Western Michigan University
Biological Sciences
The Stewart Clocktower of the Waldo Library-Computer Center Complex in the
heart of WMU's campus.
Overview
Western Michigan University, founded in 1903, is dedicated to creating knowledge and putting it to work in an environment of academic excellence in teaching, research and service. As a result, it has earned a reputation as an ascending national university that offers its students a truly international perspective. With more than 26,000 students, one-fourth at the graduate level, WMU ranks among the nation's 60 largest institutions. Minority students make up 10 percent of the total student body, while international students from almost 100 countries account for another 7 percent of the total. WMU supports six degree-granting colleges: arts and sciences, the Haworth College of Business, education, engineering and applied sciences, fine arts, and health and human services. The university offers more than 240 programs, including 25 at the doctoral level and 67 at the master's level.
The Community
WMU's main campus is located just off Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 131 in the Southwest Michigan, City of Kalamazoo, which is less than three hours by car from Detroit and Chicago. With 220,000 people, Kalamazoo County is served by ample air, train and bus transportation. In addition to WMU, three other higher education institutions are located in the area, as are several Fortune 500 firms, including Haworth Inc., the Kellogg Co., Phamacia & Upjohn, Inc., and the Whirlpool Corp. Well known for its involvement in the arts, Kalamazoo supports theatrical, musical and dance groups; offers art, aviation and cultural museums; and boasts a nature center and a five-branch public library system. The sandy beaches of Lake Michigan are less than an hour's drive away, while an abundance of parks, golf courses, ski slopes, lakes and cross country trails provide year-round enjoyment.
Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
The following degree programs are offered in the area of Biological Sciences: M.S. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, and M.S. in Biostatistics. The Master of Science is a research-based program having both a thesis and a non-thesis option. The program focuses on enhancing the ability of students to plan, carry out, analyze, and report original research. Course work increases the scientific preparation of students and supports their research.
The master's program allows students to specialize in the following areas: Cellular Biology, Cellular Physiology, Chemical Ecology, Ecology and Evolution, Electron Microscopy, Entomology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Neurobiology, Plant Physiology, Systematic Botany, Toxicology/Genetic Toxicology, and Virology and Immunology.
The doctor of philosophy in biological sciences at Western Michigan University is unique in that it combines the traditional research experience associated with a biology degree with the course work breadth and pedagogical experience so vital to careers that involve effectively communicating scientific concepts.
It is a tripartite program emphasizing course breadth, formal training in teaching, and research experience in a cellular or molecular aspect of biology. Designed to be completed in four years, it prepares Ph.D.-level biologists with an appreciation of the interdisciplinary and didactic nature of biology and with an ability to effectively convey this knowledge. This program is specifically designed for students who wish to pursue teaching or teaching and research careers in the biological sciences in colleges or universities. However, the pedagogy requirements should also provide an excellent background for careers in government and industry, where the role of a Ph.D. is to organize and effectively communicate information.
The Master of Science in Biostatistics was developed in cooperation with the pharmaceutical industry to prepare students for careers in pharmaceutical-related industries and in medical- or health-related fields. It also provides a foundation for students wishing to pursue a Ph.D. in biostatistics. An integral component of the biostatistics program is the internship experience. Arrangements for internships necessitate ongoing cooperation and involvement between the academic and business communities and ensure continued compatibility between the skills of graduates and the needs of industry.
Facilities and Resources
Research facilities available include the Center for Biological Imaging, tissue culture and animal housing areas, an herbarium, animal collections, and a greenhouse. A variety of field research areas are also available, including examples of every major ecosystem of the Midwest: mesic, zeric, and hydric forests; native grasslands; bogs; fens; marshes; and lakes.
In addition a $44.4 Million Project to transform the center of Western Michigan University's campus into a mecca for science instruction and research will soon be completed. The project includes the renovation of Wood Hall that will be ready for Fall 1998 classes. The 38-year-old building will have 150,000 square feet of new space including 30 teaching laboratories, five classrooms and two auditoriums. In addition, research facilities for biological sciences, geography, geology, and psychology are located in the building.
The companion to Wood Hall is the new science research pavilion, Diether H. Haenicke Hall.
Western Michigan University's academic library collection is the fourth largest in Michigan and the largest in West Michigan. The Waldo Library contains a collection capacity of 3,600,000 items, seating capacity of 1,900, multiple outlets for computer access, and the Voyager web-based library system for automated information retrieval. An additional 792,000 print and non-print items are located in the Education Library, Music and Dance Library, Archives and Regional History Collections, and Visual Resources Library.
University Commuting Services provides a variety of computing resources and facilities for students. UCS provides each student with a computing account on our Open VMS system or UNIX platform, at no charge. These accounts provide students with access to Internet resources including e-mail and the Web. Facilities include two open access computing labs, housing Macintosh, Windows 95, and Unix workstations and Vt320 terminals. UCS also houses a multipurpose enabling technology lab (METL) for students with visual impairments or other physical challenges.
Departments have discipline-specific special facilities to support the research activities of their students and faculty. Among them are Business Research and Service Institute, Center for Research on At-risk Students, Center for Advanced Tribology, Center for Research into Environmental Signal Transduction, Coherent Optics Laboratory, Concurrent Computation Research Center, Biological Imaging Center, Enabling Technology Center, The Evaluation Center, Geographic Information Systems Research Center, Human Performance Institute, Leonard C. Kercher Center for Social Research, Medieval Institute, Music Therapy Clinic, Particle Accelerator Laboratory, and the Psychology Clinic.
Expenses and Aid
Costs 2004-2005
Tuition is $190 per semester hour for Michigan residents and $435 per semester hour for nonresidents. An enrollment fee of $640 per year is required of all students.
Housing
A wide choice of graduate living accommodations is available, including on-campus family and single student apartments.The cost of family housing ranges from $395 per month for one bedroom, unfurnished, to $643 per month for two bedrooms, furnished. The University also offers four residence halls specifically for students 21 years of age or older, at prices ranging from $1906(room only) to $4591(room and meals) per academic year. The Office of Off-Campus Life assists students in locating off-campus housing and maintains lists of more than 2,500 rental units, area landlords, and students looking for roommates.
Financial Aid
The following types of fellowships and assistantships are available: Graduate College Fellowships for entering master's degree students, Doctoral Associateships for outstanding doctoral students, King/Chavez/Parks Fellowships, and Thurgood Marshall Assistantships and Professional Tuition Grants for qualified U.S. students from historically underrepresented groups. In addition, graduate departments have their own assistantship appointments. The minimum assistantship award for entering students is $7,940. The deadline for most WMU financial assistance is February 15.
How to Apply
At WMU, graduate admission for U.S. citizens and Resident Aliens is handled via a self-managed application process. It requires students to take responsibility for gathering all admission materials and submitting these materials to the appropriate office before the published admission dates. International students should follow instructions as outlined in the materials obtained from the Office of International Student Services.
Applications for admission can be obtained by calling the Office of Admissions and Orientation request line at (800) 400-4968. International students must call the Office of International Student Services at (6l6) 387-5865 for admission application materials.
Admission requirements and application deadline dates vary by department. Contact the department directly to obtain specific information.
Who to Contact
For more information, contact:
| Office of Admissions & Orientation Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5120 Tel: (616) 387-2000 Fax: (616) 387-2096 E-mail: ask-wmu@wmich.edu Internet: http://www.wmich.edu |
|
International Student Services Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI 49008 Tel: (616) 387-5865 Fax: (616) 387-5899 E-mail: oiss.info@wmich.edu Internet: http://www.wmich.edu/oiss/ |
The Faculty and Major Research Interests
Biological Sciences (616) 387-5625
Bruce Bejek, Ph.D., St. Louis University. Cancer biology, primarily on the process by which cancers are initiated, maintained and progress.
Leonard J. Beuving, Ph.D., University of California. Animal physiology, endocrinology, electron microscopy.
Richard Brewer, Ph.D., University of Illinois. Population and ecosystem ecology, ornithology.
David P. Cowan, Ph.D., University of Michigan. Ecology, evolution, animal behavior, entomology.
Elwood B. Ehrle, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University. Botany, bryology, morphology, systematics, evolution.
Robert C. Eisenberg, Ph.D., North Carolina State University. Microbiology, bacterial physiology, biochemistry.
Alexander J. Enyedi, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University. Plant molecular biology, plant physiology, plant-microbial interactions.
Karim Essani, Ph.D., University of Western Ontario (Canada). Molecular and immunological aspects of virus infections.
Gyula Ficsor, Ph.D., University of Missouri. Genetics, molecular biology, genetic toxicology.
Leonard C. Ginsberg, Ph.D., Temple University. Biology, human genetics, developmental biology, mammalian developmental genetics.
Cindy M. Hoorn, D.V.M., Ph.D., Michigan State University. Cell biology, pharmacology, toxicology and molecular biology of vascular cells.
William F. Jackson, Ph.D., Michigan State University. Animal vascular cell biology, physiology.
John A. Jellies, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin. Neurobiology, cell biology.
David Karowe, Ph.D., University of Michigan. Ecology, population biology, global change, and introductory organismal biology.
Stephen B. Malcolm, Ph.D., University of Oxford, United Kingdom. Ecology, chemical ecology, entomology.
Richard W. Pippen, Ph.D., University of Michigan. Botany, systematic and reproductive biology of plants.
Silvia Rossbach, Ph.D., University of Cologne, Germany. Microbial ecology.
Biostatistics (616) 387-4510
Joseph McKean, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University.
Daniel Mihalk, Ph.D., Purdue University.
Joshua Naranjo, Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University.
Gerald Sievers, Ph.D. University of Iowa.
Michael Staline, Ph.D., University of Iowa.
Jung Chao Wang, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin.