Biology Major Degree Requirements

Biology Major Requirements (old catalogs)

• Biology Requirements 2021-2022 (PDF)

• Biology Requirements 2020-2021 (PDF)

• Biology Requirements 2019-2020 (PDF)

• Biology Requirements 2018-2019 (PDF)

• Biology Requirements 2017-2018 (PDF)

Biology Minor Requirements

Degree Planning

All of these PDFs are fillable forms that you can keep on your computer and revise throughout your degree program.

Biology Academic Advising

The Biology Advising office is located in 103 Bessey Hall.  Advisors are available for appointments from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on weekdays (M-F).  We are open all year round, except for University holidays.  Our professional academic advisors are here to help you with any issue with which you might need assistance.

Scheduling an Advising Appointment

Current students can schedule an appointment online with a Biology Advisor through Navigate

Download the Navigate Student app (Apple or Google) or go to AccessPlus -> Student tab ->  Navigate Student to schedule your appointment.

To schedule an appointment with Norah Warchola, email warchola@iastate.edu.

If you need additional assistance scheduling an appointment, contact 515-294-1064.  

Changing your advisor

If you would like to request an advisor change, please email Lauren Ramos (laurenw@iastate.edu) or Allison Manz (almanz@iastate.edu) for assistance.

When do I register for classes?

Fall semester registration begins mid-March and Spring/Summer registration begins in mid-October. 

How to Register for Classes

1. Find your registration start date. This information is available on AccessPlus under Current Student Information.
2. Schedule a registration appointment with your advisor through Navigate. Plan to meet with your advisor to discuss classes at least one week before your registration start date. 
3. Review your Degree Audit in Access Plus. Information about how to use the ISU Degree Audit system is available here.
4. Prepare for your advising appointment. Reflect on your goals, review your degree audit, review the biology degree requirements, and consider which courses you would like to take in each area. To see which classes are available for the following semester, check the schedule of classes and the listings of experimental courses. 
5. Meet with your advisor to discuss your proposed course selections. When you meet with your advisor, bring along a copy of your current degree audit and a registration worksheet. Your advisor will provide your Registration Access Number (RAN) each semester.
6. Register for classes using the AccessPlus registration system. Your RAN is required to register. Registration Tutorial.
7. Remember, registration is a busy time period for advisors. Please be prepared for your appointment and respectful of your advisor’s time. 

How many credits can I take?

Students can take up to 18 credits during the Fall and Spring semesters; minimum full-time enrollment is 12 credits. If you would like your credit limit increased for a particular semester, discuss that possibility with your advisor. 

How do I register for classes in AccessPlus?

The Registrar made this helpful video on class registration in AccessPlus that describes and explains the process. 

I can’t register for classes! Help!

Log in to AccessPlus, navigate to your “Student” tab, and check the “Current Student Information” section. Any holds you have will be listed, along with the office to contact to resolve the issue. 

How do I make changes to my schedule?

Before the semester starts, you may make changes to your schedule at any time through AccessPlus. You may also add/drop classes freely during the first week of the Fall and Spring semesters. After that, you will need to see your advisor and complete an add/drop slip. Students have a limited number of drops (4 or 5). Dropping a course after the first week counts towards this limit. 

More information about add/drop deadlines, including those for summer and part-semester courses, can be found on the academic calendar. Also check out the schedule change policies in the University Catalog. 

Before the semester starts, you may make changes to your schedule at any time through AccessPlus. You may also add/drop classes freely during the first week of the Fall and Spring semesters in AccessPlus. After the first week, you will need to complete a schedule change form. Students have a limited number of drops and dropping a course after the first week counts towards this limit. Check out the schedule change policies in the University Catalog. 

Academic Probation, Warning, and Dismissal

Academic Warning:

Students will receive an academic warning (W) at the end of any fall or spring semester when they earn a GPA of 1.00 – 1.99 for that semester. Students who receive an academic warning are required to develop a plan for academic improvement in consultation with their academic advisor or the Academic Success Center. At the end of the next fall or spring semester of enrollment, one of the following actions will be taken for students on academic warning status:

• Students will be placed on academic probation if they earn less than a 2.00 GPA for the next fall or spring semester, or
• They will be removed from warning status if they earn at least a 2.00 semester GPA for the next fall or spring semester and they are not subject to academic probation based on cumulative GPA (over 75 credits).

Academic Probation:

Students are placed on academic probation status as a warning that their academic progress is not satisfactory and that they should take steps to improve their academic performance to avoid dismissal from the university. Students on academic probation and warning are required to meet with their advisor and to complete the Academic Intervention Self Assessment form, which can be accessed in the final box of the expanding accordion here.

Students will be placed on academic probation (P) at the end of a semester/term for either of the following two reasons:

1. Semester GPA: Students who earn less than a 1.00 at the end of any fall or spring semester, or less than a 2.00 two consecutive semesters, will be placed on academic probation. Students will not be placed on academic probation at the end of the summer term due to summer term GPA only.
2. Cumulative GPA: Students with 75 or more credits attempted or earned, whichever is greater, will be placed on academic probation at the end of any fall or spring semester or summer term when their cumulative GPA is less than 2.00. Students with 75 or more credits attempted or earned who have a transfer GPA < 2.00 will be placed on academic probation at the end of any fall or spring semester or summer term when their combined transfer/ISU cumulative GPA is less than 2.00.

At the end of the next fall or spring semester of enrollment, one of the following actions will be taken for students on academic probation status:

• Students will be academically dismissed if they fail to earn at least a 2.00 semester GPA.
• Students will continue on academic probation if they earn at least a 2.00 semester GPA but are subject to continued academic probation based on their cumulative GPA (over 75 credits).
• Students will be removed from probation if they earn at least a 2.00 semester GPA and are not subject to continued academic probation based on their cumulative GPA (over 75 credits).

Academic Dismissal:

Students who do not meet the requirements of their academic probation are academically dismissed from the university. Each College Academic Standards Committee is responsible for final decisions regarding the academic status of students in that college, and any appeals to academic dismissal actions are considered by the college committee. Once dismissed, students are not allowed to reenroll at Iowa State University until they have been academically reinstated.

Reinstatement

University policy found here