Your Science GPA is one of the single most influential academic metrics evaluated by medical (MD/DO), dental (DDS/DMD), physician assistant (PA), and graduate health admissions committees. Unlike your institutional cumulative GPA, your science GPA isolates your performance strictly within rigorous scientific disciplines to project how well you will handle demanding health professional curricula.
Quick Summary:
Science GPA $= \frac{\text{Total BCPM Quality Points}}{\text{Total BCPM Credit Hours}}$
- Included: Hard sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics).
- Excluded: Behavioral sciences, humanities, and applied health clinicals (Psychology, Sociology, Nursing).
- Policy: Centralized applications average all course retakes without grade forgiveness.
What is a Science GPA (BCPM vs Non-Science)?
In health professions admissions, Science GPA is universally recognized as the BCPM GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics). It aggregates every college-level course completed across these four primary disciplines, whether taken at a 4-year university, community college, or during post-baccalaureate coursework.
Admissions services categorize coursework strictly by primary course content, not by the department name on your transcript.
| Subject Area | Included Coursework (BCPM) | Excluded Coursework (Non-Science / HEAS) |
| Biology (B) | Cell Biology, Genetics, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Immunology, Neuroscience, Ecology | Psychology, Physical Therapy courses, Nursing clinicals, Medical Terminology |
| Chemistry (C) | General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry | Pharmacology (varies by application service) |
| Physics (P) | Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Thermodynamics, Optics, Biophysics, Astronomy | General Engineering Mechanics (unless physics-heavy) |
| Mathematics (M) | Calculus (I, II, III), Statistics, Biostatistics, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations | Computer Science, Formal Logic |
Application System Nuances: AMCAS vs AACOMAS vs AADSAS vs TMDSAS
Centralized application services apply distinct classification systems:
- AMCAS (MD Programs): Uses strict BCPM. Math and statistics are included. All retakes are averaged (no grade replacement).
- AACOMAS (DO Programs): Evaluates a Science GPA containing Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Math is recorded separately and excluded from the main science calculation.
- AADSAS (Dental Programs): Evaluates two distinct metrics: BCP GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics only) and Total Science GPA (BCP + Mathematics + Other Sciences).
- TMDSAS (Texas Medical/Dental): Calculates a standard BCPM science GPA using standard flat letter grading standards.
How to Determine Science GPA: 4-Step Mathematical Calculation
Calculating your science GPA manually follows a 4-step weighted average formula.
Step 1: Assign Standard 4.0 Grade Point Values
Health application services normalize grades onto a standardized scale:
- A / A+: 4.00 (Note: Unlike law school CAS GPAs, AMCAS caps an A+ at 4.00)
- A-: 3.70
- B+: 3.30
- B: 3.00
- B-: 2.70
- C+: 2.30
- C: 2.00
- C-: 1.70
- D+: 1.30
- D: 1.00
- F: 0.00
Step 2: Calculate Quality Points for Each Course
Multiply each eligible science course’s numeric grade value by its attempted credit hours:
$$\text{Quality Points} = \text{Grade Value} \times \text{Credit Hours}$$
Step 3: Sum Total Quality Points and Credit Hours
Add together all earned quality points, and calculate total attempted science credits:
$$\text{Total Science Quality Points} = \sum (\text{Quality Points})$$
$$\text{Total Science Credit Hours} = \sum (\text{Credit Hours})$$
Step 4: Apply the Final Science GPA Formula
Divide total quality points by total credit hours:
$$\text{Science GPA} = \frac{\text{Total Science Quality Points}}{\text{Total Science Credit Hours}}$$
⚡ Skip the Manual Math!
Don’t want to calculate weighted quality points by hand? Use our free, instant AMCAS GPA Calculator to compute your exact BCPM Science GPA, retake averages, and credit hours in seconds.
Worked Example: Pre-Med Semester Calculation
| Course | Category | Credits | Grade | Grade Points | Total Quality Points |
| General Chemistry I + Lab | BCPM (Chemistry) | 4.0 | A (4.00) | $4.00 \times 4$ | 16.0 |
| General Biology I | BCPM (Biology) | 3.0 | B+ (3.30) | $3.30 \times 3$ | 9.9 |
| Calculus I | BCPM (Math) | 4.0 | B (3.00) | $3.00 \times 4$ | 12.0 |
| English Composition | Excluded (Non-Science) | 3.0 | A (4.00) | Excluded | Excluded |
| Intro to Psychology | Excluded (Non-Science) | 3.0 | A- (3.70) | Excluded | Excluded |
Final Computation:
- Total Science Credits Attempted: $4.0 + 3.0 + 4.0 = \mathbf{11.0\text{ Credits}}$
- Total Science Quality Points: $16.0 + 9.9 + 12.0 = \mathbf{37.9\text{ Points}}$
- Calculation:
$$\text{Science GPA} = \frac{37.9}{11.0} = \mathbf{3.45}$$
(For evaluating academic standing across non-science subjects as well, check your overall standing with our standard Cumulative GPA Calculator).
Special Scenarios in Science GPA Calculation
1. Course Retakes (No Grade Forgiveness)
Centralized health application portals (AMCAS, AACOMAS, AADSAS) do not recognize university grade forgiveness or replacement rules. If you earn a D (1.0) in Organic Chemistry I and retake it for an A (4.0), both course attempts and all credit hours are counted in your cumulative science GPA.
2. Post-Baccalaureate vs Graduate / SMP Coursework
- Post-Baccalaureate Coursework: Undergraduate-level science classes taken after graduation are calculated directly into your total Undergraduate BCPM GPA and displayed in a separate post-bacc category on AMCAS.
- Special Master’s Programs (SMP) / Graduate Credits: Graduate-level science coursework creates a distinct Graduate Science GPA row and is not blended into your undergraduate cumulative GPA.
3. Quarter System to Semester Hour Conversions
If your institution operates on a quarter term, multiply your quarter credit units by 0.667 to determine equivalent semester hours before calculating quality points:
$$\text{Semester Hours} = \text{Quarter Hours} \times 0.667$$
| Quarter Units | Conversion Multiplier | Converted Semester Hours |
| 3.0 Quarter Units | $\times\ 0.667$ | 2.00 Semester Hours |
| 4.0 Quarter Units | $\times\ 0.667$ | 2.67 Semester Hours |
| 5.0 Quarter Units | $\times\ 0.667$ | 3.33 Semester Hours |
4. AP, CLEP, and Pass/Fail Credits
- AP / CLEP Units: Counted toward science totals only if your official undergraduate transcript lists actual letter grades and credit hours. Generic transfer units with no grade points are omitted from numeric GPA formulas.
- Pass / Fail (P/F): Passing grades (
PorCR) do not impact your numeric GPA. However, failing grades (ForNo Credit) are calculated as $0.00$ quality points and lower your GPA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Computer Science count toward Science GPA?
Under AMCAS (MD), Computer Science is classified under Other Non-Science or general mathematics, but standard programming classes are generally excluded from BCPM unless a course syllabus petition proves significant theoretical mathematical foundation.
Does Nursing or Kinesiology count as Science GPA?
Under AMCAS rules, clinical nursing, exercise science, and allied health courses are classified as Health Sciences (HEAS) and count toward your Non-Science GPA.
What is a competitive Science GPA for Medical School?
For allopathic (MD) medical schools, the average matriculant science GPA is typically between 3.65 and 3.75. For osteopathic (DO) programs, competitive science GPAs generally range between 3.50 and 3.60.