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 Cover storyThe biology boost: Biology undergraduates make their mark in the health sciencesIt’s no secret that majoring in biology as an undergraduate provides a strong foundation for a professional program in the health sciences. But at the College of Biological Sciences, a biology major is about more than knowing how to dissect a frog, being able to tell the difference between lysosomes and ribosomes or memorizing the location of the occipital lobe. It’s about being immersed in research early, finding a community, getting exposed to a unique curriculum and accumulating real-world health sciences experience. 
From molecules to ecosystemsCBS students with an eye to the health sciences have a unique advantage over their undergraduate counterparts in other colleges: a comprehensive education in living systems. “ You can explore every facet of applied biology here at the University of Minnesota—from stem cell biology to agriculture,” says Robin Wright, associate dean for faculty and academic affairs for CBS. “That’s powerful.” And it’s only a starting point. The breadth and depth of the biology curriculum means students are well prepared for health sciences studies. “[CBS] attracts a lot of pre-health sciences students because the courses most health care-related programs require are included in our curriculum,” says Sarah Corrigan, assistant director of the CBS Honors Program. “A lot of CBS students go on to medical, pharmacy and dental school at the University—and beyond to Ivy League schools.” CBS alum Paul Ruen (B.S. Biology, ‘88), a veterinarian in Fairmont, Minn., echoes that sentiment. He points to the grounding in the basics—“the understanding of the way organisms tick”—as a valuable foundation for being a practicing vet. As a student, Ruen says, he was introduced to basic concepts as well as specialized topics such as endocrinology, immunology and biochemistry that provided him with a solid knowledge base for a career in the health sciences. Students at the University also have access to introductory courses in health sciences professional programs. For example, Ashley Gray, now a second-year student at the University of Minnesota’s College of Pharmacy started out with the idea of entering a physical therapy program. However, at the urging of her adviser, she took an introductory pharmacy course in her freshman year at CBS and discovered her passion for the subject. A community of student-scientistsCatherine Casey (B.S. Biology, ’82), a gynecological oncologist based in Minneapolis, doesn’t hesitate when asked what made her undergraduate experience at the College of Biological Sciences most valuable. “First and foremost were the other CBS students, many of whom had similar goals.” More than half of CBS honors grads plan to go on to advanced study in one of the health sciences, according to an annual exit poll conducted by CBS Student Services. When incoming freshmen are asked about their goals, about 80 percent of them say they plan to enter health-related careers. That commonality of intended careers provides fertile ground for building connections to the health sciences at the undergraduate level. It’s one of the reasons CBS helped lead the effort five years ago to launch the Health Careers Center, which offers a wide variety of educational opportunities designed to introduce undergraduates to the realities of working as a health professional in the complex world of health care. And that means more than just an emphasis on medical school. “CBS fosters knowledge of the other health sciences,” says Rania Habib, a second-year student at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. “[Without the CBS experience] you don’t really hear about dentistry and pharmacy.” CBS undergraduate advisers help guide students and urge them to explore courses in their fields of interest early. A new trackCBS just made it easier than ever for students to pursue their interests in the health sciences Many professional programs in the health sciences do not require students to complete a bachelor’s degree before entering a program. The new Health Sciences Track—introduced this spring—makes it possible for students who leave after three years at the College of Biological Sciences to enter a health professional program in pharmacy, dentistry or veterinary medicine anywhere in the United States to use credits from their first year of professional school toward their undergraduate degree. CBS is the only college at the University of Minnesota set up to grant degrees in this way. The program, which is retroactive for five years, provides both closure and a sense of continuity. “Getting an undergraduate degree matters to students,” says Assistant Dean Jean Underwood. “With the new Health Sciences Track, they’re not cut off from the College of Biological Sciences when they go on to professional school. They continue as part of our community.” page one / page two |