SFSU Department of Biology
Graduation Checklists for Undergraduate Degrees

Graduation Application Submission Process (for FALL 2008)
All Biology Major graduation applicants for FALL 2008 MUST complete an ONLINE SURVEY before the Department will approve the graduation application. 
Your input will help the Department improve its programs and courses for all Biology students.
•This requirement does not apply to Minor in Biology degree candidates. 
If you do not have a Biology Major Advisor, please obtain your Biology Advisor assignment at the Department of Biology Office.
Download the Biology Advising Checklist (click here to download) BEFORE you visit your Biology Major Advisor.
Make sure that you bring all the required paperwork indicated in the Advising Checklist for your meeting with your Advisor.


Important deadlines:
Deadline to submit your graduation application to the Department of Biology Office (HH534):  Monday, September 22, 4pm

Deadline to submit your Department-approved graduation application (with application fee receipt) to the Registrar's Office:  Friday, September 26, 5pm.


Step One:  Access to Online Survey
1.  Please click on the following link to access the FALL 2008 Graduating Biology Major Survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=pqIfh8wWBTY_2bWqoYJ_2f5MoQ_3d_3d
2.  Please complete the online survey.  Your responses will remain strictly anonymous.

Step Two:  Fill out your Major Specific Graduation Checklist
Click on the following links to download the Graduation Checklist for the indicated major.  Note, clicking on the link will open the checklist as a pdf in your browser.  You can download the pdf by either "right-clicking" from a PC or holding down the mouse-click on a Mac and selecting the download or save the link option. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view these pdfs.
2007 - 2008 Graduation Checklists:
B.A. in Biology, General

B.S. in Biology: Concentration in Botany
B.S. in Biology: Concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology

B.S. in Biology: Concentration in Ecology
B.S. in Biology: Concentration in Marine Biology and Limnology

B.S. in Biology: Concentration in Microbiology

B.S. in Biology: Concentration in Physiology

B.S. in Biology: Concentration in Zoology

B.S. in Clinical Science

Minor in Biology


You can find Graduation Checklists for previous years at this link:
http://online.sfsu.edu/~pasion/AdvisingWeb/ArchivedGradChecklists.htm
Alternatively, you can pick up the appropriate checklist for your Bulletin Year at the Department of Biology Office (HH534)
If you are following requirements for your major from a previous bulletin, please come by the Biology Department Office (Hensill Hall 534) to obtain a copy of the major requirements from the bulletin year that you are following.

When you fill out the Graduation Checklist:
•Make sure you check off each course completed and list the correct number of units.
•If you are using a transfer course, check off that you have the approved Department Equivalency Form with your Checklist.
An Equivalency form must be attached to your application for any/all non-SFSU classes used in your major and taken at another institution.  Download Equivalency Form here.
Directions for approval of the Equivalency Form are here:  Approval of Transfer Courses
•All upper division electives should be listed in the table available at the end of the Checklist.  All elective courses should be listed on the approved Department Substitution Form with your Checklist.
Use a Department Substitution form or memo (from an advisor) identifying classes used to meet Lower Division or Upper Division electives required that are not listed in your major concentration.  Download Substitution Form here.

Step Three:  Fill out the Graduation Application
Click here to fill out the online Baccalaureate Degree Application for Graduation.  This downloadable graduation application form also has useful graduation FAQs.
Please note that students should apply for graduation only if they believe they will have satisfied all degree requirements by the end of the term in which they have applied (SFSU Registrar deadlines)

When you fill out the Graduation Application:
Make sure you list the courses in the same order they appear on the Graduation Checklist.
If the course is a transfer course, make sure you write the course name and number from the transfer campus.


Step Four:  Meet with your Advisor for approval of your Graduation Application
Details for obtaining approval of your Graduation Application, along with a list of all forms to bring to your meeting with your Advisor are listed here:  To get approval of your graduation application
Briefly, bring:
•a Department of Biology Graduation Checklist filled out prior to meeting with the advisor
•the Graduation Application, with the majors course work listed in the same order the classes appear in the Biology Major descriptions listed in the Graduation Checklist
•a copy of your unofficial SFSU transcripts
•a copy of your Advanced Standing Evaluation (ASE) and Degree Audit Report (if a transfer student)
•a print out of your current course enrollment
•signed Department of Biology Equivalency and Substitution forms for necessary course work

Step Five:  Submit your Graduation Application (and additional forms) to the Department of Biology for approval
The deadline for submitting your Graduation Application to the Biology Department to meet the SUMMER semester graduation deadline is Monday, September 22, 4pm.
This application must be approved by your Major Advisor BEFORE you submit it to the Department Office.

You must complete the Online Survey BEFORE you submit your application to the Department Office (see Step One above).
Applications submitted after this deadline may not be approved in time to meet the University deadline (Friday, September 26).

After your application has been reviewed and signed by your Major Advisor, please bring your application to our Biology Department Office and leave the application for the Chair to review.  You do not need to meet with the Chair of the Department.
Typically, it is best to allow one week for review of your application before picking it up from the Biology Department Office.

Step Six:  Pay the graduation application fee and submit your Graduation Application to the University (One Stop Center)
The deadline for submitting your Graduation Application to the University to meet the SUMMER semester graduation deadline is FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26.
After your application has been approved by the Department, you may pick up the application and pay the graduation application fee at the Bursar's Office in the Administration Building. 
NOTE:  It would be best to have your application approved BEFORE you pay the fee.  However, if you are submitting your graduation application for approval close to this deadline (September 22), you should PAY for the graduation application BEFORE you submit the application to the Department Office (after your Advisor has approved the application).
After you pay the fee, you may submit your graduation application (and the accompanying forms) to the One Stop Student Services Center.

Below is a list of course numbers that were changed for the current bulletin year.  Please note these changes as appropriate.

Previous Course Number Current Course Number
CHEM 111 CHEM 115
CHEM 113 CHEM 215
CHEM 114 CHEM 216
MATH 220 MATH 226
MATH 221 MATH 227

*Please note that CHEM 333 can be used in place of CHEM 130 (requires a Biology Department Equivalency form).

Congratulations to all graduating seniors!!  We wish you good luck in your future career.
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Updated 9/04/2008  SFSU home
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