Students planning to major in biology and government can expect changes in their course selections as these departments revamp their majors to fit the diverse interests of students.
The biology department began formulating a new system late last summer and held two information sessions last week to explain the changes that will take effect beginning Fall term.
The biggest difference in the new system will be the greater flexibility offered to students majoring in biology. These students will be able to choose from a wide variety of concentrations instead of choosing among the four current majors, which include general biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, genetics, cell and developmental biology and environmental biology.
Each student will also have a faculty mentor with similar interests to help him or her in their selection of classes.
"The students will pick their area of concentration in whatever interests them, and then the advisor will help them to develop their course plans," biology professor Lee Witters said.
The department is also adding Biology 11, The Science of Life, as a prerequisite for the major. Students who have taken biology this year will not be required to take this class, but future biology majors must enroll in it.
Other changes include removing honors cell biology and combining genetics and molecular biology into one class. The classes that will cover cell biology and genetics will not be taught by multiple professors as they are now.
Current majors will have the option of choosing between the current system and the new one but are encouraged to begin with the new plan.
"Only incoming students will have to stick hard and fast to the new rules," biology professor Mark McPeek said. "But it will be a good system, I promise."
Some biology majors seemed enthusiastic about the changes.
"I'm choosing to switch to the new major because it will also allow me to apply courses from other departments toward my major if they are relevant to my concentration," Zaneta Thayer '08 said. "So far, everyone I have spoken to about the new major is excited about the change and the greater number of courses that will be offered in coming years as a result."
The government department is also changing its system of majors to give students greater freedom in their fields.
"Students now choose one of four subfields: international relations, comparative politics, political theory and American politics," government department administrator Lisa Wallace said. "In the new plan, students will pick a puzzle that interests them and formulate a major with the help of an advisor."
As a result, students will no longer adhere to one particular concentration, instead choosing various courses from subfields that are of interest to them.
The changes in the government department will take effect with the Class of 2008.
