First Year FAQ's

On behalf of the faculty and staff of the College of Science & Mathematics, I would like to congratulate you on your decision to enroll at Kennesaw State University and welcome you. Our aim is to create an environment where higher learning will prepare you for a personal, professional and rewarding career.

Graduates of our degree programs are among the best prepared in Georgia for professional school, graduate school or careers in industry as a result of our outstanding faculty who are committed to teaching and the opportunity for hands-on research experiences afforded to students.

To ensure graduating in optimum time, those of you who are even thinking of majoring in one of our degree programs should declare your major now to ensure the necessary advising and subsequent enrollment in science and mathematics courses that are pre-requisites for required upper-level courses. Please refer to our Freshman Advisement Sheet for the courses you should be taking this year.

Sincerely,
Laurence I. Peterson, Dean

When should I declare my Major?

As soon as you enroll at Ksu! The B.S. degree programs within our college (Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Information Systems and Mathematics) have pre-requisites for all higher level courses. If you do not take the proper Science and Math courses your first semester, you will fall behind in your progress toward graduation.

For example, the B.S. Chemistry Degree requires CHEM 1211 (General Chemistry) and MATH 1113 (or MATH 1190) during your first semester. A recent survey found that 50% of our majors in this discipline did not take CHEM 1211 in their first year and unwittingly added an additional year to their undergraduate education.

If I am a Pre-Med (or Pre-Veterinarian, Pre-Pharmacy, or Pre-Dental) student, do I have to declare a major?

Definitely yes! Since the “Pre-Professional” track is not a major, you will want to declare your major in one of the following degree programs to be assigned an advisor: Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or Chemistry.

Another advantage of declaring a major early is to meet students pursuing the same career goals and be introduced to various other career options in the event you change your career direction while still a KSU student. Nationwide, typically two-thirds of students pursuing the above pre-professional tracks change career goals within their first three years.

I do not know if I should major in Computer Science or Information Systems. How do I decide?

CS is the in-depth study of computing technologies, while IS is the application of computing technologies to solve human/business problems. In fact, CS and IS majors are required to take a common core of eight CSIS courses. The primary difference between the two disciplines is their supporting area of study. The supporting area for Computer Science is Mathematics. The supporting area for Information Systems is Business. CS students must take MATH 1113 and MATH 1190. IS students, on the other hand, may choose either PreCalculus / Calculus sequence or MATH 1101 and MATH 1106.

MATH 1113 and MATH 1190. IS students, on the other hand, may choose either the preCalculus /Calculus sequence or MATH 1101 and MATH 1106. Students must plan their course of study carefully because of the prerequisite structure of CSIS coursework.

If I have been out of school for over five years, should I go directly into Chemistry 1211 or Math 1113, or would I be better advised to first take the pre-requisites for these two courses?

An appointment with a faculty adviser in the chemistry or mathematics departments to discuss your level of preparedness for these courses will be helpful.

In some cases, a test can be administered to provide you with a gauge for how much of the prerequisite content you still know. Ultimately, it will be your decision as to whether or not to enroll directly into these courses.

What are the primary differences between the B.S. Degree Program in Biochemistry and Biotechnology relative to course work and future career opportunities?

The Biochemistry and Biotechnology programs are two distinct but complementary degree program offerings. The biochemistry degree program prepares graduates for many areas in the biomedical industry (rational drug design, biopharmaceutical production, industrial biotechnology, etc.) that require individuals with a solid foundation in such areas as bioorganic chemistry, computational molecular modeling, and protein-protein interactions.

On the other hand, the biotechnology degree will prepare graduates for other areas of biotechnology industry (genetically modified organisms, agricultural biotechnology, molecular diagnostics, cytogenetics, forensic molecular biology, etc.) that require individuals with a strong foundation in genetics, molecular genetics, genetic engineering, and biodiversity.

If I am considering medical school, which of the four degree programs (biology, biochemistry, biotechnology or chemistry) would you recommend?

As part of your preparation for admission into medical school, you will need a degree in one of these four majors. Medical Schools do not require applicants to have a particular major, but rather to have completed a set of courses meeting pre-med requirements as part of the student’s chosen degree program. Your own aptitude and interest for any of these four areas of study, along with the role and contribution you wish to make should guide your decision . Additional requirements for admission into medical schools: http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/msar.htm

What advice do you have for a science or math major who wants to attend graduate school following their B.S. degree?

Graduate schools will be looking at the number of upper division courses in your major and your GPA in these courses. Additionally, graduate schools look for evidence of undergraduate research experience with faculty. Such experience will help separate you from those who do not have any undergraduate research.

After completing my B.S. degree, should I apply to a Master’s level program or a PhD program if I am planning for graduate school?

If a PhD program exists at the school you are considering, we recommend going directly into a PhD program. Students in the sciences typically begin their PhD research in the second year of graduate school. Going directly into a PhD program can avoid the need for two (M.S. and PhD) dissertations.

Do I really need to register for classes today?

It is highly recommended to register as soon as possible, so you have the opportunity to develop the most efficient course schedule.

Did You Know ?

• Our Biology program has the largest number of declared majors at KSU.
• Our Chemistry & Biochemistry programs have more majors than any program of its kind in Georgia.
• Our Computer Science majors are almost always employed full-time in the IT industry on completion of their degree.
• Our Mathematics Department has the largest number of Secondary Math
  Education graduates in Georgia.