Department of Biology : Schedule for Majors in the last four quarters

Functioning as a Biologist (BIOL 490) | SIP | Comprehensive Examinations | Diebold Symposium | Sample schedule and activities

See Requirements for the Major for a typical four year course schedule for a biology major

A biology major is expected to complete a number of requirements during their last four quarters as a student at Kalamazoo College. The major areas are as follows:

1. Functioning as a Biologist (BIOL 490) [Schedule of meetings/events]
Students must complete all eight parts of this course:

a. attend all BIOL 490 meetings; Junior and Senior Springs, and participate in all departmental seminars throughout the year
b. participate in a thesis review team; Senior Fall
c. take both the written and oral comprehensive examinations; Senior Winter
d. serve as a referee for other students’ presentations; Jr. & Sr. Springs
e. attend the entire Diebold Symposium; Jr. & Sr. Springs
f. present a SIP as an oral or poster presentation; Senior Spring
g. submit a completed Senior Connections Essay and
h. submit a completed Senior Questionnaire

When to register for BIOL 490
Students may register for BIOL 490 as a unit of credit in any quarter during the senior year. Biology majors are expected to attend and participate in all departmental seminars during all quarters in which they are on campus.

Is BIOL 490 a graded course?
Yes. The grade for BIOL 490 is based on all eight components of the course. The final grade for the course is not submitted until the Spring Quarter of senior year, regardless of the quarter in which the student is formally registered.

 

2. Senior Individualized Project (BIOL 598) | See the Biology Department SIP page for more details | TOP]

All Kalamazoo College students do a Senior Individualized Project (SIP) as part of their college graduation requirement. Most biology majors elect to do their SIP in biology. Typically two units of credit are awarded, depending on the nature of the project. Effective for incoming class September 2004 and later, credit for a SIP does not count toward the units required for the biology major.

Written Comprehensive: Each student must take and pass the departmental written comprehensive exam, normally administered early in Winter quarter of the senior year.

Oral Comprehensive: The oral comprehensive exam is required of all majors, and will be taken during the latter part of Winter quarter.

All biology majors are required to present their SIP work, regardless of whether it was done in biology or not, as a seminar or as a poster during the department's annual Diebold Symposium in the spring quarter.

See the Diebold Symposium Preparation web page for more details on preparing for, attending and presenting at the symposium. Students' attendance and performance at the Diebold Symposium are included in the calculation of their final grade for BIOL 490.

Junior Spring:

1. Make arrangements to carry out your SIP during the summer.
2. Work as a member of a referee team to help seniors prepare for the Diebold Symposium.
3. Attend the Diebold Biology Symposium. Juniors who attend the symposium tend to develop a better grasp of the nature of the SIP as well as obtaining good ideas for their own projects.
4. Attend all meetings of Biology 490.
5. Submit a completed and approved SIP contract to the Registrar and provide a copy for the Biology Department
6. Pre-register for BIOL 598 (SIP)

Junior Summer:

1. SIP (BIOL598—2 units)

Senior Fall:

1. Submit completed SIP thesis by Friday of the second week of fall quarter.
2. Participate in a thesis review team and revise your thesis.
3. The majority of students serving as Teaching Assistants will do so in BIOL 112 (Evolution). BIOL 220 (Organism Diversity) or BIOL 246 (Cell Biology). Some students will work as TAs in upper level courses.
4. When appropriate, arrange to take GRE’s and explore graduate school opportunities.

Senior Winter:

1. Submit your SIP Thesis for review and evaluation by Wednesday of the first week of winter quarter.
2. Prepare for and take the Written Comprehensive Examination.
3. The majority of students serving as Teaching Assistants will do so in BIOL 124 (Physiological Ecology) or BIOL 112 (Evolution). Some students will serve as TAs in upper level courses.
4. Compose and sumbit your Senior Connections Essay.
5. Prepare for and take the Oral Comprehensive Examination.

Senior Spring:

1. Work with referee and advisory team to prepare for symposium.
2. All seniors are required to attend all sessions of the Diebold Biology Symposium. SIPs done during the previous summer will be presented at this time.
3. Attend seminars when appropriate, to work with juniors.
4. The majority of students serving as Teaching Assistants in this quarter will do so in BIOL 246 (Cell Biology) or BIOL 124 (Physiological Ecology). Some students will serve as TAs in upper level courses.
5. Complete the Senior Questionnaire.