Advising

You will need to see two different types of advisors while at SF State. An advisor in the Undergraduate Advising Center (UAC) (https://advising.sfsu.edu/) will be able to help you with University and General Education requirements. Advisors in the Biology Department are available to help you with your major requirements.

Biology Advisors & Office Hours: https://biology.sfsu.edu/advising-hours-summer

Any student with a GPA over 2.0 is welcome to change their major into Biology. You can now change your major online on the Registrar’s Change of Major or Minor page: https://registrar.sfsu.edu/change_major_minor. Once you have submitted the request online, you will need to see a Biology advisor to map out a graduation plan and get approval for the change of major.

Equivalencies and substitutions for major requirements must be approved by a Biology advisor. Please visit an advisor during office hours to get their approval. Your advisor will be able to submit a request to update your Degree Progress Report (DPR). It is important to keep your Degree Progress Report up to date as the University uses the DPR to evaluate graduation applications.

There are several places to go for career advising. These include your Biology advisors and Career Services & Leadership Development (https://csld.sfsu.edu/). You can also network with SF State alumni who are in different careers by becoming active with Gator Connect (https://gatorconnect.sfsu.edu/). The Biology Department also hosts webinars about different careers — these webinars are advertised in the weekly BioNews email and on the Biology website. You can also find recordings on the Biology website.

Students on Pre-health tracks can also use the Pre Health Advising Center (https://prehealthadvising.sfsu.edu/) for access to dedicated specialist advisors who can help plan coursework, discuss prerequisites for post-graduate admissions, and provide advice to strengthen your applications.

First, you need to be on track to complete all of your University, GE and Biology requirements. Advisors in the UAC and the Biology Department can help you evaluate if you have met all of the requirements. For Biology requirements, you can also find a checklist for your specific concentration below.

Once you have confirmed that you are ready to graduate, you will apply online on the Registrar's Undergraduate Graduation page: https://registrar.sfsu.edu/graduation. To ensure that you can walk in the University’s commencement ceremony, you will need to submit your application no later than April 1st of the year in which you wish to graduate.

Any Biology student who has applied to graduate in summer, fall or spring of the current academic year will be invited via email to a Biology recognition ceremony. If you will be graduating in the summer following the spring recognition ceremony, but wish to participate, please reach out to Jee Quong at jquong@sfsu.edu in the Biology office.

Complete and submit the form Exceed Maximum Units Petition (Undergraduate) (PDF): https://registrar.sfsu.edu/sites/default/files/Exceed%20Maximum%20Units%20Petitiona.pdf and then meet with a Biology advisor to obtain approval. Once it has been approved by an advisor, please send it to biology@sfsu.edu to obtain the needed approval/signature of the Chair.

First off, don’t panic! We are here for you. An advisor in the UAC (https://advising.sfsu.edu/) can help you get back on track to graduate. More information about academic probation can be found on the Academic Probation: Understanding Probation and Disqualification page: https://advisinghub.sfsu.edu/probation.

AP test scores need to be submitted to the Undergraduate Admissions Office to receive AP credit. Email ugadmit@sfsu.edu. If the AP credit is needed for a course substitution or requirement waiver, a major advisor will need to submit through Advisor Request.

It is possible to add classes after the add period has ended. You’ll need to fill out a Waiver of College Regulations (PDF) petition in order to add a course: https://registrar.sfsu.edu/sites/default/files/collegewaiver.pdf. The instructor of the course will need to sign the petition and provide you with an add permission number for the course. The completed petition with the instructor signature and permission number should then be emailed to biology@sfsu.edu for the Chair’s approval. If the Chair approves the petition, it will automatically be forwarded to the Dean’s office.

If a class you want to enroll in is full, please do not give up! There are a few steps that you can take to help your chances. First, prior to the start of classes, email the instructor of the course and copy the Biology Department at biology@sfsu.edu to let them know of your desire to enroll in the course. If an instructor has not been assigned, email the Biology Department at biology@sfsu.edu.

Once classes start, make sure to attend all course meetings while routinely following up with the instructor about the possibility of adding the course. Sometimes, if there is enough demand for a course, the Department will be able to open up a new section.