FAQ's for Biological Sciences

1. How do I declare a major?
2. Can I change my concentration?
3. How do I obtain an adviser?
4. How do I get approval for courses taken outside of Northwestern particularly during the summer?
5. How do I get credit for a class I have already taken?
6. How do I get approval for biology units for out-of-program research?
7. How do I find a research position on campus?
8. Where are good places to look for research opportunities off campus?
9. Where can I learn more about study abroad programs?
10. How can I graduate with honors?
11. Does Biological Sciences offer pre-registration?
12. How do I obtain permission numbers?
13. If I am scheduled for two classes during the same time period, how can I resolve this problem?
    
    

How do I declare a major?
If you would like to declare a major in biological sciences, please come to the office for the Program in Biological Sciences (Hogan Hall 2-144). We will have you complete a WCAS Declaration of Major form with your campus contact information and the concentration area you are selecting. Once you have completed the form and it has been signed by PBS staff you will then take it to the WCAS Office of Studies, located at 1922 Sheridan Road. The PBS office will shortly thereafter assign you a Program Adviser and notify you via email.

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU FAIL TO FILE THE ORIGINAL SIGNED FORM IN THE OFFICE OF STUDIES, YOUR OFFICIAL RECORDS WILL NOT BE UPDATED IN WCAS.

When you declare your major, you will automatically be signed up for the BioSci list serve.

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Can I change my concentration?
When you declare your major in biological sciences you are asked to choose an area of concentration. If for any reason you decide during the course of study to change that area of concentration you will be able to change concentrations and keep the same biological sciences adviser.

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How do I obtain an adviser?
Freshmen students are assigned a freshman adviser when they enroll in the freshman seminars. This person remains their adviser throughout their freshman year. In the sophomore year, Weinberg students are assigned a College Adviser who advises the student throughout their sophomore, junior, and senior years in regards to everything except their majors.

When a Weinberg student declares their major in Biological Sciences, we ask each student to select an area of concentration based on your interests in biology. With that information we assign a biological sciences faculty member to advise you regarding course selection, degree requirements, and other important information relevant to your studies in biological sciences. We will send you an email message with your biological sciences adviser contact information and at that point you are free to contact your adviser to arrange an appointment.

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How do I get approval for courses taken outside of Northwestern particularly during the summer?
If you choose to study at another university during your time at Northwestern, you will need to:

A. Read the handout entitled "Policy on Study Away from Northwestern By Matriculated Weinberg College Students."

B. Fill out part I of the form (available only in the Weinberg Office of Studies located at 1922 Sheridan Road).

C. Obtain preliminary approval from Weinberg College Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising in Part II.

D. Make an appointment with PBS Associate Director Dr. Galbreath, take him the form and the detailed course material, and fill out Part III of the form with him.

E. Return the completed form to Weinberg College of Undergraduate Studies and Advising (1922 Sheridan Road).

F. Use one form for each course taken away from Northwestern.

NOTE: For a course to be used in the major program, it must be pre-approved by that department. Credit for the course cannot be used to fulfill distribution requirements or the foreign language requirement. A transfer student may NOT accelerate graduation by taking courses at other colleges and universities subsequent to matriculation at Northwestern. Any non-Northwestern credit earned by a transfer student subsequent to NU matriculation will not count toward the required minimum of 45 units for the degree.

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How do I get credit for a class I have already taken?
Students will need to obtain an appropriate form from the college (at 1922 Sheridan in the WCAS Office of Studies) and bring it to the PBS office for consideration. A detailed description of the course (a syllabus is best, but at least a catalog description) is usually needed, unless we are already familiar with the course.

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How do I get approval for biology units for out-of-program research?
Students who meet requirements can register for BIOL SCI 398-0 or 399-0 credit under any Northwestern faculty, whether in Biological Sciences or other departments. If the research is not at Northwestern, then an NU faculty member must stand in for the off-campus research supervisor, and must interact sufficiently with that person so that a grade can be given.

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How do I find a research position on campus?
When research positions become available on campus, the departments will most often email our department with the job information. This information is then posted on the list serve.

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Where are good places to look for research opportunities off campus?
A few links are provided below for research institutions and companies that have in the past offered opportunities for research for Northwestern students in biological sciences. This is not a complete list. However, it will get you started in your thought process on who to contact.

• Abbott Laboratories Internships
• Field Museum
• Lincoln Park Zoo
• Green Corps

In addition, when a job posting is received we will send out a notice on the BioSci list serve.

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Where can I learn more about study abroad programs?
Northwestern's Office of Fellowships. There is also a resource that is available to students in the Office of Fellowships that describes in considerable detail the opportunities available for both domestic and international studies.

Northwestern University Science and Engineering Programs in France, Switzerland, India (Contact the Office of International Program Development, Harris Hall, Room 18, 1881 Sheridan Road (email: international@northwestern.edu)

Denmark's International Study Program
Fall, Spring, Full-Year and Summer Programs in Molecular Biology & Genetics, Marine Biology and Ecology

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How can I graduate with honors?
Research (Biol Sci 399) by undergraduates in Biological Sciences forms the basis of the PBS Honors Program. In fall quarter of the senior year, a student must indicate the intention to submit an Senior Thesis by providing a thesis title and personal information to the PBS Honors Coordinator, Professor Gary Galbreath. See the Honors Program description for details.

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Does Biological Sciences offer pre-registration?
Pre-registration is offered to biological sciences majors in the week prior to registration beginning for all students (for example: registration for winter quarter 2012 will begin the week of November 14 which means that biology majors can preregister starting the week of November 7). Students must have declared their major in biological sciences and have the major declaration processed by the WCAS Office of Studies at least 3-4 weeks before the beginning of pre-registration before they will be allowed to preregister. Please contact the PBS office if you are having difficulties with your preregistration.

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How do I obtain permission numbers?
If you need to obtain a permission number for a class that has exceeded its capacity, you will need to contact the Program in Biological Sciences office in Hogan 2-144.

Biol Sci 398 and 399 permission numbers are issued only by the Associate Director, Dr. Gary J. Galbreath, of the program.

If a student wants to register for Biol Sci 399 during the summer months, they will need to pay course tuition if they wish to receive summer course credit.

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What rules govern Biol Sci 398 and 399 registration?

We are delighted that you are interested in either Tutorial in Biology (BIOL SCI 398-0) or Independent Research (BIOL SCI 399)!

Biological Sciences 398 involves laboratory training and experience, and/or assigned reading, under the supervision of one of our faculty. Biological Sciences 399 involves an independent research project of the student, conducted under the supervision of a faculty member.

Before a registration permission number is sent to you, we ask that you provide certain information, via email, to our Associate Director, at (gjg853@northwestern.edu). He will respond. Please send him the following information:

• The name and email address of the Northwestern faculty member under whose supervision you would be working, and under whose name you would register.
• If you are asking about laboratory or other work as a learning experience (including learning any techniques preparatory to eventually doing individual research), please give a short description (following discussion with your Supervising Professor) of what you would be doing under a 398 registration.
• If you are asking about a 399 registration, please provide a one-paragraph description of your independent research project (following discussion with your Supervising Professor). Your project will normally fit into the larger scenario of work going on in the lab, but your project should have its own aspect. So, in this description, please be sure to delineate your work from that being done by your most immediate mentor (whether Professor, postdoc, or graduate student) in the lab. Your work should be such that you could eventually write it up in a formal manner. Such work often (though it need not) leads to a Senior Thesis.
• In addition, if you are continuing 398 or 399 registration from a previous quarter, please indicate how the work is progressing.
• Note: As indicated on our web page, there should be no remuneration involved when taking credit-bearing BIOL SCI 398 or 399.

If I am scheduled for two classes during the same time period, how can I resolve this problem?
Visit the Registrar's Office website to download a Registration Time Conflict Permission Form. The instructor for each class must sign the permission form, and the form must then be taken to the Registrar's Office. This form is also available in the Program in Biological Sciences office.

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