Page 64 of Boston College 2006-2007 University Catalog by Boston College University

Information for Study Abroad Students in the regular B.S. program, requiring five upper division bio-electives, may apply for approval to take the following major courses abroad: One upper division bio-elective equivalent (Note: No other substitutions for the remaining four required bio-elective courses will be allowed.); Physics with laboratory calculus based (equivalent to PH 211/203 and/or PH 212/204 or higher); Calculus (equivalent to MT 100 and/or MT 101 or higher). Students should consult the biology FAQ pages in the Undergraduate section of the Biology website (http://www.bc.edu/biology/) for general information and updates about studying abroad for Biology majors. Students in the advanced placement B.S. program, requiring seven upper division bio-electives, may apply for approval to take the following major courses abroad: one upper division bio-elective equivalent per semester abroad to a maximum of two substitutions. (Note: No other substitutions for the remaining five required bio-elective courses will be allowed.); Physics with laboratory calculus based (equivalent to PH 211/203 and/or PH 212/204 or higher); Calculus (equivalent to MT 100 and/or MT 101 or higher). Students in the standard Biology B.A. program may apply for approval to take the following major courses abroad: one B.A.-elective equivalent; Calculus equivalent (MT 100 and/or MT 101 or higher), or Biostatistics. Students in the advanced placement Biology B.A. program, may apply for approval to take the following major courses abroad: one B.A.-elective equivalent course or one bio-elective equivalent during the first semester abroad; Calculus equivalent (MT 100 and/or MT 101 or higher), or Biostatistics. Students studying abroad for two semesters may obtain approval to take one B.A.-elective equivalent and one bio-elective equivalent course abroad. Specifically approved Boston College courses for the purpose of satisfying the upper division bio-elective requirement are those numbered BI 400 through BI 599, excluding Undergraduate Research (BI 461-467), Tutorials (BI 490), and Advanced Independent Research (BI 499). In order to be considered as a possible substitute for a bio-elective, a course must be a second level course; that is, it must have published biology prerequisites and not be at an introductory level or appropriate for students with no prior college level courses in biology. Students applying to take only one semester of physics abroad must present evidence that the semester abroad will properly complement the semester taken at Boston College to form a comprehensive year long calculus-based physics course with a lab. Students interested in study abroad should consult the undergraduate FAQ page on the Biology website. Students must meet with a member of the Biology Advising Committee for study abroad advising and course approval. In order to obtain the required prior approval for international courses as bio-elective substitutes or to fulfill corequisite requirements, students need to fill out a Course Approval Form and submit it to the Biology Department along with a copy of the catalog description for each proposed international course. The description should indicate the course level, intended audience, and prerequisites. Such application should be made well in advance and no later than the semester before leaving to study abroad to insure that the course can be reviewed, its course category determined, and adjustments made if needed. The approval process can take several days to weeks (even longer over the summer), so students should plan ahead. Research Opportunities for Undergraduates Research is a fundamental aspect of university science study and the Biology Department encourages interested majors to take advantage of the many undergraduate research programs that are available. There are a variety of research programs that can begin as early as the freshman year. Opportunities with a range of commitment levels are available, from single-semester courses to projects involving four semesters or more. Usually, students are advised to spend at least two (2) semesters on a research project. Undergraduate Research: BI 461-462 is typically a six-credit, twosemester commitment where students work on ongoing research projects in laboratories with other students under faculty guidance. Projects can be extended for a second year under Advanced Undergraduate Research (BI 465-467) and enriched by the addition of the Tutorial in Biology (BI 490). Second-semester seniors who wish to write a thesis describing their work may enroll in BI 475 Senior Thesis Research. Advanced Independent Research: BI 499 is a 12-credit commitment over two semesters. This program is designed for ambitious and talented undergraduates who are interested in devoting a major portion of their senior year to scholarly, state-of-the-art research of a quality that can lead to publication. Students design, develop, and research their own projects with close faculty supervision. Completion of a written research thesis is required. If the research is of sufficient quality, the student may apply to become a Scholar of the College, a designation that is permanently assigned to the students transcript. Applicants are expected to have some prior research experience before applying to the program. In most instances, applicants will have taken BI 461 and/or BI 462 or an equivalent in their junior year. Undergraduate research projects may involve almost any area of biology. Currently, major faculty research work centers in the fields of cellular and molecular biology, bioinformatics, neurobiology and physiology, developmental biology and gene expression, biochemistry, and immunology. For a description of specific areas of faculty research, see the faculty section of the department website. For information on the above research courses, contact your faculty advisor or the department office. Biochemistry Major Refer to the Biochemistry section for a description of this interdisciplinary major. Students with questions should contact Dr. Annunziato or the Biology Department office. Fifth Year B.S./M.S. Program Undergraduate biology majors who are engaged in research projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor may apply to enter a five-year B.S./M.S. program during their junior year. Students accepted into the B.S./M.S. program will follow the curriculum for students who enroll in the regular M.S. program, except that two courses taken during senior year may be applied to the credits required for both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Students will receive the B.S. degree after four years of study when the undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled. Students will receive their M.S. degree after they have completed the M.S. requirements and successfully defended a thesis describing their M.S. research. Graduate Program Description The Biology Department offers courses leading to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science. The Master of Science in Teaching (M.S.T.) degree is administered through the Lynch School of Education in cooperation with the Biology Department. 64 The Boston College Catalog 2006-2007 ARTS AND SCIENCES

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