the basics of metabolism, heredity and cell structure are encouraged to consider this alternative
section of BIS 2A. Admission into the course is by examination. The placement exam will be administered by the
College of Biological Sciences during summer Orientation.
The accelerated section will be taught by National Academy member Dr. John Roth. Material will be similar in
breadth to that covered in other sections of BIS 2A but is organized around unanswered biological questions. How
did life originate? Why does all life run on redox reactions? Could natural selection operate without a system of
inheritance? What’s the point of multicellularity? The most interesting aspects of biology are its many
unanswered questions, not its accepted truths. The goal is to convey a personal view of how biology makes sense
and help students develop their own frameworks. Reading will include some primary literature and popular
science papers.
Students unable to take the exam during summer Orientation will have one opportunity to do so at the beginning
of fall quarter. Any questions regarding the course, placement exam or advising should be directed to the
Biological Academic Success Center (BASC) at (530) 752-0410 or email cbsundergrads@ucdavis.edu.
Potential Questions about the Accelerated Section and Placement Exam:
Are all incoming CBS students required to take the BIS 2A placement exam?
No, taking the BIS 2A placement exam is optional. You may enroll in the regular section of BIS 2A without taking
the placement exam. If you are a Regents Scholar or a member of the Davis Honors Program you do not need to
take the placement exam, you will be automatically invited to enroll in the accelerated section of BIS 2A.
I am not a CBS student, when can I take the placement exam?
The accelerated section of BIS 2A in fall 2014 is a pilot class. Due to limited resources, at this time the accelerated
section will only be offered to students who are currently enrolled within a major in the College of Biological
Sciences. However, as a non-CBS student you are welcome to enroll in the regular section of BIS 2A at any time.
Will the accelerated section of BIS 2A be offered every year and/or every quarter?
The accelerated section BIS 2A is a pilot class and, at the moment, will only be offered in fall 2014.
How many students can take the accelerated section of BIS 2A?
The total enrollment is 120 students; 60 spots will be reserved for students in the Davis Honors program and
Regents Scholars. 60 slots will be open to first year students attending the July/August Freshman Orientation.
When will the exam be offered during Orientation?
The exam will be offered the morning of the second day of freshman orientation, which are July 29, August 1 and
August 5. The expected attendance is 500 students per exam. The exam will be offered from 9:10-9:50am in
Sciences Lecture Hall 123. The exam should only take 30 minutes (24 questions) to complete.
When will I know if I have been accepted in the accelerated section of BIS 2A?
Your ranking (not raw score) will be available by early/mid August. You will receive an email to your UC Davis
email address with a Course Registration Number (CRN) for the accelerated section of BIS 2A. Once you receive
the CRN you may add the accelerated section of BIS 2A.
What if I decide that I do not want to take the accelerated section in the Fall, can I defer to another quarter?
Since the accelerated BIS 2A course is offered as a pilot, we cannot guarantee that it will be offered again.
Therefore, you may not defer your opportunity to participate to a later date. Your placement exam score will
expire after Fall 2014.
What if I am not sure if I want to take the accelerated BIS 2A course?
If you are undecided about taking the accelerated BIS 2A course, you should still take the placement exam. Both
the regular section of BIS 2A and the accelerated section will take place at the same time, so you need to have a
place-holder in your class schedule. During Pass II (in August) you can decide which version of BIS 2A is the right fit
for you; you may have to waitlist for non-accelerated BIS 2A or if you want to wait until your sophomore year to
start introductory biology.
What do I need to bring to the exam?
Bring your own pencil. Scantrons will be provided. Calculators, or any other electronic devices, are not permitted in
the exam.
Why is UC Davis offering an accelerated BIS 2A section?
The accelerated section has been created as part of an enrichment program for honors students. However, CBS
recognizes that students outside of the honors program may be well prepared and seek a more challenging class
for BIS 2A. Some students who took AP Biology in high school and scored in the upper ranks of the AP Bio exam
(i.e. score of 5) found the material in the regular sections of BIS 2A too familiar. For these students, CBS is piloting
a more rigorous alternative to BIS 2A.
My friend and I both got the exact same ranking on the placement exam but she received a CRN and I did not, why?
Students who take the BIS 2A placement exam are ranked based on their exam scores. If more than 60 students
score in the top percentile for the exam, students will be randomly selected (using a random number generator)
to participate in the accelerated course. If you had a high ranking but were not invited to participate, it is because
you were not randomly selected from the top exam scores.
I took the placement exam but I never received an email with a CRN, what happened?
Several things may have occurred:
(1) Your exam score did not result in a high enough ranking to warrant admission to the accelerated
section
(2) You made an error on your scantron, perhaps by writing your student ID incorrectly, listing an email
address that was not your @ucdavis.edu email, or writing illegibly
(3) You did receive an email and it is in your spam folder
Does “accelerated” mean that the course will take less than one quarter (10 weeks) to complete?
No, the accelerated section of BIS 2A will still last a full quarter. However, students in the accelerated course will
discuss more material in greater depth, and more rapidly, than those who take other sections of BIS 2A.
Will students receive a transcript notation for their participation in the accelerated BIS 2A?
No, no transcript notation will be awarded. It will appear as “BIS 2A” on your official transcript.
I cannot attend the July/August orientation, can I take the BIS 2A placement exam online?
The BIS 2A placement exam will only be offered in person during freshman orientation.
How do I plan my schedule for fall quarter given so many options?
As we see it, every student has the following options:
1. You absolutely want to take the BIS 2A accelerated section: you should hold the BIS 2A lecture time (MWF
from 1:10-2pm) and all of Monday open on your schedule. If you place high enough on the placement
exam, you can add the accelerated BIS 2A course with your assigned PTA (permission to add) number.
2. You want to take BIS 2A in the fall no matter what (either the accelerated or the non-accelerated): If spots
are available in the non-accelerated BIS 2A, you should add the class to your schedule. If spots are not
available, you should hold the BIS 2A lecture time (MWF from 1:10-2pm) and all of Monday open on your
schedule, and wait list the class in August. Alternatively, you can enroll in a general education course on
MWF, which you would drop if a spot in BIS 2A (either offering type) opened up.
3. You do not want to take BIS 2A in the fall: Register for classes as prescribed by your major academic
adviser.
If I do not take the BIS 2A placement exam, and do not take BIS 2A my first year, will I still be able to graduate in
four years?
Yes, it is typical for CBS students to start taking the introductory biology series in their first year (winter or spring
quarter) at Davis, or during their second year. Students who start the introductory biology series in their
sophomore year are still able to graduate in four years.
I need accommodations for taking the exam (extra time, quieter space, etc.) how can I go about receiving an
accommodation for the placement exam?
If you have a documented and approved exam accommodation please contact the BIS 2A exam coordinator, Erin
Easlon (eeaslon@ucdavis.edu), who will be able to assist you.
When are the accelerated BIS 2A discussion sections going to be offered so I can plan ahead?
The discussion sections for the accelerated BIS 2A course will be offered at the following times. If you have taken
the placement exam you will want to hold these times (in addition to the lecture, MWF 1:10-2pm) open on your
schedule, or enroll in a GE course during these times that you are willing to drop and swap for BIS 2A.
Lecture: MWF 1:10-2pm
C01
Monday
8-9:50am
C02
Monday
8-9:50am
C03
Monday
10-11:50am
C04
Monday
10-11:50am
C05
Monday
2:10-4pm
C06
Monday
2:10-4pm