HONORS IN BIOLOGY

To qualify for Latin honors in biology a student must meet the following requirements. For requirements 1, 2, and 3, only courses taken at Washington University are considered. Beginning spring 2008, the relevant GPAs will be computed after 8 semesters (right before graduation).

1. Cumulative B+ average (3.3) or better in biology courses.

2. Cumulative average of B+ (3.3) or better in the science courses required for a biology major (math, chemistry, and physics)

3. Overall 3.5 average.

4. Six units of independent work (BIO 500). Generally, research to be considered for honors starts in spring of the junior year or earlier.  Most students spend full time devoted to this research the summer following their junior year and complete their work during the senior year.

5. Submission of an honors thesis that describes the research done under Bio 500.  This thesis is to be written by the student.  In order to ensure that each of student and mentor has a clear understanding of our expectations, good examples from past years are available in the Biology Student Affairs office (Plant Growth Room 105) or in the Biology Library [ask at the library desk].  An honors thesis should be closer in format to a Master's thesis than to a journal paper, but usually will contain less material than a Masters thesis. An abstract that presents the essence of the problem and the main conclusions is required. This should be followed by an introduction that describes the biological context of the problem (that is, why the problem is interesting and as yet unsolved and the information known at the time the work was undertaken which served as a basis for the work).  The introduction should be more extensive than a typical journal article, introducing a non-specialist to the field and specific work.  The methods section should describe the methods used in enough detail to make it clear that the student understands them. The typical journal article format - "... was done according to the method of Schwartz, et al (1987)" - is too brief, but protocols are inappropriate.  To report on the data that were obtained, typically a results section is included with figures, followed by a discussion section that provides context for the observations and conclusions that can be drawn.  Some people prefer to handle results and discussion as two sections. Others prefer to handle them together.   Some like to have a Conclusions section, which allows the investigator to summarize the findings, but this is not required.  It is appropriate [but not required] to discuss where the work is likely to proceed from here using a section entitled, "Future Work."  Mentors often have their own ideas about the organization. STUDENTS NEED TO CONSULT WITH MENTORS ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT OF THE THESIS WELL IN ADVANCE.

The Biology department suggests that initial planning begin before the end of the fall semester, with actual writing beginning no later than the first week of Spring semester.   Sections like introduction and materials and methods can be written starting in late fall or over winter break, even if all results are not finalized until much later.  Usually students work with their mentors and other members of the lab to generate the final version, as any researcher would in writing results for publication.  HOWEVER, THE WRITING SHOULD BE PRIMARILY THE STUDENTS RESPONSIBILITY and others’ contributions should be limited to commenting on student drafts.  I ask mentors to certify the acceptability of the thesis and to suggest reviewers who are knowledgeable on the subject matter of your research. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE DESIGNATED FOR HONORS WITHOUT THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE THESIS BY THE MENTOR. 

From time to time, despite considerable effort, students have few, if any, results to report.  If the absence of results is because of bad luck or an intractable (perhaps too ambitious) problem, then the criterion for writing a thesis is that the student has invested considerable physical and intellectual time and effort in the work.  In that case, the thesis will be heavy on background.  It may include the results of others in the lab, as long as the person who did the work is acknowledged.  If the source of the absence of results can be identified, writing about this would be appropriate, especially if the student has any advice for anyone else who might pursue the same question.  Having definitive results IS NOT REQUIRED to write a suitable honors thesis. (revised 11/07)

6. A mentor's letter certifying the acceptability of the thesis MUST accompany the thesis.

7. Presentation of the honors thesis work in the form of a poster or short talk at the spring Undergraduate Research Symposium.

TIME TABLE for HONORS - Honors theses are due the Monday following spring break of the senior year. (Students graduating in Dec. will have a different deadline - consult Ms. Irma Morose or Ms. Jessica Ochoa) To have an acceptable thesis, students must begin writing and submit draft versions of each part of their honors thesis to their mentors to get feedback well in advance of this deadline. Students are advised to consult their mentors about an appropriate time table by the end of the Fall semester of the senior year. Generally, writing should begin no later than January (start of spring semester) and preliminary drafts of sections like introduction and methods should be presented to mentors for feedback beginning early in February. There should be several rounds of revision and discussion among mentor, possibly others in the lab (bench mentor and others who are familiar with the project) and the student to generate the final version. The process is akin to writing a manuscript for publication and students should seek advice and feedback as would any researcher presenting results for publication. Mentor approval is required on the final version. If a mentor has not seen and approved the final version prior to the deadline, the department will NOT recommend the student receive honors. The spring Undergraduate Research Symposium is normally scheduled between the last day of spring-semester classes and the start of final examinations. If any delay or problem in submitting an acceptable thesis by the deadline is anticipated/suspected, a student and/or mentor must discuss the problem with the department (begin by notifying Ms. Jessica Ochoa) as soon as possible.