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Program Requirements

To graduate with honors, students should complete all of the requirements for their major and:

  • Have a minimum 3.0 Science GPA or higher at the time of application and maintain throughout the program.
  • Have a minimum of three semesters of biological science research experience in the research mentors lab. 
  • Additionally, we encourage you to conduct a summer of independent research in the same lab at Notre Dame. However, if your research mentor believes you have or will have sufficient data for completion of a thesis the summer of research on campus is not required. You should apply for REU, COS-SURF or other funding when conducting on campus summer research.
  • Students are expected to stay within the same research lab throughout the course of the program. If a situation arises where a change in research labs is necessary, the student will need to discuss options with the Honor’s Committee.
  • Due to COVID-19, considerations of the student experience will be taken with your research mentor’s certification of sufficient data and time in research to complete a thesis.
  • Identify thesis mentorship:
    • Research Mentor Description
      • Any faculty member with a primary appointment in the Biological Sciences department. 
        • Faculty members who are not primary appointees in BIOS may also serve as research mentors provided that the Advising Mentor has a primary BIOS appointment. 
      • A Research Mentor must attest to the 
        • Feasibility and appropriateness of the proposed research 
        • Ability to conduct and complete research for a thesis
        • Ability to complete and write a thesis
      • Evaluate and provide feedback on research progress and thesis throughout the course of the program
      • If you participate in other Honors programs (such as Glynn, Ysuko Scholar, etc), your scientific writing for such programs in conjunction with the Biological Sciences Honors Program will be at the discretion of your Research Mentor.
      • Suggest names to the Honors Committee for an Advising Mentor. If assistance is needed in finding an Advising Mentor, reach out to committee
    • Advising Mentor Description
      • Any Faculty member may act as an Advising Mentor, but should be from outside of Research Mentors lab
      • If the Research Mentor is from outside of the Biological Sciences department, then the Advising Mentor must be from Biological Sciences department
      • Identification of an Advising Mentor is not necessary at the time of application for admission to the program.
      • The Advising Mentor should be willing to assist with research project guidance as necessary, feedback on thesis writing, and ultimately certify that the student has sufficiently completed a research project and thesis for an Honors designation.
    • Honor’s Committee
      • Is a resource for any issues or questions that come up during the course of the Honors Program.
      • Can be a mediator between the Research and Advising Mentors, if the need arises.
  • Completion of a thesis. 
  • Complete a two to three credit graduate level course in the area of research. Courses that are cross-listed 40000/60000 are acceptable as long as the student completes the requirements expected of the 60000 level students.
  • A presentation at a national or regional meeting. Undergraduate conferences will be considered depending on the meeting, although the committee will consider this option under unique circumstances. There are funds available for travel through College of Science and CUSE.
  • One disciplinary research seminar in Junior year, Spring semester (1 credit seminar).
    • If you are unable to take the research seminar Junior year, Spring semester, the Honor’s Committee will consider enrollment in Senior year, Spring semester on a case by case basis.