Frequently Asked Questions

Who is my advisor and how do I locate them?
You have an academic advisor in the College of Arts & Sciences and a BIO department advisor.
    —Locate your College of Arts & Sciences advisors here.
    —Locate your BIO department advisor here.

What is the difference between my advisors? I have one in CAS and one in BIO.
Your CAS advisor will advise on university requirements and your pathway courses whereas, your BIO advisor will advise on requirements for obtaining a BIO degree.

Can I schedule an advising appointment?
Yes…as long as you are an accepted BIO major, you may use the Navigate system or you may email your BIO advisor. If you are not an accepted BIO major, please contact your College of Arts and Sciences advisor.

How do I schedule an advising appointment?
You can schedule an advising appointment through Navigate here.

How do I apply to the major/switch my major to Biological Sciences?
Please fill out the application to the major here. 

How can I change my UB seminar course.
Please see your CAS advisor for help with this or contact UB Curriculum.

I don’t know what courses to take as my pathways. Can someone help?
Yes, please contact your College of Arts & Sciences advisor at 716-645-6883 or email: cas-advisor@buffalo.edu

Can I change my BIO major from BA to BS and vice versa?
Yes, you may; however, it is strongly recommended that you meet with your BIO advisor first before any changes should be requested.

Can I switch my BIO major to a minor?
Yes, you may; however, it is strongly recommended that you meet with your BIO advisor first before any changes should be requested.

Can I switch my BIO minor to a major?
This request would require a new application to the major to be reviewed and accepted.

How do I apply for the pre-dental (BIO BS/DDS) program?
This program is no longer offered.

Can you force register me into another department’s course?
No…you will need to request assistance from the department offering the course

You accept MIC 401 (or any other approved cognate elective) as an elective – why can I not register for it?
The BIO department can only assist with registration into a BIO-coded course only.  Registration into other courses (accepted by the major) will need to come from those departments

How many credits of BIO 495, 498, or 499 can I apply to the major?
You may apply a maximum of three (3) credits of these tutorial options if registered

How many credits can I register for each semester?
Students are allowed to register up to 19 credits (full-time student) during Fall and Spring semesters

I need help with my schedule…can someone help me?
If you are having issues with your schedule, you should immediately schedule an advising appointment with your assigned BIO advisor

Can I retake a course?
Yes, but the process depends on whether or not the course is a controlled enrollment course. If it is not, students can register themselves to retake a course one time. Any enrollments beyond that will require a petition and departmental approval (see FAQ Petitions below). If the course is a controlled enrollment course, you must wait until the first day of classes to register

I want to do research. How do I register?
Students cannot register themselves in a BIO 498 research course. You need to work with the faculty member that has agreed to have you work in their lab in order to be force registered.

Can I count my research (in another department) as BIO credit?
This will require the submission of a BIO Research Petition Request.  You will need to follow the instructions that are provided on submitting that petition request (see Petitions below).

Which petition do I need to submit?
All petitions can be found on the Bio Undergraduate Programs Forms page, here.                       

• To request special considerations within the BIO program, please submit the BIO Program Petition form.
• To request BIO program credit using another UB course from outside the department, please submit the Petition to Count a UB course as a BIO Elective or Lab form
• To request BIO program credit using another course from outside the University, see #2 under Transfer below and if the course has already been submitted to TAURUS, please submit the Course Transfer Request form
• To request BIO program credit for research done in another department at UB, please submit the BIO Research Petition form (you must be registered for a 498 Research course in the department in which you are performing the research)

What is the turnaround time for a petition?
That will vary depending on the type of petition submitted; typically, the turnaround time on most petition decisions is within 3-5 business days

I’m transferring from another school – what should I do or who can I talk to?
You should schedule an appointment with a College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) advisor at 716-645-6883 or cas-advisor@buffalo.edu.

I just transferred and my courses are showing up as BIO 999TR so I’m not getting BIO major credit for these courses. What do I do?

• Step1: Check UB TAURUS to see if this course was previously submitted for articulation to a UB BIO course.
• Step 2: If the course is in TAURUS but does not articulate to a specific BIO course and does not indicate "No comparable course (NOC)" in comments, please submit an articulation request through TAURUS website here:
• Step 3: If the course is not in TAURUS, submit a petition through the TAURUS website here:

How do I apply for graduation?
The Apply for Graduation option should be available in your drop-down box on the student hUB. If it is not appearing, you will need to reach out for assistance at the UB Registrar’s Office

Does my concentration show on the diploma?
No, the concentrations do not appear on the diploma; however, it does appear on your official transcript

Can I still take a class after I graduate?
Once you apply for graduation and your degree is conferred, any classes taken after conferral will not apply to your undergraduate degree.

I’ve graduated, but I need to retake a class for a better grade.
Once you apply for graduation and your degree is conferred, any classes taken after conferral will not apply to your undergraduate degree