Declaration of the CMB Major and Admission to the Program

Admission to the cell and molecular biology major is a two step process:

(1) Declaration of cell and molecular biology major and assignment of an academic advisor in cell and molecular biology.

• Students with undeclared majors may declare their majors at the Advisement Center located in Room 109 of University College Hall or in the Biomedical Sciences Department office in the Professional Building, Room 400.
• Students with other declared majors may change their major to cell and molecular biology at the University Academic Advisement Center located in Room 109 of University College Hall.
• If a student and a particular advisor have agreed to work together, the student can indicate assignment of an academic advisor in cell and molecular biology at this time.
• If the student needs assistance in matching up an advisor he/she should then meet with Dr. Albert R. Gordon (Prof. Bldg. Rm 333, (417) 836-5730) who will assess the needs of the student and assign the most appropriate academic and pre-professional advisor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. After assignment, the CMB-declared student notifies the secretary in the Biomedical Sciences Office (Prof. Bldg., Room 400) of his/her advisor choice.
  

  (2) Formal admission to the program upon approval and filing of an Application to a Degree Program.

• Formal admission to the cell and molecular biology major requires completion or concurrent enrollment in BMS 110, CHM 160 and BMS 231 with an overall and science GPA of 2.5 or higher. Also for eligibility, the student must have completed the following General Education basic courses: IDS110/UHC110, CIS/CSC 101 or CSC 111, COM 115, ENG 110, MTH 135 or higher, and PED 100. As soon as the student is eligible, it is recommended that the student make application to the cell and molecular biology degree program. Students who are not admitted to a major before achieving 60 credit hours of course work are encumbered, notified by mail, and must receive special departmental and college permission to preregister for classes the following semester.
• The student obtains a complete copy of their own Degree Audit that can be conveniently downloaded and printed by the student from the student's records.
• The student arranges an appointment with his/her advisor for purposes of determining eligibility for admission into the major, determining the strategy for completing all requirements for graduation, completing the Application to a Degree Program and filing a list of Advisor Approved Elective Courses. Applications for the Degree Program forms are available in the BMS Department Office, Prof 400 or your assigned advisor.
• Since a list of elective courses in the CMB major must be advisor-approved at time of filing of the Application for a Degree Program, the student looks over the list of eligible elective courses and prepares to make suggestions when meeting with his/her advisor. Advisor- approved electives will take into consideration the post-graduation objectives of the student and may include any course in the BMS curriculum that is at the 300 level or above (except BMS 307) and selected courses from other departments. Ten credit hours of elective courses must have the BMS prefix. Advisor-approved courses are listed on the "Course Substitution or Waiver/Advisor Approved Courses Form" available from the BMS Department Office in Prof. Bldg, Room 400 or from your advisor.
• Elective courses taken over and above those courses listed on the Advisor Approved Courses form are encouraged and do not require advisor approval.
• A packet consisting of the Application to the Degree Program with recommendations for "admit, pending, or denied", the student's Degree Audit, and a signed and dated list of advisor-approved courses are submitted to the department head for checking and signatures. After approval, the student picks up the packet from the BMS Department Office, Prof. 400, and files the packet at the Degree Check Office in Carrington Hall, Room 304. Cell and molecular biology is a comprehensive major and does not require an academic minor. If the student desires to have an academic minor listed on their records, signatures and approvals for the minor must be obtained on the Application to a Degree Program from the department sponsoring the minor before filing the packet in the Degree Check Office. Additionally, academic minors can be specified at a later time by completing, obtaining approval and signatures, and filing the minor code portion on the Application to a Degree Program form.
• Sometimes changes to the list of advisor-approved elective courses may be required. These changes must be made before the student enrolls in classes to be used as electives. Changes to the list of Advisor Approved Courses can be made by re-submitting a "Revised" and dated advisor-approved list that requires the advisor's and department head's signatures. The student is responsible for delivering the revised Advisor Approved Course list to the Degree Check Office, Carrington Hall, Room 304.

  Program Assessment

  In the senior year, each CMB major is required to take the Area Concentration Achievement Test (ACAT). This examination is administered through the department in late April and late November. There is no cost to the student. Students seeking admission to most graduate programs may be required to take the Graduate Record Examination (General Test). Several graduate programs may also require the GRE Subject Test in Biochemistry/Cell and Molecular Biology. GRE examinations require a fee, and advanced preregistration.

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  For More Information

  The following faculty advisors in the Cell and Molecular Biology Program are available for tours, advisement sessions, or just to chat about the exciting opportunities and future that the CMB program can make available to you:

  Dr. Michael Craig Phone:(417) 836-5453
  Dr. Christopher Field Phone: (417) 836-5478
  Dr. Rich Garrad Phone: (417) 836-5372
  Dr. Benjamin Timson Phone:(417) 836-4145
  Dr. Colette Witkowski Phone:(417) 836-8961

  Department of Biomedical Sciences
  Missouri State University
  Springfield, MO 65897
  (417) 836-5603