So, you think you’re graduating with a major in Biology... Advising for Seniors and Juniors Spring 2014

More info about the graduation process: Graduation Applications must now be submitted online. According to the Registrar, students must apply for graduation online through their Banner Self Service accounts. See also: Spring 2014 Graduation application deadline: - the deadline was 12/31/13 ! Spring 2014 Commencement (Graduation Ceremony) - the deadline is 3/15/14 Summer 2014 Graduation application deadline: - the deadline is 3/31/14 Did you miss a deadline? Contact the Registrar NOW!

Did You Know? Much (not all) of the requirements for graduation are summarized in the program guides for the biology major. See the following two slides: Program guide for freshman or transfer students who have NOT completed Biology I and II Program guide for transfer students who have completed Biology I and II Guides are available in the Department’s Web Page (see the Menu “Academic Programs”)

First of all: Will you have enough total credits? You can’t graduate AT ALL from Rowan without earning 120 credits and a GPA = 2.0. Earned = Passed Can you get to 120 credits in your remaining semesters? (Note: > 18 credit hours in a semester requires approval from the Department Chair and Dean of the College.) Yes? Great! No? Well, what next? Summer classes? More semesters?

Do you have your General Education requirements? 42 credits total of non-Biology courses Specific requirements: Here are some that don’t get fulfilled by the major requirements Communication: Comp I, Comp II HHL: 6 credits (Can’t count two classes in same field.) Philosophy of Science or Philosophy of Medicine count as HHL SBS: 6 credits (Can’t count two classes in same field.) Non-program courses: 16 credits Things that could fit in here include Public Speaking, courses for a minor or other major, a course in Artistic and Creative Expression (ACE) or a course in literature (LIT)

Have you finished your Rowan Experience requirements? Rowan Seminar: should have fulfilled this in freshman year, probably with Biology 1 (requirement doesn‘t apply to transfers) Public Speaking An Art/Creative Experience course (ART) A Literature course (LIT) A Multicultural/Global course (M/G) You get this by taking Philosophy of Science (Philosophy of Medicine is NOT M/G) A Writing Intensive course (WI): You get this by taking Philosophy of Science or Special Topics in Biology. WI must be completed at Rowan (it can not be a transfer course).

Have you finished your core courses for the major? Bio 1 to 4 (or for most transfers, Bio 3T and Bio 4) Chemistry I and II Organic Chemistry I and II Physics I and II Calculus I Biometry (Statistics I is NOT an equivalent course)

Have you finished your electives for the major? You need 22 credits of biology electives: Any upper-level Biology course (i.e., Bio 4 is a prereq.) Also includes Biochemistry I (Chemistry course) and Medicinal Chemistry (Chemistry course) Also includes Human Anatomy I and II (see below) Special requirements At least 4 lab courses (at least three must be 300- or 400-level; you can take both Human A&P I and II, but only ONE will count as a lab elective) Must include Special Topics OR Biology Lab/Field Research No more than 7 biology elective credits can be transferred (Biology I and II, if transferred, are not electives)

Fulfilling the requirements doesn’t just mean passing the courses! You need at least a C in ANY Biology course for it to count toward the major Got a C- or less in Bio 1, 2, 3, 3T or 4? Take the course again and get a C or better Got a C- or less in an elective? Take the course again or take a different elective and get a C or better

You need to AVERAGE a C in the following courses Chemistry I and II Organic I and II Physics I and II Calculus I Biometry So, you CAN get a D in one, but you’ll need to get better than a C in one or more of the others You still have to PASS ALL OF THEM Fulfilling the requirements doesn’t just mean passing the courses!

So, now you should know how many … - Classes that you still need to take. - Classes that you need to retake. Can you take all of these in your remaining semesters? Yes? Great! Remember to apply for graduation by the deadline! No? Well, what next? Summer classes? (Note: if you can graduate by August, you can walk in May commencement.) More semesters beyond four years?

Seniors (90 or more credits including your current courses) Ideally, you should already have taken (or currently are taking): Biology 1, 2, and 3 and 4 Or, if a transfer, Biology I, II, 3T and 4 Chemistry I and II Organic Chemistry I and II College Composition I and II Calculus I and Biometry Physics I and Physics II (Note that Physics I could be Physics I for Life Sciences Majors or Introduction to Mechanics) Public Speaking General Education and Rowan Experience courses in addition to the above One or more Biology Electives Philosophy of Science (WI and M/G) or Philosophy of Medicine (WI) If not, your Fall semester should include Any courses in red missing from the list to the left! Make these your top priority in registration! Courses in yellow in the list to the left: 1. Philosophy of Science (WI) or Philosophy of Medicine II. One or more Biology Electives (most of these have a prerequisite of Biology 4; Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II are exceptions) If you still need a course or two after scheduling from the three options above, consider an SBS or HHL General Education course or a Rowan Experience Course (ACE or LIT).

Juniors (58 or more credits including your current courses) Ideally, you should already have taken (or currently are taking): Biology 1, 2, and 3 and 4 Or, if a transfer, Biology I, II, 3T and 4 Chemistry I and II Organic Chemistry I and II College Composition I and II Calculus I and Biometry Physics I and Physics II (Note that Physics I could be Physics I for Life Sciences Majors or Introduction to Mechanics) Public Speaking You probably should have a General Education course or two in addition to the above So… your Fall semester should include Any courses in red missing from the list to the left! Make these your top priority in registration! Philosophy of Science (WI and M/G) or Philosophy of Medicine (WI) One or more Biology Electives (most of these have a prerequisite of Biology 4; Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II are exceptions) If you still need a course or two after scheduling from the three options above, consider an SBS or HHL General Education course or a Rowan Experience Course (ACE or LIT).

When will the Summer and Fall course schedule be ready? The Summer 2014 schedule posted in “Section Tally” is more-or-less correct. The Registrar expects to have the Fall 2014 schedule posted on or about March 15 th. Section Tally provides the most up-to-date listing of planned courses, but the course schedule appearing in Section Tally before March 15 th is not the correct Fall schedule. In other words: don’t try to plan a schedule of courses until or after March 15 th. For more information:

I’ve attended a group advising session, and I still have questions. How can I get advising help from a person? You can drop in on any other scheduled group advising session. Group advising sessions are in the first two-three weeks of March. Look for an from the department containing the schedule. If you are a Junior or Senior (58 or more credits), you can contact your assigned faculty advisor. Your faculty advisor’s name should appears in your GRAD report, in Banner self service ( If an advisor’s name does not appear in your GRAD report, contact Tricia Joslin, the Department Administrative Assistant: 130 Science Hall or See the next slide for other advising opportunities

Thinking about the future…. Health professions career interests? Meet with the Health Professions Advisor: Mr. Varela (ROB 203; Graduate school aspirations? Meet with the Bio Dept.’s Graduate School Advisors: Cell & Molecular fields: Drs. Iftode & Krufka Environmental & Ecology fields: Dr. Crumrine Interests in other biological careers? Talk to faculty in a related field BioJobs list: (include your name in the body of the )

Carefully read the Spring edition of the Bulletin for Rowan Biology Majors An including the Bulletin will be sent on or about March 15 th to your Rowan address Use the Bulletin as a guide for Spring course registration, as well as other important announcements. Your questions may already be answered there!

Interested in Independent Research? Biology Lab/Field Research course for Spring 2014 Students MUST prearrange a faculty research mentor Students MUST complete the sign-up sheet at Tricia Joslin's desk (130 Science Hall) You’re not required to take Special Topics if you take this course.