Go to the faculty web page to see the interests of our faculty members or see the list at the bottom of this page.  It is often helpful to choose someone with interests similar to yours.  Alternatively, you may think that one of your teachers would make a good advisor.  If you have a particular career path in mind or if you don't really know what areas of biology interest you, go to the bottom of this page to see a list of appropriate advisors.  If you meet with an advisor and don't really get along, then try someone else!  If you are undecided as to your area of interest, meet with one of the advisors listed in the "undecided" section or talk to your biology instructor or to other students.

Suggested Biology Major Advisors
Please contact advisors by e-mail or phone to schedule a meeting.
B.S in Biology (without an emphasis)
Dr. Belthoff	jbeltho@boisestate.edu	426-4692
Dr. Feris	kevinferis@boisestate.edu	426-5498
Dr. Long	jlong@boisestate.edu	426-1256
Dr. Robertson	iroberts@boisestate.edu	426-2394
Dr. Smith	jfsmith@boisestate.edu	426-3551
Botany Emphasis
Dr. Novak	snovak@boisestate.edu	426-3548
Dr. Serpe	mserpe@boisestate.edu	426-3687
Dr. Smith	jfsmith@boisestate.edu	426-3551
Dr. White	merlinwhite@boisestate.edu	426-4638
Ecology Emphasis
Dr. Bechard	mbechard@boisestate.edu	426-3530
Dr. Belthoff	jbeltho@boisestate.edu	426-4692
Dr. Forbey	JenniferForbey@boisestate.edu	426-4426
Dr. Koetsier	pkoet@bosiestate.edu	426-3817
Dr. Novak	snovak@boisestate.edu	426-3548
Dr. Robertson
Environmental Biology Emphasis
Dr. Feris	kevinferis@boisestate.edu	426-5498
Dr. Forbey	JenniferForbey@boisestate.edu
Dr. Heath	julieheath@boisestate.edu	426-3208
Dr. Koetsier	pkoet@bosiestate.edu	426-3817
Dr. Novak	snovak@boisestate.edu	426-3548
Human Biology Emphasis
Dr. Long	jlong@boisestate.edu	426-1256
Dr. Jorcyk	cjorcyk@boisestate.edu	426-4287
Dr. Hampikian	greghampikian@boisestate.edu	426-4992
Dr. Mitchell	kristenmitchell@boisestate.edu	426-4620
Dr. Rohn	trohn@boisestate.edu	426-2396
Dr. Oxford	joxford@boisestate.edu	426-2395
Dr. Tinker	juliettetinker@boisestate.edu	426-5472
Dr. Yu	gongxinyu@boisestate.edu	426-2314
Microbiology Emphasis
Dr. Feris	kevinferis@boisestate.edu	426-5498
Dr. Hampikian	greghampikian@boisestate.edu	426-4992
Dr. Mitchell	kristenmitchell@boisestate.edu	426-4620
Dr. Tinker	juliettetinker@boisestate.edu	426-5472
Dr. Yu	gongxinyu@boisestate.edu	426-2314
Dr. Wingett	denisewingett@boisestate.edu	426-2921
Molecular and Cell Biology Emphasis
Dr. Jorcyk	cjorcyk@boisestate.edu	426-4287
Dr. Mitchell	kristenmitchell@boisestate.edu	426-4620
Dr. Oxford	joxford@boisestate.edu	426-2395
Dr. Rohn	trohn@boisestate.edu	426-2396
Dr. Serpe	mserpe@boisestate.edu	426-3687
Dr. Tinker	juliettetinker@boisestate.edu	426-5472
Dr. Wingett	denisewingett@boisestate.edu	426-2921
Dr. Yu	gongxinyu@boisestate.edu	426-2314
Zoology Emphasis
Dr. Bechard	mbechard@boisestate.edu	426-3530
Dr. Belthoff	jbeltho@boisestate.edu	426-4692
Dr. Forbey	JenniferForbey@boisestate.edu	426-4426
Dr. Heath	julieheath@boisestate.edu	426-3208
Dr. Koetsier	pkoet@bosiestate.edu	426-3817
Dr. Long	jlong@boisestate.edu	426-1256
Dr. Robertson	iroberts@boisestate.edu	426-2394

 

 

It is very important to see an advisor as early in your college career as possible.  Students who wait often don't take key courses, and therefore end up delaying their progress towards a biology degree.  It is a good idea to meet with your advisor every semester to get help with selecting courses for the next semester.  Don't wait until the last minute before your registration appointment to seek out your advisor; he/she may not be able to see you promptly and then either you'd need to register without the advise of your advisor or you'd need to delay your registration until later, potentially missing out on open courses.

There are several ways.  During the period just before registration begins each semester, many faculty members hang schedules outside their office doors on which students can sign up for a time slot.  Alternatively, you may email or phone your advisor and set up an appointment.  As you get to know your advisor, you'll probably end up feeling comfortable just dropping by for a quick bit of advice now and again.  It is very important that if you make an appointment, you keep it.  Your advisor will not be impressed by a person who doesn't take appointments seriously.

Typically you'd meet in your advisor's office.  You can get office numbers off the faculty website or from the directory next to the elevator on the second floor of science nursing building.  If you are fortunate enough to have your advisor as an instructor for a semester, after a lab period is often a good time to seek a bit of advice.

If you are a transfer student, make sure you bring transcripts from your previous institutions and the external credit report that Boise State University has sent you.  Whoever you are, bring any checklists that you've been keeping and bring a tentative list of courses that you think you should take.