The Biology Program welcomes transfer students, whether they are internal or external. We have an orientation class (BIOL 1120) designed just for you to help you connect with the major, your fellow biologists, and learn about program opportunities.
Internal Transfer Students
Internal transfer students are those who are currently attending Iowa State and decide to change their major to Biology. Before making that decision, you may wish to run a “what if” academic progress report (APR) for Biology. It is important to remember that these “what if” APRs are not the last word on how your courses will count within Biology. We often make adjustments to student APRs to ensure you are getting credit where it is due. Make an appointment to discuss these details using Navigate and selecting "add or change major/minor" for your appointment reason to schedule with advisors outside of your current major. You can also schedule an appointment by calling our main office (515-294-1064) or in our 103 Bessey Hall Student Services Office.
External Transfer Students
External transfer students attended another college or university, such as a community college or a 4-year institution, prior to coming to Iowa State. Our advisors can help you understand how credits will transfer in to the Biology Program, and we recommend making an appointment to discuss this. The tools we describe below will give you a rough idea of how things apply, but we make adjustments to ensure your credits are being correctly applied within your Iowa State degree program.
For some community colleges, there are course equivalency guides available for comprehensive and easy reference. If your institution isn’t listed, or if you'd like a more personalized preliminary transfer credit evaluation and a preview of how your courses will apply to the Biology major, you can input all of your courses into TRANSIT with either a guest account or create a lasting account.
Maybe you’re still working on coursework at your current institution and would like to plan ahead for your move to Iowa State? We have transfer plans for Iowa community colleges available below. We also have some general advice on what sorts of courses to take if you’re thinking about doing two years at a community college before coming to Iowa State.
The University has a few general guidelines on how transfer credits may be applied to your program. View this page for guidelines on how transfer credits may be applied to your program.