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Biology Department Advising

The Biology Department at Valdosta State University offers only one degree program, specifically in "biology."  This means that whatever your career interests, your major at VSU is 'Biology' and the department's first priority is to recommend courses that fulfill your Biology Major curriculum including all Department, College (Arts and Sciences), and state (Board of Regents) requirements.  We recognize that many students will have interests in continuing their careers in many different fields and our faculty advisers will offer advice on specific elective courses that you should take to fill not only your Biology Major requirements but prerequisite courses for admission to postgraduate or transfer programs.  Specifically, faculty specialties for career and department advising is as follows:
 

Professional
Program: 
Faculty Advisor:
Agricultural Sciences Dr. Cantonwine
Anesthesiologist Assistant Dr. Loughry (Click for more information)

Animal Behavioral

Drs. Loughry, McDonough, and Bechler

Aquatic Biology

Drs. Nienow, Smith, and Bechler.       

Biology Teacher Dr. Jones
Biomedical/Pharmaceutical Science Dr. Gannon
Ecology Drs. Bergstrom and Cantonwine
Ecology of Infectious Diseases Drs. Turco, Lockhart, and Blackmore
General Biology All faculty members
Genetics Biotechnology Drs. Elder and Ring
Marine Biology Dr. Grove
Microbiology Drs. Turco and Bhasin
Occupational Therapy Drs. Fort and Grove   (O.T. Flyer)
Physical Therapy Dr.s Fort and Grove    (Click for more information on Physical Therapy), (Physical Therapy flyer)
Physician Assistant Dr. Goddard (Click for more information, Programs in Georgia), (Physician Assistant flyer)
Plant Sciences Dr. Cantonwine and Carter
Pre-Dentistry Dr. Nienow (Dental Hygiene flyer ), (Click for more information)
Pre-Medicine Drs. Blackmore, Elder, Lockhart, Ring, and Fort(Click for more information), (Pre-Medical Checklist)(Medical Technology)
Pre-Optometry Dr. Goddard and Carter (Click for more information), (Pre-Optometry flyer)
Pre-Veterinary Dr. Doscher (Click for more information)
Respiratory Therapy

Drs. Fort and Grove (Click for more information)                               

   
   
For specific advising questions please refer to the above listed advisers.  For general biology advising questions please see Mr. G. Gordon

Students can find a wealth of advice and information from many networked sources. One of the best I've seen for advice about health professions is by Dan Knauft, an active member of the National Academic Advising Association, and former senior health professions counselor at the University of Texas at Austin.  There are over 800 useful links to be found on this site covering aspects of choosing careers, pre-medical and other allied health field advising, interviewing, testing, and applying to various programs.  (RHG)

Additional Advising Links

For Biology Curriculum Samples and Information

 Pre-Medical and Allied Health Fields Information and FAQs, (click here).

Advising FAQ's

Student Success Center

OASIS Center for Advising and First Year Programs

VSU Course Catalogs

Biology Advising Worksheet