HU Biology: Freshman Seminar

Dr. James Murray (UCA) interacts with seminiar students during the Q&A period after his presentation on the mechanisms of water-flow sensitivity in the nudibranch sea slug.

"This is where we teach our students to think out of the box. "

Purpose

Freshman seminar is designed to provide opportunities for learning about the Department of Biology at Harding University, of which we hope you will be a part for the next few years. You will meet faculty and upper level students nearing graduation, as a means of letting you know about the many opportunities available within the Biology Department. We will also explore the educational and career possibilities that await you after graduation from HU.

We hope this seminar class will serve as a platform for strengthening relationships between you and our faculty, and between you and your peers. But most of all, we pray that this class will be the starting point for growing in your relationship with God as you learn how to examine his awesome creation using standard scientific methods.

Freshman seminar meets on Mondays from 4:00-5:15 in Sci 165.

Freshman Seminar (BIOL 140) is required for the B.S. in Biology (BIOL) and the B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BCMB) degrees. BIOL 140 is the prequel to Senior Seminar (BIOL 440). Ideally, you should enroll in BIOL 140 during your first semester as a biology major.

Attendance is required. You are allowed one absence per semester for which you will not be held accountable. For each additional absence you must formally request to be excused.  Your overall course grade for seminar (assigned during your last semester of Biol 440) will be lowered five points for each unexcused absence. In addition, you will be dropped automatically from Freshman Seminar if you exceed three unexcused absences during the semester, which will result in your having to register for an extra semester of seminar in order to meet graduation requirements. Activities such as making up work for another class (labs, exams, etc.), attending sporting events or team practice, medical appointments, institutional exams (CLEP, JEP, etc.), going home, attending to frivolous personal needs, club activities, and forgetting are insufficient reasons for being absent.

Formal requests for excused absence can be made by submitting the Request for Excuse Form with attached supporting documentation to the biology secretary in Pryor Science Rm 131 by 5:00 PM on Monday following the week you were absent from seminar. This is the only requesting procedure that will be considered and does not guarantee an excused absence. A majority vote by the biology faculty on your request will determine whether or not your absence is excused. If you have been called away from campus for an extended emergency or are suffering from an extended illness, you may turn in the form as soon as possible after your return. Make sure that the secretary dates and initials the form. Late excuses will not be accepted except in cases of unavoidable emergency.

Students enrolled in Biol. 140, and in Biol. 440 for 0 credit hours, will receive a final semester grade of "NC", no credit. However, participation will be recorded on their formal transcript as a partial fulfillment of a degree requirement.

A final course grade in Biology Seminar will be earned in the last semester of Biol 440 when taken for 2 credit hours. Course grades will be determined by adjusting the seminar presentation score by the following: 1) 5 point reduction for each unexcused absence accumulated during enrollment in Biology 140; 2) 5 point reduction for each unexcused absence accumulated over three semesters of enrollment in Biology 440; 3) 5 point reduction for each “U” earned during Journal Club; and 4) adjustments made regarding student's score on the MFAT, a standardized exam taken by all graduating BIOL and BCMB majors during their last semester of seminar.

Click here for more details on how Biology Seminar Final grades are calculated.