By CYNTHIA HILL

Staff Writer

The Biology Connection, a new course being piloted this spring, will be required for all biological science majors beginning fall quarter.

Dr. David Mills, director of the School of Biological Sciences and an associate professor of biological sciences, said, "This class will integrate real-world solutions with the biological science content the students have learned."

The decision to offer such a class evolved from talking with students and a student advisory committee, Mills said.

Mills said the course will fulfill a need to expose students to circumstances they will have to deal with as they complete college and begin careers in their selected fields.

Dr. Larry Sellers, a professor of biological sciences, will instruct students on preparing for standardized tests and assist them in putting together their own professional portfolios.

As chairman of the pre-medical and pre-dental advisory committee, Sellers said he noticed students did not always get the preparation they needed to begin a job search.

Sellers said this class will serve as a supplement to university seminar at a time when the students are more receptive to directions concerning their chosen field.

"We chose to have the students take this class as sophomores rather than freshmen, because they are settled in by that time," Sellers said.

"We hope to always offer this class on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon-1 p.m., because we found that time slot to be the least conflicting with their schedules."

The class is graded on a pass-or-fail scale and requires the students to follow through on what they are presented in class, Sellers said.

"The racing form has the time for this incorrectly listed," Sellers said. "The class is ANS 289 at this time. Next quarter it will become BISC 199."

Amy Davidson, a junior biology major, said she is taking the class and feels like she has learned specific information she would not haven gotten without the course.

"I have friends who have applied to medical school and have not been accepted because of their personal statement," Davidson said. "This class has taught us not just what to put in our applications, but what not to put in them as well.

"Dr. Sellers takes a personal interest in his students and makes sure we are well prepared for the future."

Sellers said other topics taught in this one-hour credit course include computer competency, library research techniques, presentation strategies and study skills.