Honors in Biology at Mac:

What is "honors" in Biology at Macalester? 

In our department, students earn honors through completion of significant primary scholarship in Biology.  The honors thesis is a written product based on original research conducted in the field, lab, or through computational methods by the student under the mentorship of a Macalester faculty member.  Students who complete an honors project fulfill the senior capstone requirement through writing and presenting their honors thesis.

Should I pursue Honors in Biology? 

If you are passionate about research and willing to devote much of your senior year to working deeply on one project, honors in Biology may be for you! There is no GPA requirement to pursue honors in Biology. Honors students must commit to:

• Work independently on an original research project throughout your senior year on research you started at least the summer prior. 

  • In one semester of the senior year (fall or spring): register for a 4-credit Honors Independent Study (BIOL-644)

  • In the other semester: devote time to the project equivalent to taking a 4-credit class (~8-12 hours per week)

• Meet multiple times throughout your senior year with a thesis committee who will support and evaluate your work

• Produce a written thesis that includes (1) a literature review of >30 references contextualizing your work,  and (2) a data-based chapter that resembles a journal article in your discipline in Biology. 

• Deliver a public, seminar-style talk on your research during your final semester at Macalester, followed by a final oral evaluation by your thesis committee (known as a thesis "defense")

• Present your work at an off-campus conference - preferably as a talk rather than a poster