Department of Biological Sciences: Honors Requirements

Honors in Biology:

1. An overall GPA of 3.0 or better is required. A GPA of 3.5 in biology is required.
2. Students should announce in writing their intention to pursue honors in biology to both the department chair and academic adviser, no later than May 1 in the spring term of their junior year.
3. Departmental honors students are required to take BIO 399H (Honors Research in Biological Sciences).
4. Students are each responsible for obtaining a sponsor for their project prior to May 1 of their junior year.
5. Successful completion of a senior research project is required. The project must include:
   1. A written proposal;
   2. The actual completion of an approved research project under the supervision and sponsorship of a full-time faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences;
   3. The presentation of the outcome of the research project in the written format approved by the department; and
   4. A seminar presentation of the outcome of the research project.
6. Evidence of excellence in speaking and writing skills, documented by term papers, written work, oral presentations, and grades, as determined by the committee.
7. The actual granting of honors in biology is determined by all full-time faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences.

A list of the department faculty and their research interests is available here.