Step 1: Join the Biology Majors email listing

Join the Biology Major Email List (bio-majors@virginia.edu) to receive important information regarding the major from the Biology Department

Step 2. Download your transcript from SIS

Download your transcript from SIS and save as a PDF.  You will use this information to help you identify requirements you have already completed and courses you will need to add to your course plan.

Step 3. Complete your course planning checklist

Select and fill in the checklist for the program you are declaring from the list below. Use your unofficial transcript and the courses offered page to fill out your course plan. List the courses that you have already finished, are in-progress, or that you plan to take in the future to complete the major. The courses listed on your plan are your best guess for how you will fulfill your requirements and are subject to suitable changes based on course availability and preference. Once you declare, you are responsible for checking your SIS/Stellic Academic Requirements report to ensure you are fulfilling the courses required for your degree and your major.

• 24-25 Biology BS Checklist (if you declared the BA AFTER August 1, 2024)

• 23-24 Biology BS Checklist (if you declared the BA between August 1 2023 - July 2024)

• 22-23 Biology BS Checklist (if you declared the BA BEFORE August 1, 2023)

Step 4. Complete the Docusign Major form 

Read the following instructions below first before completing the DocuSign Major form (linked below).

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1. Address the PowerForm 

The PowerForm is where you will enter the form routing information.  The form is initiated by the student, routed to the Biology department, and ultimately approved by the College of Arts and Sciences Registrar.

Fill out the first two routing sections (Student, and DMC):

• Student section: 
• Students name
• Students Email 
•  
• Declaration of Major Contact (DMC) section:  
• DMC Name: Petra Turner
• DMC Email: pet3f@virginia.edu 
•  
• Skip over the remaining sections to get to the bottom of the page. Then click "Begin Signing" at the bottom of the page. This will lead you to the actual Major/Minor Declaration form.  

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2. Fill out the Docusign Major/Minor Declaration form

Complete the top section of the form. When you reach the course list section, please list your qualifying biology course/s. Please note, although it states you must complete this section with an advisor, you do not need to meet with an advisor to complete this section because you will attach your course plan checklist that you have already completed instead. There is no need to add all of your biology courses, because you will attach your course plan checklist instead.

Qualifying Courses:

• BS: list all three completed core classes: BIOL 3000, 3010, and 3020

3. Attach your transcript and course checklist

Attach your transcript and course checklist to your Docusign form using the paperclip icons on the bottom right of the page.

Now that you have read the instructions, you are ready to submit your major declaration form. Click on the link below and you will be linked to the College's webpage to access the Docusign PowerForm: 

Start the Major Form Process 

Once you receive your approved declaration form back from DocuSign, it will have your advisor listed on the form. Advisors are available while classes are in session during the fall and spring terms for questions related to your academic plans.  You will find their contact information on our Faculty Directory. Students declaring the minor can contact the Undergraduate Coordinator for questions.

Complete declaration forms received during the scheduled application deadlines normally appear in SIS within 3 weeks.  Please check your SIS account to verify. Processing times may vary depending on the time of year.

Incomplete forms or forms without the correct attachments will not be processed. The undergraduate coordinator will email you to inform you of any necessary corrections.

Step 5: Check SIS to ensure your form was processed

Completed declaration forms received during the scheduled application deadlines normally appear in SIS within 3 weeks.  Please check your SIS/Stellic account to verify your form was processed. Processing times may vary depending on the time of year. Incomplete forms or forms without the correct attachments will not be processed. You will receive an email from the Undergraduate Coordinator with further instructions if something is wrong with your form.

Contact the Undergraduate Coordinator if you have any concerns at BIOL-UG@virginia.edu. 

Once your declaration is approved you will receive an email from the Undergraduate Coordinator with your new program advisor.  You can find this information in SIS/Stellic as well.  You may contact your advisor (available during the fall and spring semester) to discuss your proposed courses, questions about major requirements, conversations about possible career paths, and other opportunities for majors. You will find their contact information in this email and on our Faculty Directory.

Catalog Year 2023-2024

For students declaring a BS in biology between August 1, 2023 - July 30, 2024.  Students may choose to follow either the current BS requirements or the requirements for the catalog year in which they declared the BA.

2023-24 Biology BS Checklist

2023-24 Biology BS Course Map

• View the complete requirements in the 2023-2024 Undergraduate Record - Biology BS 

• Use the Courses Offered page for course planning

• Visit the How to Declare page once you are ready to declare the BS in biology major

Catalog Year 2022-2023

For students declaring a BS in biology between August 1, 2022 - July 30, 2023.  Students may choose to follow either the current BS requirements or the requirements for the catalog year in which they declared the BA.

2022-23 Biology BS

2022-23 Biology BS Course Map

• View the complete requirements in the 2022-2023 Undergraduate Record - Biology BS 

• Use the Courses Offered page for course planning

• Visit the How to Declare page once you are ready to declare the BS in biology major

Double majors, minors, and sharing courses

• Students who have a second major may only share a limited number of courses between majors upon approval of Director Jess Manson.
• As of January 2024, students who declare a Biology major (BA or BS) may not double major with the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience BA major, or the Cognitive Science BA Major-Neuroscience Concentration. 
• Students who double major must submit at least 18 credits in each major.
• Credits applied toward one major may not be included in the core 18 credits of the other major, unless one or both majors is interdisciplinary.
• No more than two courses can be counted simultaneously for two non-interdisciplinary majors; an interdisciplinary major may share up to three courses with another major.
• There is no triple major.
• Two minors are permitted but one must be from the College of Arts & Sciences.
• Courses used for a minor may not be shared with any other major or minor.

Visit the College's Declaring a Major webpage for more details on this policy.

Biochemistry options for the Biology BS major

• Starting Fall 2022, CHEM 4440 will no longer be considered an alternative to taking BIOL 3030.
• Students who complete CHEM 4410 may may apply 3 credits to satisfy the BS requirements for BIOL 3030.
• Students who complete both CHEM 4410 and CHEM 4420 may apply 3 credits to satisfy the BS requirements for BIOL 3030 and 3 credits as a 4000-level elective.
• Students who completed either CHEM 4410, CHEM 4420 or CHEM 4440 between Fall 2021 and Summer 2022 may use these 3 credits as equivalent to BIOL 3030.

Courses Restrictions

BIOL 3420 Human Anatomy and Physiology II

Only the first semester of Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 3410) may be applied toward the Biology major. BIOL 3410 also satisfies the upper level lab requirement and the Area II requirement. The second semester of Human Anatomy & Physiology II (BIOL 3420) cannot be applied toward the Biology major, but can be used as college elective credit and contribute to the overall GPA.

Transfer and Test (AP/IB) Credit

Foundational Science Courses: 

• Transfer credit after matriculation must be pre-approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
• All labs must be taken in-person to be considered for transfer credit to meet the requirements of the biology major.
• Students, who score a 5 on the AP Biology exam or at least a 6 on the upper-level examinations in the International Baccalaureate program, will receive eight credits for BIOL 2100 and BIOL 2200. 
• Students with AP credit for CHEM 1410 and CHEM 1420 must enroll in the laboratory courses, unless granted credit for CHEM 1411 and CHEM 1421. Transfer students who received 1000T credit for labs that were completed in-person should contact the Chemistry Dept, Cindy Knight, to request equivalent credit for their transferred lab courses.
• Credit for specific AP exams in Physics may fulfill, in part or whole, the lecture component of this requirement. Students who receive a score of 4 or 5 on both Physics 1 and Physics 2, can ask their Registrar to have the transfer credit converted to PHYS 2010 and PHYS 2020.
• Refer to the Advanced Placement (AP) page for latest scores accepted and corresponding transfer credit.

Upper-level Major Courses:

• Transfer credits for upper-level courses taken at another institution after matriculation at the University of Virginia may be considered for outside elective credit toward the biology major; however, required core (BIOL 3000,3010, and 3020) and lab courses must be taken at the University of Virginia (transfer students exempted). After matriculation, transfer students must also complete required core courses and lab courses at the University of Virginia, unless credit was given for these courses at time of matriculation.
• All transfer credit after matriculation must be pre-approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.