pew consortium the bio-medical studies program at st. olaf college director of bio-medical studies,...

Pew Consortium

The Bio-Medical Studies Program at St. Olaf College

Director of Bio-Medical Studies, Professor of Biology: Ted Johnson

Associate Director for Internships, Center for Experiential Learning: Eileen Shimota

St. Olaf College

St. Olaf, a four-year college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, provides an education committed to the liberal arts, rooted in the Christian gospel, and incorporating a global perspective. In the conviction that life is more than a livelihood, it focuses on what is ultimately worthwhile and fosters the development of the whole person in mind, body, and spirit.

Center for Experiential Learning

The mission of the CEL is to create and facilitate experiential learning that complements the St. Olaf curriculum to enrich students’ academic programs and to guide students in the process for pursuing vocational goals.

Four Programs housed in the Center: *Career Connections *Internships *Entrepreneurial Studies

*Service Learning & Civic Leadership

The Biomedical Studies Concentration is intended as a plan of study that will enhance students' preparation for careers including traditional areas of health care such as dentistry, human medicine, and veterinary medicine but also therapies (physical, occupational, speech, music, dance), and work in hospital administration, hospital ministry, and biomedical ethics. Students can develop their own biomedical studies concentrations by designing and implementing a plan of study suited to their career goals.

Bio-Medical Studies

Bio-Medical Studies

The Bio-Medical Studies Concentration is

intended to be open to all students in any major allowing them to explore career opportunities and assist them with the vocational discernment process.

General Requirements for the Concentration

Exploration of the healthcare arena

Academic courses assisting in development of healthcare related interests

Experiential learning activitiesPersonal statement and/or resume, interviewing skills

Specific Requirements

Career Exploration Activities through CEL WorkshopsInformational Interviews with Professionals in the FieldInformation on the Application ProcessCore and Elective Coursework RequirementsCapstone

Senior Capstone Project

Purpose of the senior capstone project is for the student to reflect on the concentration and pull-in the different aspects into an integrated topic or project.Summary of their work in the concentrationNot for creditAny format is developed in concert with Bio-Medical Studies Director and the CEL

Process of Development

Takes place second semester senior yearStudent makes a proposalBio-Medical Studies and CEL negotiate with the studentSchedule time tableProject is evaluated by Bio-Medical Studies DirectorMust be completed or firmly planned by April 1st

Examples…

Reflective autobiographical papers

Pamphlets/papers used in advising future studentsAlumni career panelsWorkshops on health careersWebsites, CD’s or resource filesPhoto-essaysPortfolios

Challenges and Rewards

Challenge Time consuming process

Rewards Seeing exploration become successful Enhance advising process in concert with

advisors

Questions?

For more information about the Bio-Medical Studies concentration please

contact Ted Johnson – johnsont@stolaf.edu

For more information about the Center for Experiential Learning please contact Eileen

Shimota –shimota@stolaf.edu