Biology

Biology Department Course Transfer Guidelines

Please consult with the Biology Department Chair to pre-approve your course before you commit to taking it! If you get a course pre-approved, be sure to save a copy of the form so you can present it to the chair after you complete the course.

Primary criteria for counting transfer courses through the Oberlin Biology Department:

  1. The depth and breadth of material covered in the course is at a level commensurate with that of similar courses at Oberlin.
  2. Topics covered by the course must predominantly center on biological principles or applications.
  3. If a transfer course is to be used to replace BIOL 100, BIOL 200, or BIOL 213, the topics, core concepts, and competencies covered in the transfer course must closely match those of the relevant Oberlin course, including the laboratory component.

Transferring a course to count toward general graduation credit at Oberlin, but not to the Oberlin Biology major or related majors?

Submit the following items from the institution offering the course you want to take to the Oberlin Biology Department Chair:

  1. Course syllabus.
  2. Catalog description.
  3. Documentation listing prerequisites for the course (this information may appear on the syllabus or course description, but if it does not, please submit other documentation verifying the prerequisites).
  4. If the course is from a Study Away program, indicate whether that program is affiliated with Oberlin.

Transferring a course to count toward the Oberlin Biology major or related majors?

Submit the following items from the institution offering the course you want to take to the Oberlin Biology Department Chair:

  1. Course syllabus.
  2. Catalog description.
  3. Documentation listing prerequisites for the course (this information may appear on the syllabus or course description, but if it does not, please submit other documentation verifying the prerequisites).
  4. Documentation addressing how the course applies to the biology or related major at the home institution. If the course is from a community college, provide documentation addressing how the course may be counted toward a biology or related major at 4-year institutions in the home state.
  5. If the course is from a Study Away program, indicate whether that program is affiliated with Oberlin.

The Biology Department Chair may request additional information about the course beyond that described above.