Biochemistry and Molecular Biology WELCOME BMB MAJORS! First Year Advising Meeting: Preparation for Spring 2019 Course Registration
Today’s Meeting Agenda -BMB major advising system -Course registration and lifting holds -Required academic courses -Where to go for help
Who Is My Advisor? Valerie Miller BMB Academic Advisor: Email: bmbadvising@biochem.umass.edu Office: LGRT 914
BMB Honors Program Director BMB Chief Undergrad Advisor Dr. Amy Springer ChiefAdvisor@biochem.umass.edu She is a great resource for: approval of transfer courses and advanced electives, scholarships, internships, graduate school, independent study, study abroad, or when you need support for any other reason. BMB Honors Program Director Dr. Bryan Monesson-Olson bolson@umass.edu He is great resource for navigating CHC requirements for honors theses and honors courses.
BMB Faculty Advisors Dr. Sergey Savinov Dr. David Gross Dr. Li-Jun Ma They are a resource for you for the next four years and beyond. You can discuss internships, research opportunities, your interests outside of BMB, and advice about career options. Dr. Sergey Savinov Dr. David Gross Dr. Li-Jun Ma Dr. Elizabeth Vierling Dr. Ludmila Tyler Dr. Becky Miller
Registration and Lifting Holds You will have an assigned Registration Appointment time. The date and time for this appointment is indicated on your Student Center page in SPIRE. You will not be able to register at this time unless your Registration Hold has been lifted. There are four ways to have your Registration Hold lifted: -Attend a group advising session* -Meet with a Peer Mentor during office hours -Meet with BMB Academic Advisor Valerie Miller, or -Electronic clearance; this option is available only after all scheduled group advising sessions have met.
Biology, General Chemistry, & Calculus BMB First Year Courses Biology, General Chemistry, & Calculus Biology: Fall Semester: Biology 151 (4cr) OR BioTAP: Biology 190H (4cr) & Biology 191L (1cr) (Satisfies BS Gen Ed) Spring Semester: Biology 152 (3cr) & Biology153 (2cr) OR BioTAP: Biology 197FH (3cr) Biology 197GH (1cr) & Biology192L (1cr) *You must get a grade of C or better in these courses.
BMB First Year Courses General Chemistry: Fall Semester: Chemistry 111 (4cr) OR 121H (4cr) (Satisfies PS Gen Ed) Spring Semester: Chemistry 112 (4cr) OR 122H (4cr) *Chemistry 121H and 122H are open to Commonwealth Honors College students and Chemistry/BMB double majors. *You must get a grade of C- or better in these courses.
BMB First Year Courses Calculus: Fall Semester: Spring Semester: Math 127 (3cr) OR Math 131 (4cr) Spring Semester: Math 128 (3cr) OR Math 132 (4cr) *AP AB 4 or 5 = 4 credits for Math 131 *AP BC 4 or 5 = 8 credits for Math 131 & 132 *You need a C- or better in each of these in order to take Biochem 471, a required course for majors.
Four Foundational Predictor Courses: BMB First Year Courses Four Foundational Predictor Courses: General Chemistry I, General Chemistry II, Calculus I and Calculus II Strong predictors of success in BMB and in science. Chemistry and Math essential for developing needed quantitative/organizational skills to do science BMB majors should aim to earn B- or better in each of these four courses. BMB Continuation Policy: BMB majors have to achieve a GPA of 2.5 or better across these four courses in order to continue in the BMB major.
Other First Year Courses College Writing and Gen Eds: College Writing: EnglWrit 112 required if not exempt; Honors students take EnglWrit 112H. GenEd Courses: -You need to keep track of these--check your Academic Requirements Report (ARR). -Peer Mentors can offer advice on good courses to take. Biochem 190B -Seminar for majors – meet the Department, learn about research and resources and how to get ahead
Common Second Year Courses *BMB Second Year: Biochem, Organic Chemistry, & Physics, and Math *Keep in mind that this is not the only path through the BMB major, talk to one of your Peer Mentors for information on what courses can be taken later
Common Second Year Courses Biochemistry: Fall Semester: Biochem 275 *You can take Bio 152 and 153 at the same time as Biochem 275 *A grade of B- or better is required in Biochem 275 for BMB majors to go on to take the Junior Year BMB courses. Spring Semester: Biochem 291H (1cr seminar, presentations by BMB faculty to introduce research ongoing in department; Biochem 275 is a pre-req)
Common Second Year Courses Organic Chemistry: Fall Semester: Chem 261 -Must get a C- or better to progress Spring Semester: Chem 262 Chem 269 (lab for both in the spring semester) -Lab can be taken separately *Chem 265, 266, 267, 268 open to CHC students and Chem/BMB double majors
Common Second Year Courses Math/Statistics: Third semester of Math: -Statistics 240 -OR Statistics 501 (junior standing), ResEcon 212, Psych 240 for Psych double majors -OR Math 233 (Multivariate Calculus) after Math 131 and Math 132
Common Second Year Courses Physics: Fall Semester: Physics 131 OR 151 Spring Semester: Physics 132 OR 152 *Take 151 and 152 ONLY if you are VERY proficient in calculus *Should have Math 131 and 132 for Physics 151 and 152 AP: Physics 1 - 3, 4 or 5 - Physics 131 Physics 2 - 3, 4 or 5 - Physics 132 Physics C(Mechanics) - 4 or 5 - Physics 151 Physics C (Elec & Mag) - 4 or 5 -Physics 152
Summary of First Year Course Layout If you are now taking: Register for: -Biology 151 (OR BioTAP equivalent) -Chemistry 111 OR 121H -Math 127 or 131 -College Writing/Gen Ed -Biology 152 and Biology 153 (OR BioTAP equivalent) -Chemistry 112 OR 122H -Math 128 or 132 -College Writing/Gen Ed -Biochem 190B Not enrolled in some of these courses? Not sure if you have AP credit? Need to revoke AP credit? Talk to your Peer Mentor!
If you are transferring into BMB: *You must have Bio 1 AND Chem 1 AND 2 to register for Biochem 275. *If you are behind in Chem, talk to a BMB Advisor about your course plan. *You may need to consider summer courses to catch up. *Math and physics can be second year courses—you need these for Biochem 471 (junior or senior year).
If you have general questions about how to navigate Spire, Where To Go For Help If you have general questions about how to navigate Spire, University rules and regulations, finding Gen Eds, info about courses, BMB major requirements: Try the Peer Mentors in LGRT 915!! (schedule on the BMB website and our door) There is of information at the BMB website (Undergraduate page) -http://www.umass.edu/biochem/undergraduate -Information about Advising, BMB Courses, Doing Research *Keep checking your ARR to make sure you are on track (this may not show if you have met the minimum grade for the BMB major, so always double check the department requirements)
Where To Go For Help Advisors -Valerie Miller, BMB Primary academic advisor about registration, change of major (in or out), courses, forms etc., 914 LGRT bmbadvising@biochem.umass.edu -Chief Undergraduate Advisor Amy Springer about transfer credit issues, study abroad, advanced electives, change of major (in or out), etc. email: ChiefAdvisor@biochem.umass.edu -Other BMB Faculty Advisors can offer advice on graduate school, professonial school, careers, etc. —they are part of your professional network (letters of recommendation, career advice…)
Questions?