<p>Is Perspectives on Sci. a full-year course, & how many course credits do you gain?</p>
<p>Could anyone explain how a non-premed Bio or Biochem major’s course sequence should be?</p>
<p>Perspectives on Science is a full-year course, so you will need to take both semesters of it to receive one credit (half for each semester) at the end of the year. After first semester, you will get a “Satisfactory” on your transcript, which will be replaced with a half-credit after you complete the second semester. (I’m pretty sure that this is how it worked, anyway… It’s been a while.)</p>
<p>Summer research is required to be full time, and I believe that the minimum commitment is an eight-week research experience. I do not think that the PoS coordinators encourage taking YSS courses during research, but if you end up staying longer and working for the equivalent of 8 weeks, I don’t think that they’d have any major issues with your doing so.</p>
<p>I don’t think the grading is too rough. The problem sets are graded on this ambiguous good/great/excellent (or something like that) scale. I hear that if you do a good job with your problem sets, the grading is pretty easy.</p>
<p>As far as how many other courses you can take with Perspectives, PoS (“PS” if you ask the Dean’s office) only meets on Fridays for 1.5 hours. I took 4.5 other credits both semesters (including two group IV classes per semester with one science lab). The only work you’ll really do during first semester is finishing your problem sets (probably on Thursday night…). Second semester includes a lengthy research paper, so keep that in mind when picking other classes so that your end-of-term isn’t too hectic. I ended up having to write 5 papers (including 2 research papers) in the last couple of weeks of the semester on top of taking 4 exams. I think I wore the same pair of jeans for about 4 days one week…</p>
<p>Generally, the non-premed MCDB and MB&B sequences are pretty much identical to those of pre-med science majors. This is largely because the majors’ prerequisites are almost identical to the pre-med science requirements. The only pre-med course that I can think of that was “extra” (not required by my major) was physics lab. Once you’re done with your prereqs, then the requirements for the majors are still the same regardless of your future plans.</p>
<p>For more information on the “tracks” of MCDB and the undergraduate MB&B program, you should check out their websites, which can be located with a simple Google search. In addition, the Blue Book contains information on each major (including senior research requirements, etc.), so you should check that out as well. I believe both resources will also have sample course sequences for you to look at.</p>