Biological Sciences

Near Graduation Information

To prepare for graduation, you should:

  1. Print your unofficial transcript on BroncoDirect.
  2. If you started the program prior to Fall 2022, then compare your transcript against your Program of Study (GS-101). Make sure that everything listed on your program has been completed. If you have not yet turned in your Program of Study (GS101), you are very, very, very late. Get this done immediately.  You cannot graduate without having filed a GS101.
  3. If you started the program Fall 2022 or later, then compare your transcript against your Course Plan that you completed in BIO 5800L (updated annually) in consultation with your major professor.
  4. All program courses must have a grade of at least a "C". A course with a "C-" or lower has to be repeated or replaced (by petition) on the program. BIO 6930 should appear on your transcript as "CR" (credit) and is not included in the GPA calculation.
  5. The GPA for all courses listed on the program must be at least 3.00.
  6. Make sure you have grades on the necessary 6000-level units (see below).
  7. Students in all graduate programs (except Masters of Arts in Education) do not have to complete a Request for Graduation Check form. In lieu of having a graduation check, students in these programs will be able to access their Degree Progress Report. Once the approved Program of Study "Contract" has been received in the Registrar's Office from the Graduate Studies Office it will be reviewed by an evaluator and noted on the Degree Progress Report as the graduation check.
  8. Apply to graduate (done online using BroncoDirect) at the beginning of the semester in which you intend to graduate. Check the schedule of classes for the last date to apply to graduate. You need to be enrolled in units and pay fees during the semester in which you graduate. Extremely rare exceptions are granted. The exception involves a waiver of residency done with a Graduate Academic Petition. If after reviewing the waiver of residency, you believe that you qualify for it, you may contact the Graduate Coordinator.
  9. Carefully review the University Graduate Studies Office web page for the procedures and guidelines for completing your thesis.
  10. At the start of the semester in which you intend to graduate, check the due dates for completing and submitting your thesis.
  11. Note that the 2023-24 University Catalog states: "Students may participate in Spring Commencement ceremonies if they have graduated or applied for graduation for the prior Fall term, current Spring term, or following Summer term."

Important Information Concerning BIO 6940, BIO 6960 and other 6000-level courses:

While your research and thesis work are in progress, you may be assigned a grade of RP (report in progress) for any units of research (BIO 6940) that you do not complete or for your thesis (BIO 6960) if you do not complete it the semester you originally intended. These RP grades must be changed to actual letter grades on 4 semester units of BIO 6940 and 2 semester units of BIO 6960 before you can graduate. Grade changes are done by the Thesis Advisor, but you must request that the changes be made. Be advised that BIO 6940 units must be changed to a grade within one year, and BIO 6960 must be changed within two years. If the changes are not made, the grades stay as RP forever. (RP grades do not affect your GPA.) You will have to enroll in any additional units in order to obtain grades before you graduate. This may delay your graduation and result in you paying additional fees for additional semesters of enrollment. The one-year policy also applies to RP grades in any other 6000-level courses (e.g. BIO 6910, BIO 6920, BIO 6930). BIO 6930 should appear on your transcript as "CR" (credit).

Degree credit in BIO 6940 is limited to 4 semester units, and 2 semester units in BIO 6960.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REVIEW YOUR ACADEMIC HISTORY AND ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE GRADES FOR FOUR SEMESTER UNITS OF BIO 6940 AND TWO SEMESTER UNITS OF BIO 6960.

IF YOU NEED GRADE CHANGES, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST THEM FROM YOUR THESIS ADVISOR, AND TO PROVIDE THE SEMESTER, SECTION NUMBER, AND COURSE NUMBER FOR ALL REQUESTED GRADE CHANGES.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING SUMMER GRADUATION:

  1. In order to graduate in the Summer Semester you must have completed all course work, including all units of BIO 6940 and 6960, by the end of the preceding Spring semester.
  2. During the Summer Semester you must register for BIO 6990 and pay the summer fees for this course.
  3. You must contact the Graduate Coordinator prior to the end of the Spring semester if you wish to graduate in the following Summer semester (e.g., contact before the end of Spring 2024 if you wish to graduate in Summer 2024).