Undergraduate Student Resources
From tutoring and advising to guidance on transfers and credits, Columbian College and the Department of Biological Sciences offer students a range of resources to make their biology experience as productive and enjoyable as possible.
For personal, academic or career plan guidance, talking to your academic advisor is a good place to start. Not sure who your advisor is? Contact the department’s undergraduate advisor.
Declaring a Major or Minor
Before declaring, speak to the undergraduate advisor for the Department of Biological Sciences. He/she will help you select an advisor in your area of interest. Print or retrieve a Declaration of Major/Minor Form from the Columbian College Undergraduate Academic Advising Office and complete it with your advisor.
Departmental Employment and Funding
Scholarships, assistantships and other professional opportunities can help fund education and build impressive résumé material.
The Department of Biological Sciences employs students and volunteers in the office, greenhouse and as learning assistants (LAs) in lecture classes and undergraduate teaching assistants (UGTAs) in laboratory classes. Students who receive Federal Work-Study (FWS) are given preference for many of these positions.
Undergraduate TAs & Laboratory Preparation Assistants: Apply through GW Handshake or contact Lab Coordinator Emily Tvedt.
Learning Assistants: Contact Aidan Manubay.
Greenhouse Volunteers: Contact the greenhouse manager.
Social Media Volunteers: Contact the department to apply to assist with the biology website, news articles and departmental social media accounts.
Academic Resources
- Undergraduate Anthropology Advisors
Find the faculty member assigned to your major or minor program. - Academic Commons
Book peer tutoring or review sessions, research and writing help, step-by-step study strategies, language support and more. - GW Libraries
Explore on-campus libraries and online research databases. Gelman Library also maintains a research guide specifically for political science. - Language Center
Sign up for English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses, practice with language meet-up groups, take a language exam or talk to someone about waiving language requirements. - Writing Center
Make a free appointment to work with a writing consultant on your next project, from the brainstorming phase through drafting and revising.
Funding and Aid Resources
- Harlan Greenhouse Research Funding
Apply for funding through the Harlan Greenhouse to conduct research in the greenhouse. (Application is open year-round.) - Center for Career Services
Take advantage of career and job search coaching, self-assessment services, résumé development, networking and more. (Services offered to students and alumni.) - Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research
Search and apply for undergraduate fellowships and research awards. - Luther Rice Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Apply for a fellowship to support a research project carried out over several weeks or across multiple semesters. - Sigelman Undergraduate Research Enhancement (SURE) Awards
Apply for a $500 grant to fund research project supplies, conference travel, off-site archival visits, videography and more. - Student Accounts Office
View current tuition and aid information. - Student Financial Assistance
Look for scholarships, Federal Work-Study positions, military benefits and other funding assistance. - Student Research Commons
Find paid research jobs, fellowships, seminars and other research events available in the GW community. - Undergraduate Research Award
Apply for this $5,000 research award, open to first-years, sophomores and juniors.