One of the University’s better-kept secrets is the success of its second-largest undergraduate concentration. Second in size to economics, undergraduate biological sciences total enrollment has grown from 3,532 in 1999 to 3,799 in 2003. Enrollment in general biology education courses (the former “common core”) has grown from 920 in 1999 to 1,531 in 2003, a 66% increase. Last year, the program graduated 150 students, a 24% increase in just two years.

Most importantly, the Biological Sciences Collegiate Division offers the largest number of full-time, faculty-taught courses in the University, approximately 90 per year out of a total menu of 120.

What’s most remarkable about this remarkable performance? According to Dr. José Quintans, Master of the BSD Collegiate Division, it is “the fact that BSD faculty have so many other pressing commitments on their time, in research, in clinics and hospital wards, and in teaching graduate and medical students as well as residents and clinical fellows. Nevertheless, this Division accounts for the highest density of faculty-taught courses in the entire University.”

At the heart of the undergraduate Biology program is what Quintans describes as “Curriculome,” a fourfold approach to education in the biological sciences that is a blend of scholarship and the comforts and support of home. Part one is the curriculum, a laboratory-based, rapidly evolving and comprehensive set of courses that runs the gamut from field sciences to computational neuroscience. Part two is an emphasis on research that is characteristic of the University of Chicago. This research focus is established through structured research courses as well as an honors program for seniors and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Summer Research Program. Part three is physical – the Biological Sciences Learning Center itself, a highly successful and interactive teaching environment that is entirely supported and maintained by BSD to the tune of approximately $2 million per year.

Lastly, and what Quintans regards as most importantly, is “Bioculture,” captured by the Student Phoenix Bio Club, journal clubs, a confirmation ceremony for students completing first-year fundamentals, a crawfish feast, a biodiversity prize, a senior graduation reception, an honors dinner and, last but certainly not least, the internationally known “Amphioxus T-shirts.” Taken together, Curriculome is a nurturing home to a growing population of students.

And what home would be complete without a nurturing parent? Artfully combining the functions of coddling mother and proud and protective father, Quintans embodies the program not only through his energy and commitment but also through an office in the Learning Center, close to his students.

The hardest part of the parenting, according to Quintans, is the constant effort to staff courses and maintain the program’s commitment to full-time faculty-taught courses, the source of program quality. The Quintans approach is to lead by example. In addition to his administrative roles as Collegiate Master and Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program, Quintans carried a 3-course teaching load last year, teaching Bioterroism (for non-majors), Immunobiology, and a Capstone course on Psychoneuroimmunology with Dr. Martha McClintock from the Department of Psychology.

In Curriculome, home is where the Master is.

Collegiate Mastery
One of the University's better-kept secrets is the success of its second-largest undergraduate concentration. Second in size to economics, undergraduate biological sciences total enrollment has grown from 3,532 in 1999 to 3,799 in 2003...

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The University of Chicago has been selected as one of eight Regional Centers of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (RCE), an effort that includes researchers from Northwestern, Argonne National Laboratory...

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ACCOLADES
Recent Awards and Grants Information for Biological Sciences Division Faculty

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