why you should major in the college of natural science at msu
DESCRIPTION
A recruitment presentation for students interested in pre-med or majors in natural science. Presented in September 2009 by Deb Dotterer, CNS Director of Student Affairs.TRANSCRIPT
R. James KirkpatrickDean
Welcome to the
College of Natural Science
CNS is one of 16 discipline-specific colleges at MSU
NATURAL SCIENCENursingOsteopathic MedicineSocial ScienceVeterinary MedicineJames Madison CollegeLyman Briggs College Residential College in Arts and Humanities
Agriculture & Natural ResourcesArts & LettersBusinessCommunication Arts & SciencesEducationEngineeringHuman MedicineMusic
CNS is Among MSU’s Largest Colleges
• 4,500 undergraduate students
• 1,000 graduate students• 250 faculty• 1,200 entering freshman
in 2009• Most CNS students are
studying in a biological sciences major
CNS majors are in one of three types of departments
Physical Sciences
Biological Sciences
Mathematics
Physical Sciences
- Geological Sciences- Physics & Astronomy- Chemistry
Biological Sciences- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology- Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics
- Food Science & Human Nutrition- Human Biology- Microbiology & Molecular Genetics- Physiology- Plant Biology- Zoology
Mathematical Sciences
- Mathematics- Statistics & Probability
What about pre-med or other health
majors?
Definition: Students pursuing admission to professional health school are
called “preprofessional.”
Instead, students select any major which matches their career interests and identify themselves as preprofessional.
You must declare a major at MSU before reaching 56 credits.
At MSU, preprofessional majors are NOT degree programs.
What should your major be?
• Interests • Strengths• Opportunities
Choose a major based on
(but it is helpful)
SCIENCE DEGREE NOT REQUIRED
– You might decide later not to go to a professional health school
– Only 50% of applicants are accepted to professional health schools!
Have a “Plan B”
To Get into a Professional Health School…
Make Yourself A Competitive Applicant
Here’s how to be competitive…
The basics…
• Complete all required pre-admission courses
• Cumulative GPA > 3.5• Science and math GPA > 3.5• Achieve high scores on admission
tests (MCAT, DAT, PCAT, GRE)
Keep an eye on your futureat all times…
1. Obtain health care experience related to your field of interest
2. Obtain community service experience
3. Develop strong relationships with your advisors and instructors
Two final advantages MSU can give you:
1. Hands-on research experience2. Leadership experience
CNS Leads MSU in Research
CNS faculty bring in more external research funding than any other college at MSU
Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB)
A superconducting linear accelerator that will produce isotopes that normally exist only in the most extreme environments in the universe.FRIB will greatly expand the usefulness of isotopes in a broad range of applications from modeling stars to understanding the workings of nanoscale electronic devices.
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC)
Explores scientifically diverse approaches to converting various plant feedstocks – agricultural residues, wood chips, and nonfood grasses – into liquid transportation fuels.
SOAR Telescope
Used to detect the presence of elements, carbon and oxygen — considered the building blocks of life – in a number of ancient stars and star systems, data that continue to yield more information on how these elements originated
Behavioral Development
Professor Kay Holekamp's laboratory focuses on mammalian behavioral development. Her students are currently investigating how social, ecological and hormonal differences change the way hyenas behave and how successfully they reproduce.
Experimental EvolutionInstead of investigating using the comparative method or by studying fossils, Professor Rich Lenski’s approach is to watch evolution as it happens - in the context of experiments that are replicated and performed under controlled conditions using bacteria.
Climate ChangeProfessor Jen Lau researches community ecology and evolutionary biology to explore how plants respond to changes in climate and invasive species. One of her projects looks at how elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations alter the evolution of plant populations.
Professor Elena Litchman is studying how climate change will impact aquatic ecosystems, phytoplankton communities in particular. She is determining how various aspects of global change may increase the frequency and severity of Harmful Algal Blooms.
Students and Research
Goldwater scholarships are national scholarships awarded to students showing promise to develop significant scientific research careers
All three of MSU’s 2009 Goldwater Scholars were CNS students
All were involved in undergraduate research
University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum
• 2009 Grand Prize winner in Science was Maulik Dhanda, a Medical Technology major
• CNS students received 10 of the 12 first prizes in Natural and Physical Sciences
Gain leadership experience through
student groups
Every department offers opportunities for involvement through student groups
Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Students Association
Won the 2009 Collegiate Challenge for the Gift of Life-Michigan and recognition from the Michigan Secretary of State
Recruited the most organ donors of all colleges in Michigan
They have won the award 4 out of 5 years
Making a difference while getting experience
Charles Drew Science Scholars
The Drew program provides academic assistance and support for high-achieving undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds.
The program promotes the students’ preparation for postgraduate work and a career in the sciences
RISE: Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment
A residential program for students interested in stewardship of our environment.
Our point…
Create your own
Natural Science
learning adventure…
Take advantage of MSU’s size, expertise and vast capabilities.
Enhance your studies with research and extra-curricular activities
Take advantage of MSU’s size, expertise and vast capabilities.
Enhance your studies with research and extra-curricular activities
College of Natural Science
http://naturalscience.msu.edu