Plan on Entering a Non-Health Career?
Class Schedule & Course Planning for the Traditional (Non-healthcare) Biology Major
For non-healthcare career advisement please meet with Dr. Kusher (4626)
ALWAYS MEET WITH DR. SHIFLET OR ANOTHER BIOLOGY FACULTY MEMBER FOR ADVICE BEFORE REGISTERING FOR COURSES.
Use advising as an opportunity to discuss your career goals and objectives. Your assigned freshman faculty advisor may not be a member of the biology department. You must seek advice and get our informed opinions.
FRESHMAN YEAR:
Fall: Bio 111 (Zoology), Spring: Bio 113 (Botany)
Begin Investigating Career Options in Biology early in your college career. Refer to http://webs.wofford.edu/davisgr (select Student Advising, Applying to graduate school, for a valuable powerpoint presentation). Also, for potential biological career ideas visit the Department of Biology home page.
SOPHOMORE YEAR:
Fall: Bio 212 (Genetics and Development), Spring: Bio 214 (Cell & Molecular)
Chem 123, 124 (General Chemistry; or you can take them the summer after freshman year)
Interim: Consider proposing an Independent Interim in which you intern in one or more of the career areas that interest you.
OPTIONAL: SUMMER SCHOOL AFTER SOPHOMORE YEAR:
2 sessions of physics, or 2 sessions of organic chemistry (depending on requirements of specific graduate school programs). To take advantage of this you must have some idea of what your career interests are and ideas about specific graduate programs that meet your interests. Our reference librarians have excellent graduate school program information both online (e.g., www.petersons.com) and in reference books.
JUNIOR YEAR:
Biology Electives to fulfill departmental requirements (others are available)
Introduction to Research: Bio 250 Immunology: Bio 423
Microbiology: Bio 324 Advanced Topics in Cell Biology: Bio 433
Physiology: Bio 342 Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology: Bio 436
Critical Analysis of Scientific Literature: Bio 351 Comparative Anatomy: Bio 440
Field Botany: Bio 370 Neurobiology: Bio 445 or 446
Mammology: Bio 374 Research: Bio 450
Ecology: Bio 382 Ecotoxicology: Bio 487
Marine Biology: Bio 385 Case Studies: Bio 493, 495, 497
Freshwater Biology: Bio 386
Evolution: Bio 399
In addition, physics and chemistry you have not yet taken, depending on the requirements of specific graduate school programs)
2 physics, 2 organic chemistry
Fall: Begin planning for a summer research experience. Applications are usually due late Fall. Use internet resources to identify potential opportunities (ask Biology faculty for help) http://www.ibb.gatech.edu/career/internships_summer.html
Summer: Research experience that may or may not remain your career interest.
GRE, (Graduate Record Exam is the SAT equivalent for Graduate School Admission) consider taking Kaplan review for GRE (www.kaplan.com), apply for exam: www.gre.com and take exam during the Fall Semester Senior Year. Take the exam early enough to meet application deadlines of prospective graduate programs.
Obtain graduate school information (www.petersons.com) and applications from the prospective school’s web site (talk to biology faculty for ideas, hints on the application process, and help with introductory letters to potential major professors, etc.).
SENIOR YEAR:Additional course work as appropriate.
Apply to Graduate School or other Professional Programs. Obtain Letters of Recommendation from Biology Faculty and Research Supervisors.
The earlier you apply the better. Application deadline in general is January-February; may vary with program.
Plan to visit prospective graduate schools for interviews and tours.
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While at Wofford you also need:
All general education required courses. Math: one semester of statistics and check specific graduate program requirements. Many programs may require one semester of calculus. 6 upper level biology electives of your choice. Two may be 3 credit courses; 4 must be lab courses. Check with specific graduate programs to see what courses are recommended.
Make sure to meet often with the biology faculty to discuss Traditional Biology careers.
Advising: Your faculty advisor during freshman and sophomore years probably will not be a member of the biology department. After the freshman year, or as soon as you declare the biology major, you should always meet with a biology faculty member before registering for courses. Again, use advising as an opportunity to discuss your career goals and objectives. Historically, most non-premed biology majors eventually complete post-graduate study, but very few begin their post-graduate studies the same year they graduate. We are ready to assist you with graduate school applications during your senior year and beyond if you choose. While you are at Wofford we need your help to get and keep you on track!
Biology Faculty and Areas of Interest & Advising duties
George Shiflet Department Chairman, Cell biology, Computer modeling
Douglas Rayner Botany, Ecology, Field Studies
Robert Moss Genetics, Molecular Biology, Cancer, Pre-healthcare
GR Davis Physiology, Neuroscience
Ellen Goldey Anatomy, Toxicology, Ecology, Pre-nursing, Pre-veterinary medicine
David Kusher Ecotoxicology, Marine Biology, Freshwater Biology, Immunology
Stacey Hettes Neurobiology, Behavioral Neurosciences