Applying for Graduation

How to Apply for Graduation

It is recommend that students begin the process of applying for graduation a minimum of two quarters before their anticipated graduation term. This will allow the student to successfully meet the Registrar's priority application deadline and will also allow enough time to make any necessary modifications due to unforeseen circumstances, overlooked requirements or scheduling conflicts.

Review Degree Application Requirements             

Visit the Registrar’s web page and review the degree application requirements, application deadlines, and to access the degree application forms. Using Degree Works, you will need to generate a What If report in consultation with your biology faculty advisor as the first step in obtaining a major evaluation/graduation approval note, which is a required piece of the Degree Application process.

Review Degree Works Worksheet

Identify any remaining degree requirements for your major by reviewing your Degree Works Worksheet. In consultation with your faculty advisor, create a course plan to satisfy remaining course requirements for your chosen biology emphasis. Use the “What If” feature (with the "use current curriculum" box checked) in Degree Works to verify how the courses you selected will apply to your major requirements. Using the “What If” tool in Degree Works may also be helpful if you are considering changing your Biology emphasis before graduation. To see how you courses would apply to a different emphasis or major, leave the "use current curriculum" box unchecked and select a major program from the drop-down menu.

Complete What If Report

Finalize your What If report by adding any of your planned courses (omitting ones that you are currently registered for or have completed) and process the report. There is no option to save your What If report, so you'll need to print to pdf and email a copy to your faculty advisor for approval. If you are requesting a course substitution or waiver for coursework listed on your Degree Works Worksheet, you must get Department Chair approval. Please refer to the Course Substitution of Waiver section below.

If your faculty advisor hasn't done so already, you will then need to email the signed What If to biologyadvising@wwu.edu so that an approval note may be entered in Degree Works. This note satisfies the "major evaluation" requirement of the Degree Application.

Submit Completed Degree Application

After your approval note has been entered by the Department in Degree Works, you may submit your completed Degree Application form(s) to the  Registrar’s Office. The folks in the Registrar's Office will be looking for the approval note when reviewing your application.

Degree Works

Degree Works is an academic planning and degree evaluation tool that reflects your academic progress towards the completion of your program of study at Western. Degree Works is designed to help you track degree progress and know which courses to take to plan your path to graduation. Instructions for students about how to access Degree Works and use the What If feature.

Course Substitution/Exception or Waiver

Any exceptions, substitutions or waivers of major or minor requirements must be approved by your faculty advisor and the Biology Department Chair via the Degree Works Exception Approval web form.  When approved, the exception will be entered as a note in Degree Works and will be visible on your worksheet and What If report.