Columbus State University Department of Biology

1. Columbus State University Department of Biology Orientation and Advising Information

2. Critical to your success!!! • READ YOUR E-MAIL DAILY!!! • This is how we will communicate with you! • Meet with your advisors! • Monitor your degree evaluation record • How many years do you want to be in school? • 12 hours – minimum • 15-16 hours – full time = to a full time job!!!

3. Biology Degree Options • Bachelor of Science in Biology • Requires independent research project • Bachelor of Arts in Biology • Requires a minor • Approved minor equivalent • Environmental Science • Premedical Studies • Bachelor of Arts in Biology – Secondary Education track • Prepares Biology educators for grades 6-12

4. Advising • General Advising • Bachelor of Sciences • Bachelor of Arts • Pre-professional Concentrations (declaration of a concentration dependent on meeting departmental criteria – min SAT=1000 or ACT=22 or GPA of 3.0) • Pre-medicine (including dentistry) – BA or BS • Pre-veterinary medicine - BS • Pre-pharmacy – BA or BS

5. Start Planning NOW! • Biology international courses • Can be taken in Area D as Biol 1225 or… • Biol 5535 • One week over spring break • Two-three weeks Maymester • Summer programs • Independent Research Project • Required in BS degree • Get involved at some level if in BA track • GPA • Need 2.5 to enter into junior core classes • Need to be even higher to get into graduate programs

6. Get Involved • Beta Beta Beta – Honors organization for biology majors • Associate member – can join as a freshman • Regular member – inducted after you have completed 2000 level or higher course and have maintained 3.0 GPA in all biology courses • American Medical Association – pre-professional health organization • Pre-veterinary Club

7. “The Core” or General Education Classes ~ first and second years • Area A – essential skills (3 classes, 3 hours each) • English 1101 and 1102 (must earn “C” or better) • Math 1113 (Pre-Calculus) or 1131 (Calculus 1) • Area B – Institutional options (2 classes) • Communication (3 hours) and a seminar or language (1 hour) • Area C – Humanities and Fine Arts (2 classes, 3 hours each)

8. “The Core” or General Education Classes ~ first and second years • Area D – Lab Sciences (2 classes, 4 hours each) and Statistics (3 hours) • Area E – Social Sciences (4 classes, 3 hours each) • History, Political Science, Behavioral Science, World Culture • Area F – Courses related to major • Research methods and Principles of Chemistry (1211&1212) • BS – Physics • BA – Language (4 semesters) and Interdisciplinary courses • Wellness (2 classes) – “wellness” = 2 hour and “activity” course = 1 hour

9. Program Requirements ~ third and fourth years • Area G – Biology Requirements • Cell, Genetics, Ecology and Biosystematics ~ Junior • Selected Topics courses (5000) and Capstone ~ Senior • BS – Independent Research Project and Organic Chemistry • BA Ed – 8 education courses • Area H – Electives (includes minor or equivalent if BA)

10. Freshman Year Experience • Required before completion of 30 hours (FLC or FYRS – one or the other…not both) • designed to introduce students to the culture and expectations of university academics. • Freshman Learning Communities • allow students to enroll in courses with peers who share a common academic or career interest. The freshman-level courses in the learning communities are tailored to a common theme or specific academic discipline and usually have lower enrollments. • First year seminar (FYRS 1105) • designed to help freshmen achieve academic and personal goals by developing links between students and faculty, enhancing skills necessary for academic success, exploring global issues and perspectives, and promoting involvement in university life.

11. Focus for your first year…. • Math (need 1113 or 1131 & 1127) • AP exams • Math Placement Test • Math Readiness Scale • 200 x HS GPA + SAT Math Score • 1200-1299 = Math 1101 or 1111 • 1300 or higher = Math 1113 • English 1101 and 1102 with a “C” or better • Chemistry 1211 with lab and 1212 with lab

12. Getting into Chemistry 1211 & 1211L • Prerequisite or Corequisite: MATH 1111or higher or math placement score at the level of MATH 1111 or higher. • As a reminder…..for Biology….. You need Math1113 or 1131 & 1127 • AP exams • Math Placement Test • Math Readiness Scale • 200 x HS GPA + SAT Math Score • 1200-1299 = Math 1101 or 1111 • 1300 or higher = Math 1113

13. Registration • Pick a Freshman Learning Community 1116 or First Year Seminar 1105 • Fit other courses (from areas A-E and sometimes F) around the FLC or FYRS • Try to include CHEM 1211/1211L, math, and ENGL 1101

14. What does THAT mean? • PREREQ error • There is a course you need to take and pass before you can register for the class you are trying to get into • If there is a required lab, make sure you register for both • Immunization hold • Classes that meet on “R” • M=Monday, T=Tuesday, W=Wednesday, R=Thursday, F=Friday and S=Saturday • Can I change my major? • Try the “What if” option when you are looking at your DER – degree evaluation record

15. Delivery and Location • Is the class on-line or on-site? • Downtown campus • Corn Center • One Arsenal Place • Coca-cola Space Science Center • Carpenter Building • University Theatre • Off site • Fort Benning • West Point

16. Finished? • Print your schedule • On-line survey (advising survey) • Pay your bill by the deadline…or you will be dropped from all of your classes!

17. Columbus State University Department of Biology Orientation and Advising Information