Spring 2024 Advising Update

Jayhawk statue in front of flowers
three female students working in a lab

Dear Biology Student,  

We hope that the information below will help you plan for and participate in enrollment advising for the Spring 2024 semester. First, we’d like to introduce our biology academic advisors:  

 

Deanna Beall, Senior Academic Advisor (Honors)  

Abby Doudna, Academic Advisor 

Claire Engelken, Academic Advisor  

Carly Harris-Newman, Academic Advisor (Honors) 

Ellen Honas, Academic Advisor  

Emilee Girard, Academic Advisor (Honors) 

Bridgette Kells, Senior Academic Advisor  

Nathan Swank, Academic Advisor  

Yami Zamora De Roberts, Academic Advisor   

  

Advising Appointments 

  • You can schedule a 30-minute appointment in Jayhawk GPS or by calling the Undergraduate Biology Program front desk at 785-864-4301.   

  • You can also meet with a biology advisor during drop-in hours. Drop-in hours are Mondays and Thursdays from 12:30 – 4:30 PM. Join drop-ins at this link!  

Spring 2024 Advising Updates

Fall 2023:  

  • Apply for Summer 2024 graduation now by going to Enroll & Pay>Degree Progress and Graduation.  
  • Every student must apply through Enroll & Pay to graduate.  
  • The final deadline to apply is July 15, 2024, but we strongly encourage you to apply by April 12, 2024 to have your Spring and Summer enrollment and graduation requirements reviewed before the summer semester begins in case any changes need to be made.

Summer 2024:  

Spring 2024:  

Major Specific Updates

Infrequently Taught Courses Offered in Spring 2024:  

  • BIOL 420 Careers in Bioscience (1 credit hour)  

  • BIOL 420 Biotech Careers (1 credit hour)  

  • BIOL 420 Genome Biology (3 credit hours) - Requires Permission, contact Dr. Jamie Walters for more information 

  • BIOL 420 Chemical Cues: Sex, Food, and Fight (2 credit hours) 

  • BIOL 420 Native and Western Views of Nature (3 credit hours) 

  • BIOL 420 Research on KS Native Bees (3 credit hours; counts towards 2 credits of BIOL 400+ Lab Electives) 

  • BIOL 527 Primate Evolution & Fossil Record (3 credit hours)  

  • BIOL 592 Ichthyology (4 credit hours; counts towards 1 hour of BIOL 400+ Lab Electives) 

  • BIOL 602 Plant Ecology (3 credit hours)  

  • BIOL 622 Paleontology (3 credit hours) 

  • BIOL 623 Paleontology lab (1 credit hour; counts towards BIOL 400+ Lab Electives) 

  • BIOL 630 Conservation and Wildlife Biology (3 credit hours)  

  • BIOL 652 Comparative Animal Behavior (3 credit hours)  

  • BIOL 655 Behavioral Genetics (3 credit hours)  

  • BIOL 680 Genomics (3 credit hours)  

BIOL 370 Biostatistics. We recently updated the course number of BIOL 570 Biostatistics to BIOL 370. The course is still 4 credit hours. We encourage students to take this course early in their college career, preferably by sophomore year when possible. 

BIOL 412 and BIOL 428 Spring only. BIOL 412 and BIOL 428 are only offered in the spring semester. If you are graduating in Summer 2024 or Fall 2024, enroll in BIOL 412 and/or BIOL 428 this spring if you haven’t already completed these courses. 

BIOL 420 Careers in Bioscience. This course is aimed at freshman and sophomores and is focused on providing an overview of bioscience career options. The course will help you:  

  • Get advice from upper-level bioscience undergraduates on how to get the most from your bioscience degree 

  • Explore bioscience career options (e.g. health-related, research, biotech) 

  • Identify your career interests and begin thinking about preparing for applications for jobs, graduate school or professional school 

  • Learn about different areas of bioscience research 

  • Explore opportunities that can enhance your bioscience degree and identify steps to take that will help you ultimately be successful. 

 

ANTH 345. Students who need ANTH 345 for the Human Biology major may substitute ANTH 304, 309, 340 (fall only), or BIOL 412 (spring only).  

  • Your DPR may not recognize this substitution, so please email your biology advisor to request this substitution to be updated on the DPR. 
  • Note: If you wish to take ANTH 304, you may need to add yourself to the waitlist. ANTH 304 is an online course and there are typically seats reserved in this class for students completing degree entirely online. 

Human Biology Major Course Offerings.   

  • Some course options under certain categories are no longer being offered in other departments, such as Applied Behavioral Science, Psychology, and Anthropology.   

  • If you have any difficulty finding courses to satisfy a certain category, please schedule an appointment with your biology advisor to discuss possible substitutions.  

BIOL 680 Genomics. BIOL 680 may substitute for the Human Disease category. This will not yet show on the DPR but we will manually substitute it in for students. This course might be of interest to students that are interested in healthcare, genetic counseling, or biomedical research as a large portion of the class will focus on tools used to sequence the human genome and how understanding the genome can help us understand potential risks in an individual’s genetics. 

BIOL 350 and 400 conflict. BIOL 350, Principles of Genetics, and BIOL 400, Fundamentals of Microbiology, are both offered at the same time, 11-12:15 TuTh. It is not recommended to take these courses together, but please let your advisor know if you need both of these courses to graduate in Spring 2024. We plan to offer both courses in Summer 2024. 

BIOL 370 Biostatistics. We recently updated the course number of BIOL 570 Biostatistics to BIOL 370. The course is still 4 credit hours. We encourage students to take this course early in their college career, preferably by sophomore year when possible. 

MATH 116. As of last semester, MATH 116 is no longer required for BA Human Biology majors. If you have questions about this change, please check with your advisor. 

BIOL 420 Careers in Bioscience. This course is aimed at freshman and sophomores and is focused on providing an overview of bioscience career options. The course will help you:  

  • Get advice from upper-level bioscience undergraduates on how to get the most from your bioscience degree 

  • Explore bioscience career options (e.g. health-related, research, biotech) 

  • Identify your career interests and begin thinking about preparing for applications for jobs, graduate school or professional school 

  • Learn about different areas of bioscience research 

  • Explore opportunities that can enhance your bioscience degree and identify steps to take that will help you ultimately be successful. 

BIOL 370 Biostatistics. We recently updated the course number of BIOL 570 Biostatistics to BIOL 370. The course is still 4 credit hours. We encourage students to take this course early in their college career, preferably by sophomore year when possible. 

BIOL 426 and 599 permission. BIOL 426 and the BIOL 599: MCDB sections require permission, as they are reserved for MCDB seniors. You may request permission through our permission request form. If the BIOL 599: MCDB times don’t work with your schedule, you may enroll in any other BIOL 599 that does not require permission. 

BIOL 426 Goal 6. BIOL 426 has been approved for KU Core Goal 6. If you are taking BIOL 426 in Spring 2024, then your BIOL 599 requirement will be waived. This will be done in May after you have completed BIOL 426. 

BIOL 412 and 417, Spring only. BIOL 412 & 417 are only offered in the spring semester. If you are graduating in Summer 2024 or Fall 2024, enroll in these courses this spring if you haven’t already completed them. 

BIOL 680 Genomics. BIOL 680 will be added as a fourth option to the BIOL 435/672/688 requirement for BA MCDB majors, and the BIOL 650/672/688 for BS MCDB Majors. This will not yet show on the DPR but we will substitute it in for students. This course might be of interest to students that are interested in healthcare, genetic counseling, or biomedical research as a large portion of the class will focus on tools used to sequence the human genome and how understanding the genome can help us understand potential risks in an individual’s genetics. 

BIOL 420 Careers in Bioscience. This course is aimed at freshman and sophomores and is focused on providing an overview of bioscience career options. The course will help you:  

  • Get advice from upper-level bioscience undergraduates on how to get the most from your bioscience degree 

  • Explore bioscience career options (e.g. health-related, research, biotech) 

  • Identify your career interests and begin thinking about preparing for applications for jobs, graduate school or professional school 

  • Learn about different areas of bioscience research 

  • Explore opportunities that can enhance your bioscience degree and identify steps to take that will help you ultimately be successful. 

BIOL 370 Biostatistics. We recently updated the course number of BIOL 570 Biostatistics to BIOL 370. The course is still 4-credit hours. We encourage students to take this course early in their college career, preferably by sophomore year when possible. 

BIOL 507 & 513 permission. Permission has been preset for most Microbiology students graduating in Spring 2024, Summer 2024, and Fall 2024. Try to enroll first, and if you receive a permission error, fill out this permission request form. For students graduating in Spring 2025 or later, fill out the permission form and we’ll add you to a waiting list until we know if we have additional seats. Graduating seniors will be prioritized first. 

  • Starting in Spring 2024, BIOL 507 is a 3-credit hour course. It will also satisfy KU Core Goal 6.  

BIOL 599 permission. Dr. Chandler’s BIOL 599: Microbiology section requires permission, as they are reserved for microbiology seniors. You may request permission through our permission request form. If this time doesn’t work with your schedule, you may also enroll in any other BIOL 599 that does not require permission. 

BIOL 512, 513, CHEM 335 conflict. Students needing all three of these courses to graduate in the spring should check in with their biology advisor for options. CHEM 335 is offered in the summer semester. 

BIOL 350 and 400 conflict. BIOL 350, Principles of Genetics, and BIOL 400, Fundamentals of Microbiology, are both offered at the same time, 11-12:15 TuTh. Check with your biology advisor if you’re unsure which course to take this spring. We plan to offer both courses in Summer 2024. 

BIOL 420 Careers in Bioscience. This course is aimed at freshman and sophomores and is focused on providing an overview of bioscience career options. The course will help you:  

  • Get advice from upper-level bioscience undergraduates on how to get the most from your bioscience degree 
  • Explore bioscience career options (e.g. health-related, research, biotech) 
  • Identify your career interests and begin thinking about preparing for applications for jobs, graduate school or professional school 
  • Learn about different areas of bioscience research 
  • Explore opportunities that can enhance your bioscience degree and identify steps to take that will help you ultimately be successful. 

BIOL 680 Genomics. Offered in Spring 2024. This course might be of interest to students that are interested in healthcare, genetic counseling, or biomedical research as a large portion of the class will focus on tools used to sequence the human genome and how understanding the genome can help us understand potential risks in an individual’s genetics. This course can apply towards your BIOL 400+ electives.

BIOL 638 Pre-Reqs. BIOL 638 Biochemistry II (offered Spring only) requires a grade of C or higher in both BIOL 636 and CHEM 335.  

  • The chemistry department also uses grade-based prerequisites for some of their courses. 

BIOL 639. If all sections or the section you need fills up, please fill out this permission form with your preferred section. Preference will first be given to seniors graduating in Spring 2024, Summer 2024, or Fall 2024. For students graduating in Spring 2025 or later, fill out the permission form and we’ll add you to a waiting list until we know if we have additional seats. Graduating seniors will be prioritized first. 

BIOL 420 Careers in Bioscience. This course is aimed at freshman and sophomores and is focused on providing an overview of bioscience career options. The course will help you:  

  • Get advice from upper-level bioscience undergraduates on how to get the most from your bioscience degree 

  • Explore bioscience career options (e.g. health-related, research, biotech) 

  • Identify your career interests and begin thinking about preparing for applications for jobs, graduate school or professional school 

  • Learn about different areas of bioscience research 

  • Explore opportunities that can enhance your bioscience degree and identify steps to take that will help you ultimately be successful. 

BIOL 680 Genomics. Offered in Spring 2024. This course might be of interest to students that are interested in healthcare, genetic counseling, or biomedical research as a large portion of the class will focus on tools used to sequence the human genome and how understanding the genome can help us understand potential risks in an individual’s genetics. This course can apply towards your BIOL 400+ electives. 

Lab options. The below courses include lab hours that would count towards the BIOL 400+ Lab Electives for the BA Biology major. The lab hours for each course are in parentheses. 

BIOL 420: Research on KS Native Bees (3 credit hours; counts towards 2 credits of BIOL 400+ Lab) 

BIOL 592: Ichthyology (4 credit hours; counts towards 1 hour of BIOL 400+ Lab Electives) 

BIOL 623: Paleontology Lab (1 credit of BIOL 400+ Lab; BIOL 622 Paleontology lecture is co-requisite) 

BIOL 412 Spring only. BIOL 412 is only offered in the spring semester. If you are graduating in Summer 2024 or Fall 2024, enroll in BIOL 412 this spring if you haven’t already completed this course. 

MATH 116. As of last semester, MATH 116 is no longer required for BA Biology majors. If you have questions about this change, please check with your advisor.  

BIOL 420 Careers in Bioscience. This course is aimed at freshman and sophomores and is focused on providing an overview of bioscience career options. The course will help you:  

  • Get advice from upper-level bioscience undergraduates on how to get the most from your bioscience degree 

  • Explore bioscience career options (e.g. health-related, research, biotech) 

  • Identify your career interests and begin thinking about preparing for applications for jobs, graduate school or professional school 

  • Learn about different areas of bioscience research 

  • Explore opportunities that can enhance your bioscience degree and identify steps to take that will help you ultimately be successful. 

BIOL 680 Genomics. Offered in Spring 2024. This course might be of interest to students that are interested in healthcare, genetic counseling, or biomedical research as a large portion of the class will focus on tools used to sequence the human genome and how understanding the genome can help us understand potential risks in an individual’s genetics. This course can apply towards your BIOL 400+ electives. 

Other Info

Seniors intending to graduate Spring or Summer 2024 with departmental honors should enroll in BIOL 699. 

Sophomores and juniors who are interested in research and intend to complete the departmental honors requirements should enroll in BIOL 499 in the Fall 2024 semester. Honors requirements include an independent research project, an honors thesis, an oral presentation, and a 3.5 major GPA. 

 

Benefits of Pursuing Departmental Honors:   

  • Build a relationship with a faculty member in Biology—great for asking for letters of recommendation when applying to graduate programs  

  • Use your departmental honors thesis when applying to graduate schools (master’s programs or PhD programs)   

  • Add departmental honors on your resume when applying for full-time positions after graduation or when applying to graduate school!  

  • Gain valuable lab experience which is applicable to applying for employment!  

 The Biology Majors Advisory Committee (BMAC) is a group of undergraduate biology students that represent and provide feedback about their academic experience and environment to the Undergraduate Biology Program and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Molecular Biosciences departments.  

If you have feedback you would like to share about the KU biology program, you can email the BMAC at biomac@ku.edu or visit them during their Fall drop-in hours in the BioCenter for Collaborative Learning (Haworth 1004). Their drop-in hours are Mondays from 1-2 pm and Thursdays from 11 am-12 pm.  

Sincerely, 

The KU Undergraduate Biology Program 
kuub.ku.edu