"Roadmap" for MCB Honors Courses

Freshman courses: Designed to introduce Honors students to research opportunities available in MCB, EEB and PNB.

Biology 1109 (01): Topics in Modern Biology. This is a companion course to Biology 1107 (Principles of Biology I) and is taught by the faculty in MCB or PNB. The format varies among instructors, but generally involves the instructor and students selecting one or more scientific discoveries and examining primary literature relevant to this discovery in an attempt to observe how science proceeds. Meets 1 hour, once a week, 1 credit.

Biology 1109 (02): Topics in Modern Biology. This is a companion course to Biology 1108 (Principles of Biology II) and is taught by faculty in EEB. Each week a different faculty member speaks to the class about his or her research. The course includes an orientation to the library research resources. Students are required to select approximately four speakers and to provide written summaries of the research programs of these individuals after having sought additional information on their work from promary literature. Meets 1 hour, once a week, 1 credit.

Sophomore/Junior courses:

Biology 2289: Introduction to Undergraduate Research. This course is rotated among MCB, EEB and PNB. The objective of this course is to expose students to a diversity of researchers to facilitate choosing a lab in which to conduct their undergraduate research. The format varies with instructor. This course is required for all biology Honor students. 1 hour, once a week, 1 credit.

Research Courses:

4989: Introduction to Honors Research. Laboratory research project carried on by the student under the guidance of a faculty member. The student is required to submit a brief report on the research findings at the end of the semester.  May be repeated for credit with change in topic.

3989: Introduction to Research. Undergraduate research is generally conducted under this course number. The Honors students generally take a total of 6-12 credits of Research. Most students develop a project of their own after the first semester of work, once they have developed the necessary laboratory techniques, skills, etc. Variable credit; usually 3-4 hours of lab work per week is considered to represent 1 credit.

4997W: Honors Thesis. The Honors thesis must be read and approved by the thesis advisor and one other faculty member (either the student's academic advisor if different from the thesis advisor, or a faculty member with expertise in the subject area of the thesis). The Honors thesis format follows that of a Masters thesis. In addition, students are required to follow thesis guidelines and deadlines established by the Honors office. A copy of the thesis is permanently filed in the Honors office. Required of Honors students; 3 credits.