Graduation Requirements (Undergraduate)

Undergraduate students who plan to graduate must submit a graduation application to the Office of the Registrar during their junior year. The application is submitted as part of the student's grad plan (using Degree Audit Planner) with their major department. Any graduation application received during the semester of graduation will be considered late and a late graduation petition fee of $200 will need to be paid at time of submission.

The graduation application is part of the Planner tool that helps students map out a journey toward academic program completion and graduation. In order to complete a graduation application with Planner, please reach out to your major department advisor.

1. During your junior year, download the Graduation Petition PDF above for your catalog year.
2. Using your Degree Audit, fill out the graduation petition. If you need assistance with filling out the petition, contact your major department advisor.
3. Once complete, email your petition to your major advisor for approval, and obtain Department Chair’s signature.
4. Your department will send your petition back to you and copy your graduation counselor on the email.
5. When you connect with your graduation counselor, you will discuss your plan and be given important information about your graduating term.
6. In order to be placed on the graduation list, you must:
   1. Have your petition reviewed by your Graduation Counselor
   2. Have passed your major department’s Writing Competency Requirement
   3. Have all transcripts from other schools, etc. on record in the Office of the Registrar.

Please notify your graduation counselor if there are any changes made to your petition.

1. Absentia: All graduating students are expected to participate in the graduation ceremony. If extenuating circumstances arise, you must submit a written request to the Office of the Registrar for permission to graduate in absentia. This is required at least six weeks prior to commencement.
2. Commencement Requirements: All degree requirements must be completed before the student may participate in commencement ceremonies. Undergraduate students completing the last of their coursework during Summer must contact their graduation counselor to be cleared for graduation.
3. Honors: For the commencement program, honors are computed based on the cumulative GPA of all work completed at Biola prior to your final semester. The honors on your diploma are computed based upon your final cumulative GPA at Biola.
4. Name Changes: Name changes must be made in the Office of the Registrar and with the graduation counselor at least six weeks prior to graduation to ensure that the correct name will appear on the commencement program and on your diploma.
5. Transfer Work: If you are taking credits outside of Biola, all transcripts are due before your final semester, and the official transcripts must be mailed to the Office of the Registrar. If it becomes necessary to take classes off campus during your final semester, the classes MUST meet proper approval. You should meet with your graduation counselor and provide proof of registration.

1. All baccalaureate degrees require a minimum of 120 degree-applicable credits for graduation. Each major consists of a minimum of 30 credits, of which 24 must be upper division. 
2. Approval of the student's graduation petition by the major advisor and the Office of the Registrar is required a year before graduation, and completion of all academic requirements is mandatory.
3. To ensure completion of degree requirements, the normal academic load during the last year for a student anticipating graduation is 18 credits. Those students who wish to take more are expected to notify their graduation counselor. Approval for the additional credits beyond the norm will be made through the Office of the Registrar.
4. A minimum of 30 credits must be taken at Biola University, and at least 15 credits (upper division level) in the major field. Biola has a residency requirement for biblical studies. Extension credit or credit by examination may not be used to fulfill the minimum residency requirement of 30 semester credits. 
5. A minimum "C" average (or a 2.00 grade point average) is required on work taken at Biola University and within most of the major fields. (Note: GPA requirements are higher in some majors. See departmental requirements.) You may be eliminated from graduation if, in your final semester, you receive an “F” in a course or if you fail to obtain your minimum GPA requirement.
6. All students who entered the University in the fall 1986 or later must pass the Writing Competency Exam.

Special note: All graduation requirements may be met within four school years by carrying approximately 16 or 17 credits each semester. A student may still graduate within four years if he or she wishes to take a lighter load and enroll in one or more summer classes.

1. If you are given permission by your Graduation Counselor to transfer in classes your last semester, be advised that you will not be placed on the graduation list until all transcripts (and graduation documents) have been received by the Registrar’s Office no later than March 15 if planning to graduate that May, and November 15 if you plan to graduate that December. If a transcript or document needed for graduation comes in after the above dates, you will not be able to participate in the upcoming graduation. You may participate in the next available graduation assuming all transcripts and necessary documents are received by the next deadline.
2. Your degree will be posted on the next available posting date if any transcript is received after the graduation date. All classes taken at other colleges/universities will only transfer to Biola with a “C” or higher (a C-minus will not count). Check with the Office of the Registrar either in person or online to see if the class you need is pre-approved.
3. Official transcripts must be MAILED (hand-delivered transcripts are not accepted) to Biola’s Office of the Registrar.

Honors at graduation for baccalaureate recipients are based on overall performance, Christian values and a minimum 60-credit residency. Honors are not automatically granted. They are granted by the faculty and may be withheld or modified. The University honors have been defined by the Academic Standards Committee as:

Honors recognized in the graduation ceremony may be changed based on the processing of final grades.