HONORS IN BIOLOGY
To earn "Honors in Biology", which will be printed on your diploma and in the graduation
program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Carry out a year of research at Case on the same project or related series of projects. You
must take at least two of these: Biol 388, Biol 388S, Biol 390.
- Write an honors thesis based on your year of research, and submit this paper to an ad hoc
honors committee to consist of three Case faculty members, two of whom should be
members of the Biology Department. The committee must be approved by the Chair of
Biology.
- The thesis shall consist of a comprehensive report on the research project conducted by the
student. The format for the thesis should be discussed with the Research and Biology
Department Sponsor. In general, the thesis should be double spaced, and should include a
thorough introduction covering the background and significance of the experiments, a
description of the experimental methods, a clear presentation of results with figures and
tables inserted at appropriate places, and a discussion section in which the student draws
conclusions. A brief abstract should precede the body of the thesis.
- It is the student’s responsibility to provide each member of the thesis committee and the
Biology Chair with a draft copy of the thesis at least one week prior to the scheduled oral
defense.
- Present the thesis at an oral examination by your ad hoc honors committee. You should
show mastery of the material within the thesis, mastery of the relevant literature, and
should be able to explain and respond to criticisms of the experimental methods and
results. If the defense is successful, an approval form signed by the committee members
must be submitted to the Biology Department Chair.
- Earn a cumulative total GPA of 3.4 or higher, and a cumulative average in your biology
courses of 3.6 or higher. (Biology courses include only those with the letters BIOL, not
related courses in other departments, and not courses required of the major that are not
BIOL courses.) The GPA criteria must be met at the time of application for honors and
must be maintained through graduation.
- Notify the Biology Chair of your intention to pursue Honors in Biology, and obtain the
chair’s approval of your honors committee, by the 6th week of the spring semester of your
senior year.
All requirements must be completed by one week prior to the last day of classes
in the spring semester.
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