Welcome to the Orientation Session for 3rd year students planning to enter 4th

year Biology Honours ProgramTopics to be covered

• Changes to Program Requirements (BSCH SSP, BSCH MAJ)

• 4th Year Application Process• Choosing a Seminar Stream or Research Stream• Selecting 500 level modules• Selecting 537 supervisors

NOTE: This presentation summarizes the best information we have at this time. As Peoplesoft/ QUSAR is implemented over the next few months, some changes in the policy and process may arise.

Apply for Summer Research Awards

• BUGS (QUBS) awards due Jan 31• NSERC USRA awards due Feb 2• SWEP applications (Career Services) due Feb 15

Visit the Biology Website (Undergrad/ Awards) for more information

Summary of Changes in Response to Implementation of Peoplesoft/ QUSAR

1. A“minimum of 64.5% in Biology Core Courses” is no longer required to take further courses.

2. Admission to Honours / 4th year: you no longer formally apply to Biology for permission to enter 4th year.

Entry into 4th year courses

To take 4th year courses, you MUST have

-14 Credits (=72 Units), an acceptable overall average (GPA)

and BIOL243 (or equivalent)

BIOL4XX: open during electronic registration

-you must have prerequisites

-priority to students who need the courses for their program

BIOL5XX: requested through UG Office

Summary of Changes in Response to Implementation of Peoplesoft/ QUSAR

3. The Biology Dept no longer sends out a summary of your degree requirements upon acceptance into 4th year.

• A new program (Academic Advisor) will evaluate your course choices and determine what you need to complete your program

Summary of Changes in Response to Implementation of Peoplesoft/ QUSAR

4. Courses are now calculated on the basis of a change in the description of a credit (CR).

BIOL205* (0.5 CR) = BIOL205 (3.0 U).

Summary of Changes in Response to Implementation of Peoplesoft/ QUSAR

5. Degree program requirements are now described on the basis of total Units

120 Units for most 4 year programs arising from:

Plan + Electives = Units

6. Each Program has a Plan (the required courses, including Options)

Major Concentration–MAJ (72.0 Units)

Subject of Specialization Concentration–SSP (96.0 Units)

Summary of Changes in Response to Implementation of Peoplesoft/ QUSAR

7. Courses for a PLAN are grouped into three categories:– CORE– OPTION – SUPPORTING

SUBSTITUTIONS: identify which courses can be used in lieu of core, option, or supporting courses

The PLAN descriptions do not refer to ELECTIVES, but you need Units to make up the difference between total requirements and the Plan

1. CORE COURSES (30 Units)

(Core Program)1. 6.0 units from (BIOL 102/3.0 and BIOL 103/3.0) or

BIOL 101/6.02. 12.0 units in BIOL 201/3.0, BIOL 202/3.0, BIOL

205/3.0, BIOL 206/3.03. 3.0 units from BIOL 302/3.0 or BIOL 303/3.04. 3.0 units from BIOL 339/3.0 or BIOL 341/3.0 or

BIOL 301/3.0 or BIOL 338/3.05. 3.0 units from BIOL 330/3.0 or MBIO 218/3.0 or

MBIO 318/3.0 (Other Core Courses)6. 3.0 units in BIOL 243/3.0

2. OPTION COURSES (30 Units)A. 24.0 units from one of Option List 2Ai or 2Aii i. Seminar Option (24.0 Units)

a. 12.0 units from BIOL at the 300-level or above; BIO_SUBS_A

b. 6.0 units from BIOL at the 300-level or above; BIO_SUBS_A; BIO_SUBS_B

c. 3.0 units from BIOL 400-level or aboved. 3.0 units from BIOL 500-level ii. Research Option (24.0 Units)a. 6.0 units from BIOL at the 300-level or above; BIO_SUBS_Ab. 6.0 units from BIOL at the 300-level or above;

BIO_SUBS_A; BIO_SUBS_Bc. 12.0 units in BIOL 537/12.0

B. 6.0 units from CHEM at the 200-level or above; ENSC 471/3.0; BIOL 334/3.0; ENSC 371/3.0; BIOL 234/3.0

3. SUPPORTING COURSES (12 Units)

A. 6.0 units from CHEM 112/6.0 or CHEM 116/6.0

B. 6.0 units from MATH 122/6.0 or MATH 121/6.0 or MATH 120/6.0 or (MATH123/3.0 and MATH 124/3.0)

Timelines and 537 ProjectsConsider the following deadlines for 4th year events

• Jan 31 BUGS Awards

• Feb 2 NSERC USRA Applications due

• Feb 15 SWEP Applications close

• Feb 21-25 Reading Week

• March 25 Poster Day for Current BIOL537 Students

• March 30 537 Applicants to Professors for 2011-12

• April 6 537 Offers from Professors

• April 13 537 Responses from Students

• April 22 BIOL500-536 applications due

B.Sc. (Hon) Subject of Specialization (BSCH SSP)B.Sc. (Hon) Major (BSCH MAJ) (as Credits)

Total credits required: 20 (Current format) Core Courses: Biology Core Program (4.5CR) and

BIOL243 (0.5 CR) Supporting Courses: MATH 120/121/122 (1.0 credits) and

CHEM 112 or 116 (1.0 credits) Option Courses: 1.0 CR CHEM @200 level or above OR

0.5 CR CHEM @200 level + BIOL 334 (0.5 CR)

• Upper year BIOL courses (4.0 credits) as follows:

MAJ SSP

Seminar Stream

Research Stream

• BIOL537 2.0 2.0• BIOL3XX-5XX 2.0 6.0

• BIOL5XX 0.5 0.5• BIOL 4XX-5XX 0.5 0.5• BIOL3XX- 5XX 3.0 7.0

Should I do the Research Stream?

Research stream includes BIOL537 (2.0 Credits)

• It’s hard work (40% of a full course load)

• More of an independent learning experience

• Opportunities to DO science (pursue unique hypothesis-driven research)

• If all goes well, you could become a coauthor of a publication

• Great opportunity to gain experience or improve research skills

• Supervisor can provide very detailed letters of support for admission to professional schools or grad work

Should I do the Seminar Stream?

Seminar stream includes BIOL400 and BIOL500 courses

• More conventional course experience (presentations, discussions, papers, but few exams)

• Opportunities for in-depth learning in an area that interests you

• Great opportunity to improve communication (oral/ written) skills

• Professors get good information to provide letters of support for admission to professional schools or grad work*

• * many students who take 500 level modules go on to grad school- you don’t need to do a 537 project

Required for students who elect the Seminar Stream

Independent/ Directed Studies (BIOL59X):

A set of 0.5- 3.0 CR courses developed in conjunction with a prof

Modules (500-536):

Permitted for students in research stream (1 course), if space is available

Course descriptions are available on the web

Use the pre-registration form to select your preferred courses

We will try to get you into your first or second choice (courses have been filled based upon academic performance).

Course enrolment is normally limited to 14 students.

BIOL500 Level Courses

BIOL500 level preregistration

Near the end of March, the course descriptions and application form will become available

You will be notified by e-mail when they become available

The applications are due April 22, 2011

Return them to Biosciences 3109d (Julie French) or 3111 (Office)

Decisions will be made in June ranked by your GPA (probably)

They will be available on Peoplesoft/ QUSAR when you preregister for your courses

You MUST have the course prerequisites (NO exceptions)

PLEASE INDICATE THREE CHOICES FROM EACH TERM (in order of preference)

,

type a ‘1’, ‘2’, or ‘3’ on the line beside the courses you want.

Only 0.5 credit of a 500 level seminar course is required but there may be room for some students

to be registered in two (1.0 credit) seminar courses.

Do you wish to register for one (0.5 credit) seminar course? _____Do you wish to register for two (1.0 credit) seminar courses? _____

BIOL500 level preregistration formName: ____________________________ Student #: _____________

E-mail address: ____________@queensu.ca

Program: BSCH MAJ BIOL ____ BSCH SSP BIOL ____ BSCH ENSC/BIOL ____

Other (specify):__________________

Biol 537…What’s it all about?

• CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE

• Using all your Biology skills, learning and experience to generate new knowledge in your area of interest

a) Defining a research problemb) Writing a research proposalc) Carry out the investigation (collect and analyse

data)d) Defend your ideas (seminars and orals)e) Tell the world! (posters and theses)

What’s involved in Biol 537?• 2 credit course – minimum 18-20 hour/week -reality is closer to twice that!• Public seminar presentation: based on project• Poster presentation (March 25 2011)• Thesis draft submitted to supervisor• Thesis final draft submitted to course coordinator• Final thesis defense – held in April study break.

Proposal 10% Course instructors, peer evaluationSeminar 10% Supervisory committee, peer evaluationPoster 20% Supervisory committeeThesis 35% Supervisory committee, course instructors Defence 10% Supervisory committeeLaboratory 15% Supervisor

HOW DO I CHOOSE?

Your primary supervisor MUST BE:• a professor in Biology • a professor who is cross-appointed to Biology.• Biology Adjunct Professors can only be a co-supervisor.

Your supervisor CANNOT BE: • Adjunct Professors from other departments.• Professors outside of Biology (unless they are cross-appointed)

• Not from other universities• Not from hospitals• Not from other countries (e.g., Wallacea projects)

Who can be my Supervisor?

1.Work Hard. POSITIONS ARE COMPETITIVE!

2.Define your interests. Choose the area that interests you most. Don’t claim to love molecular biology when you’ve avoided all courses with molecular/cell in them!

3.Think outside the box. Professors who taught courses that may not have been your favorite still have plenty to offer.

4. Interview: Most professors will not accept someone they have not spoken to! Prepare for the interview! Know what the professor’s research program is! Ask honest questions!

5. Ask questions: Every professor is different in what they seek in an applicant.

6. Survey: Talk to current Honours students who are members of the professor’s lab.

How do I find a supervisor?

NAME:      STUDENT NO. E-MAIL ADDRESS:

Educational Background: List schools, programs - include current program.

Employment history: list jobs, employers.

Extracurricular activities:

Other skills that may be useful in your thesis:

Career goals:

Preferred areas of thesis research and supervisors in order of preference

Supervisor: (1st choice)Supervisor: (2nd choice)Supervisor: (3rd choice)

BIOL 537 APPLICATION FORM

What happens if 3 profs reject me?

1.Make appointments with each professor and check if they are willing to take an additional student. Some may make offers and the students reject them!

2. The undergraduate office will circulate a list of professors that still don’t have students.

3. Be prepared to take 500 level courses