Fall Advising Workshop for Biology Majors

TODAY’S PRESENTATION:

1. Biology Advising Center

2. Graduation Requirements

3. Course Registration Process

4. Typical 2nd Semester Courses

5. Campus Resources

Purpose = prepare you for spring registration

Please ask questions!

Reminders from Orientation

• Check your unofficial transcript to confirm that your AP

credits and/or transfer credits have been posted.

• Remember to accept or reject ECE credits at the end of

this semester – all decisions are final after 12/27/15.

• Take or re-take Math Placement Assessment if

necessary – score of 76 or higher is required to enroll in

MATH 1131Q (or 1132Q).

Use Your UConn Email Account!

• Use your UConn email account when emailing your

advisor and others on campus.

• When emailing your advisor:

– Please include your 7-digit Student ID and full name.

– If your questions are very complex, you may be asked to

schedule an appointment.

– During peak advising times such as the first 2 weeks of classes

and registration, please allow 24-72 hours for a response (try

walk-in hours for quick questions).

Use Your UConn Email Account!

• Read all emails from Biology Advising Center!

• Weekly Biology Undergraduate Update includes:

• important announcements

• info on course registration

• notification of important dates and deadlines

• useful campus resources and workshops

• events and opportunities related to biology

Biology Advising Center

• Location = Biology Physics Building (BPB) 101

• Appointments are scheduled thru AdvApp website

(schedule with your assigned advisor)

• Walk-in hours: M-F 10am-12pm and 2-4pm

• Option to drop off forms for signature

Biology Advising Center

• No mandatory advising.

• Refer to Biology website for forms & major/

advising information: http://biology.uconn.edu/.

• Review advisor/advisee expectations on the

Biology Advising Syllabus.

Departments & Majors

3 Departments

• Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

• Molecular & Cell Biology

• Physiology & Neurobiology

5 Majors

• Biological Sciences (B.S. or B.A.)

• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

(B.S or B.A.)

• Molecular and Cell Biology (B.S.)

• Physiology and Neurobiology

(B.S.)

• Structural Biology and Biophysics

(B.S.)

Find major requirements at www.biology.uconn.edu

Students often switch majors within biology. First year courses are very similar for all 5 majors.

Graduation Requirements

• It’s your responsibility to learn and track your

graduation requirements.

• It’s recommended that you plan ahead for future

semesters and meet with your advisor on a

regular basis. Optional: use Academic Planner

tool in Student Admin.

• Biological Sciences websiteo Links to three biology department websites

o Biology Advising Center information

o Info on biology majors and minors

o Forms and handouts

• Advising syllabus

• Academic Requirements Report & worksheets

• Sample sequence of courses

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

• Many biology classes are offered in alternate

years or semesters so plan accordingly.

• Summer and winter classes can help you make

up credits if need be.

• Elective courses can help you reach the 120

total credits needed to graduate.

Major Restrictions

• GPA for the 24-credit group must be 2.0 or higher.

• PNB 2264 and 2265 (and PNB 92501) cannot count

toward the biology majors.

• Students may only earn up to 12 credits of 1000-level

BIOL coursework.

• Only 8 transfer credits can count toward the 24-credit

group.

What are Relateds?

• Requirement = 12 credits of related courses at

2000-level or higher

• PNB & BPHYS have required Relateds.

• EEB and MCB have some required Relateds

and need advisor approval on others.

• BIOL has no specifically required Relateds. Pre-

approved Relateds appear on the Academic

Requirements Report; others required advisor

approval.

Organic Chemistry

Major Orgo Required?

Biological Sciences NO but can be used as Related

EEB NO but can be used as Related

MCB CHEM 2443 & 2444 are required Relateds

PNB CHEM 2443 & 2444 are required Relateds

Structural Biophysics CHEM 2443, 2444 & 2445 are required

Note – Pre-med & Pre-dent students must take CHEM 2443, 2444 & 2445

Course Registration

• You will register on your own for spring classes.

• If you need help with Student Admin:

– Watch the “How to Register” video:

http://biology.uconn.edu/registration/

– Visit the iCenter in Wilbur Cross:

http://icenter.uconn.edu/

– Attend a Registration Training Workshop

given by the CLAS Academic Services

Center (advertised in Biology Undergrad

Update).

Course Registration

• Advising appointments are optional. If you make an appointment:

– Be on time!

– Come prepared - appts are only 20 minutes.

– Bring a list of classes that you plan to take.

– Cancel through AdvApp if necessary.

• Oct-Nov is the busiest time of the semester so appointments book up quickly. If no appts are available before your pick time, register on your own and meet with an advisor afterwards if you’d like to discuss your schedule.

• Visit walk-in hours if you have a quick question.

• Place back-up options in your shopping cart in

case courses fill before your pick date.

• Be sure to take no more than 2-3 science and

math courses per semester.

• Take gen. eds. to help balance your schedule.

• 15-16 credits per semester is recommended.

• Note – Physics is typically taken junior year by

biology majors.

Course Registration

Typical Second Semester

Course Load

• BIOL 1107 or 1108 (4 cr.)

• CHEM 1125Q or 1128Q (4 cr.)

• MATH 1060Q or 1131Q (3-4 cr.)

OR General education course (3 cr.)

• First-year writing, ENGL 1010/1011 (4 cr.)

OR General education course (3 cr.)

• Optional: UNIV 1820 (1 cr.)

Academic Calendar

• It’s your responsibility to know and follow the

various dates and deadlines on the academic

calendar.

• Accessible from the Registrar’s Office website:

http://registrar.uconn.edu/

Academic Support & Tutoring

• Academic Achievement Center

• Q Center

• W Center

• Chemistry tutoring

• Office hours for professors/TAs (including

BIOL 1107 and 1108)

Pre-Med / Pre-Dent

• Visit www.premed.uconn.edu.

• Meet with pre-med or pre-dent advisor once a

semester, beginning this fall.

• Pre-med advisors also advise for pre-PA.

• Join Pre-Med Society, Pre-Dent Society, or

Pre-PA Club.

• Develop strong study skills and earn high grades!

Career Goals

• It’s never too early to think about careers!

• Meet with Center for Career Development and

use resources on their website:

www.career.uconn.edu

• Talk with professors

• Internships/volunteering/shadowing

How Can I Gain

Research Experience?

• Identify faculty research that interests you.

• Talk to your professors!

• Ask your TAs how they got involved with research.

• Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research.

• Read your Biology Undergrad Update emails.

Honors in Biology

• Advisors in the Biology Advising Center serve as

Honors advisors for the first two years. Prior to

junior year, Honors students are co-assigned to a

faculty advisor.

• Non-Honors students can apply to join Honors

after their first year.

• Sophomore Honors is an optional certificate. View

requirements on Honors website:

http://honors.uconn.edu/sophomore-honors/

• For info on Honors in the biology majors visit:

http://biology.uconn.edu/honors/.

Education Abroad

• Yes, it’s possible for science majors to study

abroad!

• Plan ahead to ensure you will still satisfy your

graduation requirements and stay on track for your

career goals.

• Attend an Education Abroad 101 info session and

Education Abroad fair: http://abroad.uconn.edu.

THANKS FOR COMING!