Biochemistry and Molecular Biology WELCOME BMB MAJORS! Fourth Year Advising Meeting: Preparation for Spring 2018 Course Registration

Today’s Meeting Agenda -BMB major advising system -Course registration and lifting holds -Required academic courses -Where to go for help

Who is my advisor? Valerie Miller BMB Academic Advisor: Email: bmbadvising@biochem.umass.edu Office: LGRT 914

BMB Chief Undergrad Advisor Dr. Amy Springer ChiefAdvisor@biochem BMB Chief Undergrad Advisor Dr. Amy Springer ChiefAdvisor@biochem.umass.edu She is a great resource for: approval of transfer courses and advanced electives, scholarships, internships, graduate school, independent study, study abroad, or when you need support for any other reason. BMB Honors Program Director Dr. Bryan Monesson-Olson bolson@umass.edu He is great resource for navigating CHC requirements for honors theses and honors courses.

BMB Faculty Advisors Dr. Sergey Savinov Dr. David Gross Dr. Li-Jun Ma They are a resource for you for the next four years and beyond. You will be assigned a secondary advisor as a sophomore. You can discuss internships, research opportunities, your interests outside of BMB, and advice about career options. Soon, you will be able to sign up online for appointments with your advisor—watch for emails about this. Dr. Sergey Savinov Dr. David Gross Dr. Li-Jun Ma Dr. Elizabeth Vierling Dr. James Staros Dr. Ludmila Tyler Dr. Becky Miller

Registration and Lifting Holds You will have an assigned Registration Appointment time. The date and time for this appointment is indicated on your Student Center page in SPIRE. You will not be able to register at this time unless your Registration Hold has been lifted. There are four ways to have your Registration Hold lifted: -Attend a group advising session* -Meet with a Peer Mentor during office hours -Meet with BMB Academic Advisor Valerie Miller, or -Electronic clearance; this option is available only after all scheduled group advising sessions have met.

Departmental Consent Many of your upper level BMB classes are enrolled by “Departmental consent” This is indicated in SPIRE when it says "Department Consent Required" Courses include:  Biochem 424, 426, 430H, Independent study You *CANNOT* enroll in these classes yourself, but need to go through the Department. 1. Some required major classes (Biochem426, 430H):  When you are eligible for these, you will receive an email with detailed instructions Note:   You will not get the classes you need unless you follow the instructions *exactly*

Departmental Consent 2. Independent  Study:  Using an electronic Google form, found here: http://www.umass.edu/biochem/undergraduate/lab-research     ALL the way at the bottom of the page  Need to fill this out in consultation with your research supervisor

We are expecting that you will have finished the following courses: *Biochemistry 423  *Integrative Experience (Biochem 394RI, NatSci 494I, iCons option, or IE in your primary major) *Genetics *If you have not already taken these, they are offered spring only *Biochem 424 *Biochem 471 (Physical Chemistry)

Other 4th Year Courses *Biochemistry 426 (requires 423 and 276) *Biochemistry 430H (requires 423)

Advanced Electives *8 credits are required. *Can be coursework, research, or a combination *Most, but not all, math and science courses at the 300-level or above count. *Independent studies (but not practica) at the 300-level or above count. *The BMB webpage has a list of options in the undergraduate resources section (Dr. Springer can approve new courses) *If you have a 2nd major or minor, check with your other department about “double-dipping”.

General Considerations *Honors students, please check with the Commonwealth Honors College for additional requirements and deadlines. *Keep up with your GenEd requirements. *You must have 12 graded credits / semester to be a full-time student. *In total, 120 credits are required for graduation. *Major and minor requirements are set by the corresponding department. Make sure you check your ARR so it is up to date and accurate!!!!!

If you have general questions about how to navigate Spire, Where To Go For Help If you have general questions about how to navigate Spire, University rules and regulations, finding Gen Eds, info about courses, BMB major requirements: Try the Peer Mentors in LGRT 915!! (schedule on the BMB website and our door) There is of information at the BMB website (Undergraduate page) -http://www.umass.edu/biochem/undergraduate -Information about Advising, BMB Courses, Doing Research *Keep checking your ARR to make sure you are on track (this may not show if you have met the minimum grade for the BMB major, so always double check the department requirements)

Where To Go For Help Advisors -Valerie Miller, BMB Primary academic advisor about registration, courses, forms etc., 914 LGRT bmbadvising@biochem.umass.edu -Check in with your BMB Faculty Advisor even if you don’t need help—they are part of your professional network (letters of recommendation, career advice…) -Chief Undergraduate Advisor about change of major (in or out), transfer credit issues, study abroad, advanced electives, etc. email: ChiefAdvisor@biochem.umass.edu

Questions?