Honors Program
Graduation with Honors in the Department of Biological Sciences requires the completion of a thesis after at least 3 quarters of research. The student must have a GPA of 3.5 and may qualify for the program by either being a member of the Honors Program or by application to the Honors Committee for departmental Distinction. Typically, the research is laboratory or fieldwork guided by a member of the faculty. A second option is a written thesis based on literature research.
Choosing an Advisor
There are several opportunities for you to determine which adviser has research interests closely related to your own.
- Faculty members give 10 minute presentations about their research during a symposium generally held in the winter or spring quarter. These presentations will be advertised in classes and notice will be sent to the Honors Program students by e-mail.
- Each faculty member has a web page. This web site will provide you with information about the research of each faculty member in the department.
- The 2nd and 3rd floor corridor walls in Seeley G. Mudd are lined with posters from Honors students of previous years. You may view these to get an idea about the type of research that Honors students perform in each laboratory.
- Several Honors theses that were selected for the 'Outstanding Honors in Biology award' are available as a link.
- The Department office in 102 Olin has copies of all recent Honors theses. Browsing through these theses will also give you a good idea of the type and extent of research done in each laboratory.
Once you have narrowed down which labs are of greatest interest to you, make an appointment to talk with each of the faculty members. After interviewing faculty members, choose which that faculty person to formulate specific plans for a research project.
When to Start
The program requires at least three-quarters of research and some faculty advisors require more. Beginning fall term 2008, the Honors and Distinction Programs in Biology require courses to prepare you for the research problem of interest. You should begin inquiring during the sophomore year or early in the junior year at the latest. Given the large numbers of Honors students, limited space in laboratories and the course work, it is wise to find a faculty research adviser as early as possible.
Registering For Credit
You may enroll in either Undergraduate Research (BIOL 3950) or Independent Study (BIOL 3991) for a number of credit hours agreed on with your advisor. Generally, one credit hour corresponds to at least 3 hours of work per week. Five hours of either course will count towards the Biological Sciences major, and up to 5 hours of undergraduate research or independent study may count as elective credits. However, not more than 60 hours of total credits in Biological Sciences can be used in the 183 credits for graduation. The Molecular Biology major allows more credits to be applied toward the major. Check with your advisor.
Writing the Thesis
The Honors Committee provides a guide to writing the theses and a guide to preparing a poster of your research. These documents are located in the menu to your left together with the schedule of deadlines for each step ("Schedule of Events").
Off-Campus Research
Completion of an Honors theses off-campus requires, in addition to a qualified preceptor at the off-campus research site, a resident faculty member to serve as Departmental liaison. Before beginning your off-campus research, you will write a 1-2 page Proposal of Research, which must be pre-approved by the off-campus preceptor, the Departmental liaison, and the Honors Committee.
Literature Thesis
If a written thesis based on a literature search is elected over laboratory/field research, an advisor must be identified before the end of the junior year. You must propose a problem that allows you to go beyond surveying and summarizing current literature. You must be able to evaluate and criticize the work and present opposing viewpoints that must be defended on the basis of evidence. A formal proposal to your advisor should be submitted no later than the end of your junior year and be approved by the Honors Committee. Detailed instructions as to the style and content of the thesis are available on this web site.
March 5, 2008