Second Year Students

Arts and Sciences students are required to declare a major before the end of their second year, second semester.  If you are enrolled in prerequisite biology courses required to declare the major, please wait until your prerequisite courses are graded in SIS at the end of the semester. Forms received without graded biology prerequisites will be declined and you will receive an email asking to resubmit your form once your grades are posted in SIS.

Third Year Transfer Students

You are required to declare a major within the first few weeks in the first semester at UVA.

Switching Majors / Second Majors / Shift from Bio BA to BS

Students switching from the Biology BA program to the Biology BS program should do this before the end of their 3rd year to ensure they have time to finish all of the requirements.

All students switching to Biology from other majors or adding a 2nd major in Biology should submit their major forms as soon as eligible, and no later than 3 weeks before the start of the last semester to give ample processing time before graduation.  

Minor Forms

All minor forms should be submitted after declaring a major, and no later than 3 weeks before the start of the last semester to give ample processing time before graduation.  

Processing times

Processing times may vary depending on the time of year (expect delays during the first week of enrollment, drop/add period, May graduation, and official holiday breaks). Approved major forms should appear in SIS within 3 weeks. The catalog year will be based on the date the student submits the docusign application. Please check your SIS account to verify your form was processed and the requirements report matches the catalog term.  Email biol-ug@virginia.edu for questions.

B.A. Degree in Biology

1. Complete either BIOL 2100 or any 3000-level BIOL course at UVA. Students with AP or IB BIOL test credit or transfer credit for BIOL 2100 must complete any 3000-level BIOL course at UVA prior to declaring the B.A. degree.
2. Have at least a 2.000 cumulative GPA at UVA and be in good academic standing.

Transfer students: Incoming 3rd year transfer students may declare the B.A. degree during their first semester, provided they are enrolled in any 3000 level biology course (BIOL 3000 is not recommended to take in your first semester at UVA). Incoming 3rd year transfer students may initially only declare the B.A. degree in Biology. 

Deferring the Major: Deferring the major is not common considering you only need one biology course to qualify, and if you don't have at least one biology course by the end of your second year, finishing the major will be a challenge. For questions about deferring the major please email: BIOL-UG@virginia.edu

B.S. Degree in Biology

Students who originally declared a B.A. degree at the end of their second year may switch to the B.S. program once they have met these eligibility requirements. (You may complete this process as soon as you are eligible and no later than the end of your 3rd year): 

1. Complete all three core courses with a cumulative average 2.700 GPA (B-)

   • BIOL 3000 Cell Biology

   • BIOL 3010 Genetics & Molecular Biology

   • BIOL 3020 Evolution & Ecology

2. Have at least a 2.000 cumulative GPA at UVA and be in good academic standing

Minor in Biology

To be eligible to declare a minor, you must first have a major declared in SIS/Stellic.  Although there are no specific requirements to declare the Biology Minor, it is recommended to take an introductory biology course (BIOL 2100 or BIOL 2200).

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 major or minor 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/minor.

• 24-25 Biology BA Checklist

• 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)

• 24-25 Biology Minor Checklist

Step 4. Complete the Docusign Major/Minor 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:

• BA: List at least one of these graded courses - BIOL 2100, 2200, 3000, 3010, or 3020
  • 3rd year transfers list one in progress biology core course: BIOL 3010, 3020, or 3000* (*note: Cell Biology is not recommended in your first semester at UVA)
• BS: list all three completed core classes: BIOL 3000, 3010, and 3020
• Minor: for the minor include at least one completed/planned 3000 level biology course

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/Minor 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.