Departmental Honors
The Biology Department offers a Departmental Honors (DH) option, which serves as an Advanced Scholarship Track of the Commonwealth Honors College. Participation in Departmental Honors requires admission to the program.
Applying for Departmental Honors
Biology majors who are currently members of the Commonwealth Honors College can apply for admission to Departmental Honors by contacting the appropriate departmental honors coordinator:
Lynn Adler (students with last name beginning A-D)
Akiko Okuso (last name E-M)
Sarah Pallas (last name N-Z)
Inquiries about Departmental Honors: honors@bio.umass.edu
Answers to common questions about departmental honors may be found in our Frequently Asked Questions document.
Biology majors who are not yet members of the Commonwealth Honors College can apply for admissions to Departmental Honors via the CHC's online application.
Prior to applying for Departmental Honors, students are strongly encouraged to identify a mechanism by which they can complete the thesis/project portion of the Departmental Honors requirements (see "Departmental Honors Requirements" below).
Departmental Honors Requirements
To complete the Biology DH program, a student must complete
- Two Honors classes in Biology with a grade of B or better. One course can be at any level; one course must be at the 300 level or higher.
- Either
- An Individually Contracted Honors Thesis. To complete this option, students work in a faculty laboratory (in the Biology Department or another life science department) to perform thesis research. Students are responsible for identifying a suitable laboratory for their thesis research. After arranging a lab position and settling on a project, Departmental Honors students register for research and thesis credits (Biology 499Y and Biology 499T, typically taken the fall and spring semesters of the senior year, respectively). The CHC provides forms and instructions for registering. A grade of B or better in both semesters is required.
Or
- A faculty-initiated Honors Project Seminar. Please contact your departmental honors coordinator to find out if any currently offered seminars are accepted for Biology Department Honors.
Note: Students who plan to pursue an Individually Contracted Honors Thesis can take advantage of the Biology Undergraduate Research Apprentice (BURA) program to find a research project, and/or can mount a broader search.
Biology Honors Courses
- Biology 105H Biology of Social Issues;
- Biology 161H Quantitative Biology of the Cell
- Biology 162H Quantitative Systems Biology
- Biology 379H Genomics and Bioinformatics
- Biology 383H Gene and Genome Analysis
- Biology 397MH Cell and Molecular Biology Lab
- Biology 422H Experimental Methods in Ecology
- Biology 477H Bio-Imaging
- Biology 486H Molecular Biology of Model Systems
- Biology 487H Tropical Field Biology
- Biology 501 The Human Microbiome in Health and Disease
- Biology 523 Histology
- Biology 544 Ornithology
- Biology 550 Animal Behavior
- Biology 559 Cell Biology II
- Biology 572 Neurobiology
- Biology 582 DNA to Diversity
- Biology 583 Advanced Genetics
- Biology 597GE Evolutionary Genomics
The CHC has compiled a complete list of honors courses.
Note: The Registrar's Office maintains a page that describes requirements for graduating with Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude).
Attachment Size frequently_asked_questions_in_biology_honors_advising_april_2022.pdf 193.02 KB - An Individually Contracted Honors Thesis. To complete this option, students work in a faculty laboratory (in the Biology Department or another life science department) to perform thesis research. Students are responsible for identifying a suitable laboratory for their thesis research. After arranging a lab position and settling on a project, Departmental Honors students register for research and thesis credits (Biology 499Y and Biology 499T, typically taken the fall and spring semesters of the senior year, respectively). The CHC provides forms and instructions for registering. A grade of B or better in both semesters is required.
- About
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- Recommended Course Sequences
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- Declaring a Biology Major
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- Minor Requirements
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- Course Catalog
- Course Offerings 2021-22
- Learning Goals
- Research Opportunities
- Awards & Scholarships
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- 2022 Senior Celebration
- Majors Week
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Current News
- About
- Undergraduate
- Advising
- Major Requirements
- Major Requirements Checklist (PDF)
- Recommended Course Sequences
- Courses Approved as Major Electives
- Declaring a Biology Major
- Integrative Experience
- Minor Requirements
- Departmental Honors
- Study Abroad
- Course Catalog
- Course Offerings 2021-22
- Learning Goals
- Research Opportunities
- Awards & Scholarships
- Residential Programs
- Undergrad Handbook (PDF)
- Petitions and Forms
- 2022 Senior Celebration
- Majors Week
- Graduate
- Faculty
- Research
- Facilities
- Alumni
- Make a Gift…