Policies

All Biology courses must be passed with a D- or better when taken for a letter grade.

Students are encouraged to have courses outside Stanford evaluated before taking that course at another institution. Course catalogs, syllabi, papers, exams, and lecture notes from other institutions are necessary for evaluation and accreditation. Transfer students are encouraged to contact the Student Services Office soon after arrival and with the Director of the Transfer Advising Program opens in a new tab to review major requirements. Incoming transfer students can submit a Transfer Credit Evaluation form during the summer, but it will not be reviewed until the start of the Autumn quarter.

Students are encouraged to review the pre-approved course lists outlined by the Stanford University-wide Transfer Credit Database opens in a new tab and Biology pre-approved transfer courses. The department authorizes transfer credit only for courses whose content parallels the Stanford courses and has comparable prerequisites (not merely a comparable course title). If transfer course(s) are not already approved at the university or department level, students should submit a Transfer Credit Evaluation Form opens in a new tab.  For full detailed transfer credit instructions, please visit the Biology Transfer Credit opens in a new tab website.

Biology students cannot use transfer credit or other external credit to substitute their BIO 40 and 80-series requirements (exemption: transfer students with an approved Transfer Credit Evaluation petition).

Credit for natural history, cultural biology, and similar courses is rarely appropriate and can be obtained only by meeting the same criteria outlined above. Verification of performance and the number of units is determined after completing the course. In some cases, students must provide exams, reading lists, term papers, and other materials for the evaluation.

Department degree policies can be accessed in our Biology Handbook opens in a new tab. Students interested in studying abroad can find more information in our Studying Away from Stanford opens in a new tab.