Frequently Asked Questions

 

What sorts of internships are available to students in the Integrative Biology program?

Integrative Biology majors at UMaine Machias have been successful obtaining internships at The Mount Desert Island Biological Labs, the Jackson Laboratory, and other biomedical laboratories. Students have completed projects with Departments of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Marine Resources, and National Park Service. Some have completed internships at zoos in Texas and Florida.

 

What sorts of jobs can I get with a degree in Integrative Biology?

With a degree in Integrative Biology you’ll be qualified to work as a laboratory or field technician, research assistant, environmental technician, animal technician, fisheries scientist, naturalist and forest ranger.
We have recent graduates who have completed veterinary school at Tufts University, the Royal College of Veterinary Medicine, and University of Georgia and medical school at U. New England. We have recent graduates who have earned Master’s degrees in public health, medical lab technician, veterinary assistant and Ph.Ds in biology, animal science, and molecular biology.

 

Can I earn my degree in four years?

Our Integrative Biology program is designed to be able to be completed within four years. The most significant hurdle to completion of a degree within four years is background in mathematics. Students who enter the program placing into developmental math courses can end up taking an extra year to graduate. It is possible in these situations to make up coursework in mathematics over the summer term however and we have several programs in place to help you succeed in your math courses.

 

Can I transfer in credits from courses that I’ve taken at another institution?

We work closely with the registrar’s office here at UMaine Machias to ensure that any coursework you’ve taken at other institutions is vetted for transferability into our program. While some of these transfer agreements are automatic, others are examined closely by the faculty to determine whether they are equivalent to our courses so that you receive credit for work you’ve already done.

 

Are there work study jobs available in the Integrative Biology program?

We have a number of work study jobs available for Integrative Biology majors across campus. Some students obtain valuable scientific experience through their work study, such as help to prepare laboratory materials for Biology courses, analyzing biological samples or digitizing UMM’s natural history collections.

 

What resources are available to help me if I’m struggling with my courses?

We have several programs available to help students who are struggling with coursework in Biology. These include study groups, and individual consultation with Professors.
At the tutoring center, located in Torrey Hall, you’ll find other students serving as tutors for courses that they have been successful in. You can arrange to meet with them one on one or just stop in to the center for help.
We also have a Supplemental Instruction (SI) program at UMaine Machias that supports students in first year science and math courses. SI leaders are UMaine Machias students who attend lectures and labs and who run SI sessions where they help you, the students, to teach each other the material presented in your courses. SI leaders are carefully selected students who have learned a lot about learning and who receive extensive training in peer led team teaching methods. After your first year at UMaine Machias you may be selected to be an SI leader yourself.

 

Are there opportunities to get involved in doing research?

Integrative Biology majors are required to complete a capstone requirement for the degree program and this capstone can be a senior thesis that is based on original research. Students with a 3.0 GPA are also eligible to arrange independent research for credit. We have a number of students who have presented their original research at conferences over the past four years, and a handful who have gotten their work published.