Frequently
Asked Questions (pdf)
As you prepare to begin your college education, you are sure to be filled
with questions regarding how to prepare for college and to confront
the many decisions that you will have to make during the upcoming years.
While we cannot anticipate all of your questions, those listed below
are commonly asked by students and their parents. For more information,
feel free to contact us.
Q. How strong is Michigan Tech’s
biology program?
A. The biological sciences department is one of the largest non-engineering
departments on campus. Since we were established as a department in
1963, we have graduated over 2,600 students. Our pre-med program has
educated over 500 students who have entered the medical field as physicians,
dentists, and other health professionals. We enroll over 250 undergraduates
and 30 graduate students studying for their MS or PhD degrees. We have
a vigorous, thriving department.
Q. What courses should I be taking in
high school?
A. To be prepared for course work at MTU, we encourage you to take a
full year each of biology, chemistry, and physics in addition to beginning
algebra, intermediate algebra, geometry, and three years of English.
Q. What steps do I take to enroll?
A. 1. We recommend that you take either the ACT or SAT during your junior
or senior year of high school, and have your results sent to Michigan
Tech.
2. You can apply anytime after June 1 of your junior year of high school
and by March 1 of your senior year.
3. Plan to attend Freshman Orientation during the week before the start
of classes. You will meet with your advisor, and he/she will assist
you with the transition to Michigan Tech. You can also fine-tune your
class schedule at this time.
Q. What about housing?
A. Once you’ve been accepted, the Residential Services Office
will send you a housing contract, which you should return as soon as
you can—and no later than May 1 of your senior year.
Q. What about financial aid?
A. To apply for financial aid, file your Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1, but before
February 15 of your senior year, naming Michigan Tech as a recipient
of this analysis.
Q. What courses will I take my first year?
A. A typical first-year student in biological sciences, bioinformatics,
or clinical laboratory science will take biology, chemistry, math, a
writing course called Perspectives on Inquiry, and possibly an elective
(depending on your course load). First-year clinical lab majors will
replace one term of biology with a clinical lab science course. An orientation
course (in biological sciences, pre-health, or clinical lab science)
is required during fall semester.
Q. How will I know what my first semester’s schedule will be?
A. Once you have been accepted to Michigan Tech’s biology program,
you will have an opportunity to register on-line for your fall semester
classes as you are completing your high school education. Instructions
for registration will be sent to you. A faculty advisor will help you
choose your courses and plan your schedule.
If you decide not to register on-line, the Office of Student
Records and Registration will set up your fall semester class schedule
based on your major and declared interest.
Your first semester placement into chemistry and math classes
is based on your ACT or SAT score. Michigan Tech offers a Math Diagnostic
Test during Freshman Orientation for students with no scores or for
those who wish to test into higher levels. You choose your electives
during orientation with the help of faculty advisors.
Q. What are the required "core courses"?
A. If you are majoring in biological sciences or clinical lab science,
you must take certain courses—biology, chemistry, math and physics—regardless
of your concentration. If you are majoring in bioinformatics, you must
take biology, chemistry, math, and computer science courses. These courses
are listed in the Undergraduate Catalog and can be seen on the Web at:
<http://www.bio.mtu.edu/degree/undergrad/degree_options/index.htm>.
Q. How large will my classes be and who will teach them?
A. Introductory lecture classes in biology will have from 80 to 140
students. Upper-division elective courses may have no more than a dozen
students. Laboratory courses typically have 10–20 students.
All courses are taught by faculty. Some of the laboratories
are instructed by graduate students with faculty supervision. Well-qualified
undergraduate students volunteer their time to assist the instruction
in many of our laboratories.
Q. Who will be my advisor?
A. Once you have been accepted into the department, you are assigned
a faculty advisor. We encourage you to contact your advisor with any
questions you may have even before you arrive on campus. Your advisor
can be particularly helpful in planning your first semester schedule
before you complete your on-line registration. You will meet with your
advisor during freshman orientation week, when he or she can help you
fine-tune your schedule. All faculty are available as advisors and you
may change advisors at any time.
Q.
What if I need extra help in biology, chemistry, math, physics, and/or
English?
A. If you need extra help, self-help computer labs and tutors are available
in the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Math, Physics,
and Humanities. These departments all maintain learning centers to help
you. You can either walk in for help with a specific problem or set
up appointments for more extensive assistance.
Q. What are the different biology and clinical lab sciences concentrations?
A. There are a number of concentrations or options in both the biological
sciences and clinical laboratory sciences degrees. The bioinformatics
degree does not yet have formal concentrations. For details, please
go to our Website: <http://www.bio.mtu.edu/degree/undergrad/
degree_options/index.htm>.
Note that the degree concentrations are intended as advising
tools and are not intended to lock you in or out of any particular profession.
Students in the ecology concentration have gone to medical school and
students in the pre-health professions have gone into environmental
careers.
Q. What if I don’t know what area of biology to go into?
A. Enroll in the general biology concentration. The courses in this
concentration, along with your biological sciences orientation course,
will help you find an area you’ll enjoy. You may stay with general
biology or transfer to another concentration. It’s not unusual
to change concentrations or even majors several times before graduation.
Q. What if I don’t know now what I’ll want to do after graduation?
A. Most first-year students don’t know what they’ll want
to do after college graduation. As your college career progresses, keep
talking with your advisor, who is not only an academic advisor, but
also a career counselor. It’s also helpful to talk to a professional
in your field of interest. If possible, spend the day following that
person around on the job (called job shadowing). Pick his or her brain;
find out the most rewarding part of the job, as well as the downside.
How did he or she get where he or she is now? What college courses were
the most helpful?
Q. What if I want to change majors?
A. Many college students change their major during their college careers.
Changing majors and transferring between departments are not unusual.
Your advisor can help you link up with an advisor in your new major,
as well as tell you what paperwork needs to be completed to make the
change official.
Q. What can I do with a bachelor of science degree in biological sciences
or clinical laboratory science, plus a secondary education teaching
certificate?
A. With biological sciences or clinical lab science serving as your
major, depending on what minor you choose, you could teach high school
biology, chemistry, computer science, general science, earth science,
physical science, physics, or math. (See the Teacher Education and Development
section of the Undergraduate Catalog).
Q. What about the volunteer work required for admission to medical school,
veterinary school, and physical therapy programs?
A. We have excellent arrangements with our local hospital, veterinary
clinic, physical therapy clinic, and other facilities in which our students
are able to obtain such exposure during the academic year. Many pre-health
professional students continue their volunteer work in clinical facilities
at home during breaks and over the summer.
Q. Are there jobs for people with a bachelor of science degree in biological
sciences, bioinformatics, or clinical laboratory science?
A. Our goal is to prepare you for the profession of your choice. There
are exciting careers waiting for you in many areas of the biological
sciences. Please see our pamphlet, Careers in Biological Sciences, for
more information.
Q. What about graduate school?
A. Your baccalaureate degree will qualify you for many entry-level positions.
However, continuing your education beyond the BS degree offers the best
chance for advancement and growth. The Department of Biological Sciences
offers both the master of science (MS) and doctor of philosophy (PhD)
degrees, and some of our graduates remain here for their graduate work.
We also place our graduates into nationally ranked graduate programs
at major research schools. Our graduates have entered graduate programs
at such institutions as Johns Hopkins University, Purdue University,
Cornell University, The University of California at Berkeley, the University
of Michigan, Michigan State University, the University of Notre Dame,
the University of Iowa, and others.areer.
Q.
Does Michigan Tech offer sufficient course work in biology to allow
me to enter a professional biology career?
A. The Department of Biological Sciences offers a wide variety of course
work to prepare you for your
future career. Related departments add to the variety of course offerings.
A list of available biology and related courses follows:
