Programs of Study

 

Biological Sciences

The Honors Tutorial Program in the Department of Biological Sciences provides the talented and highly motivated student an opportunity to study biology in depth. Development of the individual student's abilities and interests is emphasized through the tutorials and the required course work in one of the two specialized areas, MCB (Molecular and Cell Biology) and EEB (Ecology, Evolution and Behavior). Care is also taken to ensure that each student, depending upon particular career goals, fulfills the admission requirements for either graduate work or for professional school (medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, etc.). Under most circumstances, four years of study are required to complete the program.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants are expected to have high school class rank in the top ten percent and to have achieved a composite ACT score of 30 or a combined SAT score of 1300. Two letters of recommendation from high school teachers and an on-campus interview are required.

Students wishing to transfer from other colleges at Ohio University should contact the director of studies by the end of Fall Quarter of their freshman year regarding the procedure for application. The student must have taken coursework comparable to a freshman HTC student and have at least a 3.7 cumulative GPA.

PROGRAM DESIGN

Incoming students are encouraged to take any Advanced Placement examinations they feel qualified for. Academic credit is awarded for the appropriate courses. All course selections must be approved by the Director of Studies, but the following list of required courses is given as a guide for the students. Upon consultation with the Director of Studies this curriculum may be modified to suit the individual interests and goals of the students.

First year Biological Sciences sequence

Introductory Biology (BIOS 170-173)

Second Year Biological Sciences sequence

Genetics (BIOS 325)
Cell Biology (BIOS 320)
Evolutions (BIOS 330)

Other areas in Biological Sciences

MCB Specialization

Physiology (BIOS 342/354 & 343/355 or 345/346)
Anatomy(BIOS 300 or 301 or 303)
Microbes (BIOS 321))
Genes and development (BIOS 407 or 425 or 427)
Cell and molecular biology (BIOS 322 or 326)

EEB Specialization
Ecology and Physiological Ecology (BIOS 375 & 462)
Three additional EEB courses (BIOS 425 or 473 or 477 or 478 or 481)
Anatomy (BIOS 303)
Microbes (BIOS 321)
MCB course (BIOS 326 or 322 or 342/354 or 343/355 or 407 or 426 or 427)

Other requirements

Freshman Composition
Junior Composition
Calculus and Statistics
Physics
Inorganic and Organic Chemistry
Biochemistry
Senior Thesis

Tutorials

In addition to formal courses, tutorials must be taken every quarter.

Freshman Year

In the Freshman year each Biological Sciences HTC student takes group tutorials in the following subjects:

Fall: Ecology, evolution and behavior (BIOS 297T)
Winter: Molecular and cell biology (BIOS 298T)
Spring: Physiology and neurobiology (BIOS 299T)

Sophomore and Junior Years

In the Sophomore and Junior year of the program the student takes advanced tutorials (BIOS 397T/398T/399T). Although a tutorial may extend for more than one quarter with a single faculty tutor, the Director of Studies strongly encourages taking tutorials with at least two different faculty each year. The student may take more than one tutorial per quarter if desired. The format of the advanced tutorial is determined by discussion between the student and the faculty tutor. There are no limits to the field of study, and the format may include directed readings, laboratory research, field research, etc.

Senior Thesis

During the Senior Year in the program, each student will engage in an independent research project (BIOS 497T/498T/499T). Arrangements for the project will be made in consultation with the Director of Studies and a faculty thesis advisor in the area of interest. In addition to the prospectus required by the HTC Thesis guidelines, a research proposal must be submitted to the Director of Studies by the end of Spring Quarter of the Junior year. A thesis describing the background, methods, results and conclusions of the research must be approved by the Senior Thesis Advisor and the Director of Studies. Senior thesis guidelines can be obtained from the Director of Studies. Seniors must present their results in a seminar during their final quarter at Ohio University. Presentation of the results at scientific meetings or in professional journals is highly encouraged.

EVALUATION OF PROGRESS

The Director of Studies will evaluate the progress of each student quarterly by examining tutorial and formal course performances as well as the evaluations submitted by the tutors. Students are expected to maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA in courses required for the major. At the end of each year, the Director of Studies, in collaboration with the Dean of the College, will review each student's progress with regard to aptitude for independent study, initiative, and scholarly performance. If it is felt that the student would do better in a more traditional program, or another major, the student will be so advised and assisted in transferring to another college or major.

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

The student should apply to the Honors Tutorial College for graduation at least one quarter in advance of the anticipated quarter of graduation. In order to graduate, the student must complete the following:

• Satisfactory fulfillment of the course requirements as outlined above (or a modification of these requirements as approved by the Director of Studies).

• Submission, to the Honors Tutorial College, of a thesis that has been approved by the Senior Thesis Advisor and the Director of Studies.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Contact the Director of Studies for further information:
Dr. Soichi Tanda
Department of Biological Sciences
Ohio University
Life Sciences Building 215
Athens, OH 45701
(740) 593-2270
tanda@ohio.edu

Additional information can be found on the Department of Biological Sciences web site (www.biosci.ohiou.edu).