[php] Get the Selected value from the Drop down box in PHP

Couldn't you just pass the a name attribute and wrap it in a form?

<form id="form" action="do_stuff.php" method="post">
    <select id="select_catalog" name="select_catalog_query">
    <?php <<<INSERT THE SELECT OPTION LOOP>>> ?>
    </select>
</form>

And then look for $_POST['select_catalog_query'] ?