Graduation Petition

Graduating seniors (undergraduate) must file a "Senior Petition" form with the Registrar's Office and submit any departmental checklists one year prior to graduation. Students filing late will be charged a late graduation petition fee. A late petition is defined as any graduation petition received after classes begin in the student's graduating semester. See instructions for the form.

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Graduate level students do not file paperwork to petition to graduate; instead, graduate students make an appointment with the graduate, graduation counselor in the Office of the Registrar. Graduate students should either come in or call the Office of the Registrar at (562) 903-4720 to schedule an appointment.

For BOLD Degree Completion Program Students, please visit the BOLD's Graduate Preparation page.

Requirements for all Baccalaureate Degrees

  1. All baccalaureate degrees require a minimum of 130 degree-applicable units for graduation. Each major consists of a minimum of 30 units, of which 24 must be upper division. The Bachelor of Music degree requires 142 units. A degree in biological science requires 135 units and nursing requires 141 units. For specific major requirements please see indicated major listings.
  2. Completion of all academic requirements and approval of the student's graduation petition by the major advisor and the Office of the Registrar a year before graduation. To ensure completion of degree requirements, the normal academic load, during the last year, for a student anticipating graduation is 18 units. Those students who wish to take more are expected to notify their graduation counselor. Approval for the additional units beyond the norm will be made through the Office of the Registrar.
  3. Students are strongly encouraged to take an Interterm course (3 units) in each of their first three years, to retain maximum flexibility for completing all requirements in the senior year.
  4. A minimum of 30 units must be taken at Biola University, at least 15 units (upper division level) in the major field. Extension credit or credit by examination may not be used to fulfill the minimum residence requirement of 30 semester units. See paragraph for information on minors.
  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.)
  6. All correspondence course work must be completed and an official transcript received by the Office of the Registrar before the senior year, two semesters prior to graduation.
  7. All coursework that is completed during the final semester and will be applied toward graduation requirements must be taken at Biola University.
  8. All students who have entered the University in the fall 1986 or later and who will be graduating in the spring 1990 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 units each semester. A student may still be graduated within four years if he wishes to take a lighter load and enroll in summer session and/or Interterm.

Graduation Honors - Undergraduate Programs

Honors at graduation for baccalaureate recipients are based on overall performance, Christian values and a minimum 60-unit 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:

Cum Laude GPA 3.50-3.69
Magna Cum Laude GPA 3.70-3.89
Summa Cum Laude GPA 3.90-4.00

Honors recognized in the graduation ceremony may be changed based on the processing of final grades. Graduate and BOLD students should check with their program section in the catalog for honors qualification.

Graduation Honors - Graduate Programs

Honors at graduation for master's program recipients are based on overall performance, Christian values, and a minimum 24-unit 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 GPA 3.50-3.69
High Honors GPA 3.70-3.89
Highest Honors GPA 3.90-4.00

Honors recognized in the graduation ceremony may be changed based on the processing of final grades. Graduate students should check their program section in the catalog for honors qualification and honor society recognition.

What you need to know about taking units outside of Biola University

  • All transcripts are due BEFORE your final semester.
  • Official transcripts must be MAILED (hand-delivered transcripts are not accepted) to Biola’s Office of the Registrar.
  • Substitution forms with necessary signatures approving substitutions are to be filled out and submitted with the Graduation Petition.
  • If it becomes necessary to take classes off campus during your final semester, the classes MUST meet proper approval. An “Off Campus Class Request Form” must be filled out. You will then be required to submit (1) Proof of Registration, and (2) a Progress Report at  the 10th week of the semester.

Other Important Graduation Information

  1. Grades and GPA: A minimum “C” average (2.00  GPA) in the major and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 taken at Biola University is required for all baccalaureate degrees. 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. 
  2. Absentia: You 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Commencement

All degree requirements must be completed before the student may participate in commencement ceremonies. Those students completing the last of their coursework during Interterm or summer session must contact their graduation counselor to be cleared for graduation.

Student Cap & Gown Information

When ordering the cap and gown, please have the following information ready.

  • Name
  • Biola ID Number
  • Date of Graduation
  • Home State
  • Height *
  • Weight *

* This allows us to fit you with the proper size/length gown for the graduation ceremony.