Department of Biology

College of Humanities and Sciences

Current StudentsGive

Overrides

If you're seeking an override for a biology course (listed as BIOL or BIOZ in eServices), you must submit your request using the online override form.

If you have completed the prerequisites for a class and receive an error message related to course prerequisites, the Department of Biology can assist by providing a prerequisite override. 

Please note: 

  • We can only provide prerequisite overrides.
  • If the class is full or restricted to certain majors, we are unable to assist with an override. 

If you need a prerequisite override because you completed a course outside of VCU and it has yet to appear on your VCU transcript, please send an official transcript to the VCU Transfer Center as well. 

Exceptions

Please read through the exceptions below before attempting to fill out the form. The following overrides and restrictions are not processed through this form:

  • BIOL 493 Internship: This form should not be used to request overrides into internship or research courses. Internship requests should go through the BIOL 493 internship request form.
  • Research (BIOL/Z 395, BIOL 492 and BIOL 495): Registration requests should go through the research-based classes override request form.
  • Basic Human Anatomy (BIOL 205), except prerequisite overrides: View enrollment policies for BIOL 205.
  • Closed sections with a capacity of zero (0): The faculty associated with preceptor (BIOL 482, BIOL 496, and BIOL 499) and lab/research experience (BIOL 284 and BIOL 484) courses manage the enrollment of these courses. 

Complete override request form

FAQ

  • I am an incoming transfer student and/or I plan to graduate this semester, but the course I need is full. Can I get a seat?
    • Yes. The biology department holds back seats in select courses every semester for incoming transfer students and/or graduating seniors. These select sections of most courses will have a handful of seats saved until the week of add/drop. If they are not filled by then, we will open them up to the rest of the student body. To request a seat, please complete the override form and send an unofficial transcript to bioadvising@vcu.edu. 
  • If I enroll in a lecture, am I automatically enrolled in the associated lab?
    • No. Our biology labs are separate courses from their respective lectures. At VCU, the lectures are listed as BIOL, and the labs are typically listed as BIOZ. Labs have their own credits, grades, and instructors. If you want to take the lab for any biology course, you must register for it in addition to the lecture course.
  • If I have the prerequisite for both, can I take just the lab, or do I also have to take the lecture?
    • No. You can only take a lab if you're taking the lecture at the same time or you've taken the lecture in the past. You can take the lecture without the lab in any given semester, and then take the lab in a subsequent semester. However, keep in mind that the lab typically reinforces the concepts taught in lecture. It is strongly recommended that you take the lecture and lab concurrently. 
  • Can I withdraw from just the lecture and stay in the lab?
    • Yes. The biology department allows student to remain enrolled in the courses they are succeeding in. If you would like to withdraw from just a lab, consult with your academic advisor first. If you would like to withdraw from just the lecture, you can only do so after midterm grades have been reported but before the withdrawal deadline. Please know that this is not the same as dropping a course.