Study abroad for Biology majors
After graduation
- Graduate school
- Health professions
- Jobs
This handbook describes the many opportunities available to biology majors at Beloit College, contains information about schedule planning, and explains some of the whys behind the design of the curriculum. Consult your faculty advisor for clarification of any information presented in this handbook.
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Turtle is calling YOU! Be all that you can be... Be a BELOIT BIOLOGIST |
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Welcome to the Department
Welcome to the challenging discipline of biology! This handbook will provide answers to many questions most frequently asked about the program. Some of this information also can be found in the College catalog, but is concentrated here for your convenience. We suggest that you read the entire handbook now to acquaint yourself with the department better; consult as necessary as you progress toward graduation. It will be updated periodically.
We try to provide a variety of opportunities for you to be a biologist and to get to know your fellow biologists, but it is up to you to take advantage of them fully. We urge you to get involved by participating in departmental activities. How? For starters, attend the next biology potluck (we usually have at least one per term)--it's a great way to get to know fellow biology students and faculty.
The Biology Department is student centered. Students hold several jobs including posting notices, organizing and cleaning laboratory materials, assisting the chair (Ken Yasukawa), and caring for animals. They typically organize social activities such as the potlucks. Students also participate in departmental and divisional governance. Elected students represent majors at departmental and divisional meetings, voicing opinions and voting on issues. Talk to the chair or student departmental assistant about jobs or becoming a representative.
The faculty members of the Biology Department love biology. We welcome you to experience the many rewards of being a biologist, and particularly of being a Beloit College biologist. We look forward to getting to know you better throughout the coming years--while at Beloit and beyond.
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Requirements for the Majors
Biology is an extremely diverse field that has changed greatly from descriptive natural history to a quantitative, analytical science during the past century. Biology is interdisciplinary by nature and incorporates and builds on the other sciences and mathematics. We offer six fields of concentration within the biology major: Ecology, Evolution, and Behavioral Biology; Biology (with Education Certification); Environmental Biology; Integrative and Medical Biology; Mathematical Biology; and Cellular and Molecular Biology. Each concentration offers choices to accomodate individual student preferences while directing each student to experience the breadth of biology in its current state and to gain a depth of understanding in the chosen area of concentration. Choose the field of concentration that best fits your interests or goals after consulting with a faculty member.
All of the fields of concentration are interdisciplinary. They all require 11 "core" credits that provide a broad background in biology and supporting fields. This core curriculum consists of elective courses from each of three broad areas of biology (1 from organismal courses; 2 from ecology, evolution, and behavioral biology courses; and 2 from integrative, cellular, and molecular courses), as well as two chemistry, one mathematics, and three additional biology courses (biometrics, genetics, and senior seminar). In addition to the 11 core courses, 3.5 to 4 units of appropriate courses in biology or other sciences, mathematics, or social sciences are required. These courses serve to provide depth of understanding in the chosen field of concentration.
We refer you to the Beloit College catalog for specific requirements for each field of concentration. A "checklist" of requirements is provided at the end of this handbook for your convenience and as an aid in planning your Comprehensive Academic Plan (CAP). Note that prior to 1998, the department offered eight fields of concentration. Campus-wide curricular changes and hiring of two faculty members prompted us to reorganize our offerings. Checklists for the earlier fields of concentration are provided at the end of the handbook for those students graduating under those former requirements.
Prospective biology majors should talk with a biology faculty member as soon as possible regarding course planning--you need not wait until you formally declare the major. As you plan your courses, keep in mind that biology is somewhat hierarchical. The hierarchy of courses is reflected in the prerequisite structure, as well as in the numbering scheme (100s, 200s, 300s). Normally, a student takes all required 100-level courses first or, in some cases, concurrently with upper level courses. At least one 100-level organismal course (Human Biology, Zoology, Botany, Microbiology, or Marine Biology) is required of all biology majors. In addition, two other biology courses that are included in the above-mentioned 11 core courses are considered introductory: Biometrics (Biology 247) and Genetics (Biology 289). The three introductory-level courses provide much of the knowlege and skills required for other courses, particularly for those at the 300-level. Thus, we recommend completion of the organismal course by the end of the second semester, of Biometrics by the end of the 4th semester, and of Genetics by the end of the 5th semester. The 11 core courses also include introductory chemistry and mathematics courses. In order to permit greater freedom in completing subsequent courses, these two courses also should be completed early, preferably in the student's first year.
Note
that most courses are not offered every term, and in some cases, are
not offered every year. Therefore, it takes planning to fit in required
and elective courses. Occasionally, course substitutions may be permitted,
with written approval of the biology advisor and the chair of the biology
department. Your advisor may have more up-to-date information than is
available in the College catalog regarding long-term course scheduling
in Division I (the natural sciences, mathematics, and computer science).
Regarding short-term scheduling: a week or so prior to midterm break,
all departments in Division I put their proposed course schedule for
the following term on one of the blackboards in the biology seminar
room (Chamberlin 215). Division I students then have the opportunity
to view the schedule before it is sent to the Registrar. Students report
scheduling conflicts and faculty try to adjust the schedule to minimize
conflicts.
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The Biology department offers two minors in biology. The minor in Biology and Society focuses on the interaction of humans and biology. Course choices offered in the minor allow the student to focus on an issue of interest (e.g., environment or health). The minor requires four courses representing all three levels in the biology curriculum (100, 200, and 300), as well as two supporting courses (one in social sciences or humanities, and one with a statistical focus)
The minor in Integrative Biology focuses on the mechanisms by which organisms regulate life processes, grow and develop, reproduce, and behave. The minor requires five courses representing 100, 200, and 300 levels in the biology curriculum, as well as one supporting course in chemistry.
Choose the minor that most reflects your interests and/or that best complements your major. Checklists for both minors are included at the end of the handbook.
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Senior seminar (Biology 382) is the capstone experience for all biology and biochemistry majors. It is a capstone course for two main reasons: (1) it focuses on the professional activities of biologists and (2) because all senior biology and biochemistry majors participate, students are re-exposed to the broad spectrum of biological topics that were introduced in earlier courses.
Throughout the two-semester course, you will have the opportunity to hone your skills of communication, discussion, and critique of your own work and the work of others. You will select a biological topic to research and will learn to focus your research efforts. The topic may stem from a laboratory or field research project you have undertaken, or may deal with a topic that you have never studied. The research is your chance to pursue a particular biological interest in earnest and to challenge yourself. You will write up your findings in the form of a manuscript that will be reviewed by several peers and faculty members. Manuscrips accepted for publication will be compiled and printed in our own journal, The Beloit Biologist, which will be distributed to all participants before commencement exercises.
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Academic Advising
When you "declare your major" (by completing a yellow Field of Concentration card available from the Registrar), you may select a major advisor from the department's full-time staff in consultation with the department chair. There are several situations that might limit your choice. Ordinarily, first-year faculty do not serve as academic advisors, and we try to balance the number of advisees per faculty member. Faculty on leave must temporarily assign their advisees to someone else on the staff.
We encourage you to seek advice from all biology faculty. Your advisor will not feel slighted if you seek additional opinions; rather, s/he will respect and encourage the care you are taking in planning your program. Although your advisor will need to sign your registration card, you should discuss academic and personal problems with whomever you feel most comfortable. If you find yourself routinely seeking advice from someone other than your advisor, you might wish to consider requesting a change of advisor.
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Selecting Supporting Courses
No single set of supporting courses is recommended for all students. We urge you to review your educational goals and elect courses that satisfy interests and extend competence in subjects or skills in which you are weak. Virtually any additional science, mathematics, or computer science courses would be valuable, and are especially encouraged if you plan to attend graduate school in biology. Chemistry 220, 230, and 235; Mathematics 110 and 115; and Physics 101 and 202 will help in your preparation for graduate study in biological and medical fields. Additional courses (e.g., Chemistry 240, 245, and 300; Mathematics 175; Geology 100, 105, and 210, and Computer Science 111) may be appropriate for graduate work in biology. See the checklists at the end of the handbook for specific suggested science and mathematics courses for students who plan to attend graduate school.
There
are many other courses that might complement your biology major. Here
are a few that might not be immediately obvious to you. As in all fields,
you need to be able to communicate your findings; thus, we advise that
you elect one or more courses designed to improve communication skills
(such as Expository Writing, Writing across the Curriculum, and Public
Speaking). Because many aspects of biology are visual, a variety of
art classes such as Photography, Drawing, and Computer Art nicely complement
the discipline. Ability to speak and read a foreign language will aid
in communication with future international colleagues, and is required
by many graduate schools. If you plan a career in a people-oriented
field (e.g., medical and almost any other field!), consider taking some
social science courses that will broaden your understanding of individuals
and social institutions, or philosophy courses that address ethics or
the philosophy of science. Finally, we encourage you to learn how to
use computers to assist you in writing papers and in analyzing and presenting
data--the sooner the better. Keep alert for workshops or special courses
that teach these and other computer skills.
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Directed Readings in Biology and Independent Research in Biology
The Biology Department offers two means for students to explore topics that are not covered in regularly offered courses. Directed Readings in Biology (Biology 391) and Independent Research in Biology (Biology 392) are individualized, student-designed courses sponsored by a member of the faculty. Biology faculty will sponsor a directed reading or independent research if they feel competent and have the time to supervise your proposed project, and if they judge that you have the academic background to complete the project successfully. You can arrange for either 1/2 or 1 unit by filling out a contract (obtained from the Registrar) with a faculty sponsor and submitting copies to the Registrar's office.
Directed Readings in Biology (Biology 391). In many cases students benefit from directed reading in a particular area of interest. These areas are typically ones for which the Biology Department does not offer formal coursework, or ones in which students would like additional exposure beyond that available in existing courses. With the help of the faculty supervisor, students identify readings of interest from the relevant primary literature, critically analyze those readings, and then discuss them with the supervisor. This course may begin with textbook readings and discussion to introduce fundamental concepts and principles. Fundamental concepts and principles are explored in depth through review of articles and the primary literature. Students will be responsible for reading, presenting, and critiquing this literature during tutorial sessions with the faculty supervisor.
Independent
Research in Biology (Biology 392). A research experience can be an important
aspect of undergraduate learning for biology majors. To have its optimal
effect, that experience should involve independent work by the student
with supervision by a member of the Biology faculty, and should represent
original research at a level appropriate to the student's background,
interest, and ability. It should also include critical reading of the
relevant primary literature, and communication of results orally, visually,
and in writing. A research experience should begin with readings and
discussion to introduce the concepts, principles, and methods of the
research topic. Students then design and perform original research under
the supervision of a faculty member in the Biology Department. Finally,
the student communicates her/his results in a written research report
and/or at local, regional, or national meetings.
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Bachelor of Arts versus Bachelor of Science Degrees
The following paragraph regarding undergraduate degrees comes directly from the College catalog.
Students completing concentrations in
Cellular and Molecular (assuming they complete the Math 115 option)
or Mathematical Biology automatically satisfy the requirements for a
bachelor of science degree because at least two mathematics and two
Division I courses outside of the biology department are required; these
students simply choose which degree they would like to receive. Students
completing all other biology concentrations need to plan ahead if they
prefer the bachelor of science degree. Requirements for the bachelor
of science degree can be met by electing another mathematics (but not
computer science) course (104, 106, 110, 115, or higher).
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Graduating with Departmental Honors in Biology
The
goals of the honors program in biology are: (1) to encourage independent
research in biology; (2) to enhance the ability to communicate biological
ideas; and (3) to recognize significant academic achievement in biology.
To be considered for departmental honors, a student must submit written
notification of his or her intent to the department chair before or
during the first semester of the senior year. With the consent of the
chair and the approval of the supervising faculty member, an independent
integrative course (at least one unit) or an internship (for at least
one unit) in biological research must be satisfactorily completed. A
paper must be published in The Beloit Biologist or another agreed-upon
journal. An oral presentation of the research project must also be given.
In addition, a student must complete five full-unit courses in biology
at Beloit College and must achieve a strong B average in biology courses.
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Awards and Scholarships
Several individual donors have generously established endowed funds; income from some of these funds allow the department to grant several monetary or material awards, fellowships, and scholarships; other rewards are recognition rewards. Selection of recipients is made by the biology faculty. Criteria for selection vary as noted under each award. Recipients of awards, fellowships, and scholarships are announced at an informal departmental celebration (held at noon on the last day of classes) and at the College's annual Honors Day Convocation.
J.N. "Ding" Darling Award. Awarded annually to a sophomore or junior student with the greatest proficiency, communication skills, and promise in the field of conservation. The award honors J.N. "Ding" Darling, 1899 graduate, founder and first president of the National Wildlife Federation, designer of the first federal duck stamp, and pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist.
Donald
S. Dean Biology Education Award.
Awarded annually to students with demonstrated commitment to generating
innovative curricular materials and/or becoming a life science educator.
Walter S. Haven Research Award. Walter S. Haven (valedictorian
of the class of 1887 and trustee of the College) established this award
to encourage undergraduate research in the biological sciences. Biology
majors can apply for this award to help defray the costs of a research
project by submitting a proposal to the chair of the department.
Ann M. Verville Scholarship. Granted annually to the graduating
biology major chosen by the faculty as the outstanding scholar. Awarded
in memory of Ann M. Verville (1947-1971), biology major and 1970 graduate.
J. Carl Welty Award. Awarded annually to the graduating biology major who has contributed most significantly to the department. Awarded in honor of J. Carl Welty, professor emeritus of biology and faculty member from 1934-1967.
J.
Carl Welty Scholarship. Awarded annually to a junior of superior
scholarship who plans a professional career in ornithology or conservation.
Awarded in honor of J. Carl Welty, professor emeritus of biology and
faculty member from 1934-1967.
Susan Fulton Welty Award. Awarded annually to first year students
who show exceptional academic achievement and personal commitment to
studies of environmental affairs. Honors Susan Fulton Welty, long-time
friend of the department, noted writer, and wife of J. Carl Welty.
Keck
and LaVaughn Kunny Award. Awarded annually to a superior biology
student with interests in aquatic biology or histology. Established
in memory of Bartholmew "Keck" Kunny who taught biology at
Beloit College from 1948-1976.
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Research Facilities and Equipment
The Biology Department is housed on the second and (part of the) first floors of Chamberlin Hall. Six large laboratories (equipped with standard equipment) are designed for class use, and many smaller laboratories house specialized, state-of-the art equipment used primarily for advanced laboratory exercises, and student and faculty research. Support facilities include two computer laboratories (networked with Macintosh computers), an herbarium, a greenhouse with three temperature controlled areas and a growth chamber, an animal room, a microtechnique laboratory, a sound-analysis laboratory, a tissue preparation laboratory, a tissue culture clean room, and a bacteriology laboratory with walk-in cold room and freezer. In addition, field exercises and research projects are conducted at the 32.5 acre Newark Road Prairie and the 50-acre Chamberlin Springs Woods.
The biology student lounge serves as a meeting place for students to relax or pursue lively scientific (and not-so-scientific) discussions during breaks between classes or after hours. In addition, over three dozen majors have office space in the department, with priority given to those conducting individual research, serving as teaching assistants, or working for the department.
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Experiential Learning and Professional Exploration
The faculty of the Biology Department takes the College's emphasis on experiential learning very seriously and incorporates experiential learning in every course. Internships and field experiences serve to further experiential learning. Each year, internships at research facilities such as Argonne Laboratories, Roswell Park Biomedical Research Institute, and the University of Chicago, as well as others in the Beloit area, are available to Beloit biology majors. Opportunities also are available through the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM), which supports a Wilderness Station near the Canadian border in Minnesota, and a programs in Costa Rica, Tahiti, and Tanzania. These programs offer field courses that many biology majors find extremely rewarding. Beloit's term in Scotland and programs in Australia have been popular amongst science students in general, providing the opportunity to take science courses overseas. Currently, the Biology Depatment (in conjunction with the World Affairs Center) is exploring the possiblity of semester-long science (+/- social science) programs at Columbia University's Biosphere 2 in Arizona, at Boston University's Marine Program (BUMP) at Woods Hole, Mass., and the Semester in Environmental Science, also at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass.
Biology majors also are encouraged to conduct independent research, and such research is required for departmental honors. Many research projects are initiated each year under the direction of Beloit faculty. For example, research grants to faculty, the Howard Hughes grant, and departmental funds have helped support student research during the summer. Beloit biology majors also have conducted research at many other field or laboratory sites, such as Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Harvard University, Northwestern University, University of Wisconsin, Washington University, Sandoz (Switzerland), Lincoln Park Zoo, Wolf Park, the Boston University Marine Program (BUMP), and, through the ACM program, in Costa Rica.
We
encourage you to present your original research to a broad audience.
Students often present at the Beloit College Student Symposium (held
in April each year), at regional or national student symposia (e.g.,
the Eureka National Conference on Undergraduate Research or the PEW
Undergraduate Research Symposium), or at regional or national biological
meetings (e.g., the American Ornithologists' Union or the National Athletic
Trainers Association). The College and the department underwrite a portion
of the cost of many of these outside presentations.
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Teaching Assistants
A
position as a teaching assistant is an honor, available to only a few
students each year. If you are interested in being a teaching assistant,
express your interest to individual faculty. We select teaching assistants
on the basis of prior coursework in biology, schedule compatibility,
and potential as a teacher. Assistants elect Teaching Assistant (Biology
395) for 1/2 credit, Professional Experience (Biology 398) for no credit,
or, if on workstudy, payment for up to 10 hours per week.
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Graduate and Medical School Counseling
Within the last ten years, about 15% of our graduates have chosen to continue their education by attending medical, dental, or veterinary schools. Students interested in any of the health professions should see Marc Roy or Marion Fass to obtain a copy of the Health Professions Handbook that contains information about the application procedure, requirements for admission, and strategies for success. Students should begin planning courses and activities early in their academic careers.
Our department has an excellent record of placing students into graduate programs around the country. In the past 10 years, about 50% of our students have elected to continue in some graduate program, though some took a year or two after graduation to make that commitment. Most (about 80%) have continued studies in biology; others have pursued graduate work in anthropology, history and philosophy of science, geology, outdoor education, couseling, classics, or education. Recent graduates can be found at University of Wisconsin, Harvard, University of Washington, Vanderbilt University, Tulane University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Washington University, University of Arizona, University of Texas, University of Oregon, New Mexico State University, University of Minnesota, and University of Illinois.
If you are considering graduate school, you should discuss procedures and options with your advisor no later than the second semester of your junior year. This is necessary to allow time for receiving applications in the mail and registering for the required entrance exams. Most graduate programs in biology require applicants to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and some may require the Advanced Subject Test in Biology, which can be taken at the same time as the GRE (a grueling experience) or on a different date. Most students take these tests during the fall of their senior year. One of our alumni at a prestigious school has suggested that because many schools place a strong emphasis on GRE performance, students should make an effort to do well. Because performance on these types of exams improves with practice, he suggests that students take them in their junior year for practice, and then again in the fall of their senior year. Alternatively, take advantage of practice exams given on campus, practice programs on CD-Rom that are available in the campus bookstore, or courses that stress strategies and practice (e.g., "Kaplan" courses). Results from the general GRE are used by many universities for admission purposes as well as to determine level of funding.
Much
information about graduate programs is posted on the bulletin boards,
second floor Chamberlin. Current information about programs and departments
is now readily available on the World wide Web (WWW), and students are
strongly encouraged to browse the WWW to get the most recent information.
One site (http://www.phds.org/ratings)
allows you to create your own customized rankings of graduate schools
by assigning importance weights to over 20 different criteria. For example,
you can create a ranking system that combines educational effectiveness,
low time to degree, and high percentage of students with funding. The
rankings are based on 1994 data from the National Research Council.
The site also contains a library of useful information for prospective
graduate students at http://www.phds.org. The library contains guides
to finding support for school and on surviving grad school once you
get there. The site is run by students and faculty at Dartmouth College
and is supported by a grant from the Sloan Foundation.
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Letters of Recommendation
Many students have difficulty deciding whom to ask for letters of recommendation when they apply for graduate study, a job, or a special opportunity such as a resident hall assistant. Personal contact with several faculty members is essential for meaningful letters of recommendation. Doing a research project, completing a special project course, serving as a teaching assistant, being active and visible in the department, making a special effort on an individual project for a course, and participating in optional activities are all ways that faculty get to know you.
Because you may want a letter of recommendation from a faculty member who has not seen you in several years, it is helpful to keep a file of excellent work you have done at Beloit college. When you ask for a letter of recommendation, remind faculty of your strengths, tell the faculty member if you want any particular ability/quality stressed, and if you think it's necessary, offer copies of your past work. A well prepared, up-to-date resume will help. Two rules of thumb: (1) don't assume that faculty will remember your work in detail, and (2) don't be humble.
Faculty
do not honor all requests for letters of recommendation. A member of
the faculty may feel that he or she does not know you well enough or
cannot recommend you for a particular job. If you ask for the letter
a day or two before it is due, the faculty member may not have time
to write a meaningful letter. Most faculty will not write a letter unless
you waive your right to view the letter; such a waiver protects not
only the faculty member, but also other majors and alumni who may be
mentioned in the letter for comparison purposes. Please ask each faculty
member whether he or she is willing to write a letter, and ask well
before the due date (a month is customary). Include an addressed, stamped
envelope for the faculty person to use in mailing your recommendation.
Remember to tell faculty about the position or award you are seeking
because different strengths may need to be emphasized for different
applications. Finally, it's common courtesy to inform the recommender
about the outcome--did you get the position/award or not?
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Jobs and Career Information
Because our program is broad based, provides a firm foundation in the biological sciences, promotes a hands-on approach, and emphasizes communication, our graduates are well prepared for entry-level positions in biology as well as in non biology-related employment. Our alumni have pursued a variety of interests, including careers in teaching, pharmacology, oceanography, fruit farming, ecology, immunology, scientific sales, health care administration, wildlife biology, and medical fields. Many choose to enter the Peace Corps for a number of years prior to pursuing a career or graduate study. The biology faculty will be glad to discuss career opportunities with you and suggest research or field terms that might help you decide on a career. Many career or short-term positions are posted outside of 207 Chamberlin; others are posted in the Geology area (outside of 111 Chamberlin) or in the Chemistry seminar room (403 Chamberlin), or are sent to you via e-mail (get an e-mail account now!). Finally, try the World Wide Web. For example, the National Academy of Science (http://www.nas.edu/) has an online publication entitled Careers in Science and Engineering: a student planning guide to graduate school and beyond, and provides career advice via For beginning scientists and engineers: an online career planning center; a Biology Careers Page can be found at http://www.furman.edu/~snyder/careers/careers.html.
You are encouraged to visit the Office of Field and Career Services (711 Emerson St.) for information on vocational interest testing, job listings, résumé preparation, and interviewing skills.
THANKS FOR READING THIS HANDBOOK
AND
WELCOME TO THE BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT!
Contact Biology@Beloit.edu
Last updated 2/26/03