Undergraduate Studies > Thinking about Your Degree Choices

Academic Advising
A key component of your education in the Biology Department is your close association with a faculty advisor. Each undergraduate student can meet with several academic advisors during walk-in advising office hours.  Although the advisors are busy working scientists and dedicated teachers, they are committed to assisting you in choosing courses and dealing with your growth as a student.

Click here to view the current walk-in advising office hours.

Which degree should you choose?

The Biology department offers two different degrees: The Bachelor of Sciences (B.S.) in Biology, and, jointly with the Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, the B.S. in Biochemistry. Both of the B.S. programs provide maximum exposure to the sciences and require courses in chemistry, math and physics.

The B.S. in Biochemistry is sponsored jointly by the Biology Department and the Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology. It is intended to provide students with greater depth in the field than would ordinarily occur for a student majoring in either biology or chemistry. The major provides students with the opportunity to understand complex biological events at the molecular level. Graduates should be prepared to enter a graduate or professional school or to find employment as a biochemist in a wide variety of settings from private corporations to government agencies to universities.

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SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES:
Cooperative Education

There are many exciting positions available to biology and biochemistry majors who elect to participate in the Co-op plan. The department encourages students to take advantage of this option. Contact Prof. Veronica Porter (413D Mugar, 617-373-3471). e-mail: v.porter@neu.edu

Directed Study

Directed Study is an option which provides an experience that is both enriching and very different from ordinary courses. Directed Study means that a student works individually with a faculty member or in a faculty member's laboratory, while receiving course credit. At the professor's discretion, a student may be asked to write a paper summarizing what was learned during the semester. Four SH of Directed Study may substitute for one Advanced Biology elective. A student interested in one of these courses MUST make arrangements with the faculty member BEFORE registration. These courses are offered by permission of instructor only.


Honors Program in Biology/Biochemistry

Three Seas Program in Marine Biology
(previously known as the East/West Program)

Phi Sigma
The national honorary biological society, Phi Sigma, has a Northeastern University chapter. The chapter is run by undergraduate and graduate students. It sponsors colloquia and other research-oriented functions, and annually elects new members to the society. Interested students should leave their names, with campus address and telephone number in the Phi Sigma mailbox in 134 Mugar.

Biology Club

For Biology and Biochemistry majors and interested non-majors, the Biology Club offers the opportunity for outings (mountain climbs, overnight camping, nature hikes, and canoe trips), movies, guest lectures, and other diverse activities which are defined by the interested students, aided by a faculty advisor. Meeting times and locations will be posted in the Biology Office, 134 Mugar. The Club maintains a mailbox in the department office.

Departmental Colloquia
Every week, a scientist, often from another institution, presents a talk on his or her research work. Undergraduates are strongly encouraged to attend. Notices of these colloquia appear on the departmental bulletin boards and the current schedule of colloquia can be viewed at this link. The colloquia are usually on Monday, at 12 noon in 90 Snell Library.

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Graduate Courses

Graduate courses are open to qualified undergraduates, with the permission of the instructor of the graduate course, and of the student's advisor. The registration form is available in the Dean of Arts and Sciences Office (01 ME) or in Student Central (120 HA).

Preparation for Doctoral-Level Health Professions (Pre-medical, Pre-dental, etc.)

Students who intend to enter medical, dental, veterinary or other health-professional schools (osteopathy, optometry, podiatry) should read a variety of catalogues from these schools and determine the requirements of the schools to which they intend to apply. In general, pre-professional students should be more concerned with science courses that provide a fundamental, systematic and theoretical background, rather than courses which seem directly applicable to medicine.
The services of the University Pre-Medical Advisory Committee are available to Biology majors. Any student planning a career as a health professional should make contact with this committee during the freshman or sophomore year, to be kept abreast of current developments in the professional schools' admission picture. Contact should be established through Dr. Gail Begley (g.begley@neu.edu), who is the Chair of the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee.

Preparation for K-12 Teaching

With planning it is possible for students interested in teaching to take courses leading to a minor in Education and teacher certification.  If you are interested, contact the School of Education.

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