Departmental Honors
The Department of Genetics recognizes graduating students who have made outstanding academic achievements by awarding departmental honors. The department awards two types of departmental honors (see below) and these are awarded at the discretion of the Genetics Honors Committee. To be considered, students must meet all criteria for that type of honors and submit the honors request application by the deadline (April 1st of senior year).
The two types of departmental honors and their criteria are as follows:
1) Genetics Honors- Research
a. GPA requirement: a student must have attained, at the end of the junior year, a cumulative GPA ≥3.4 and a Genetics major GPA ≥3.4 (including prerequisites).
b. Complete 6 or more credits of Honors in Genetics (01:447:408-409) during senior year
c. Complete a total of 12 or more research credits (including 6 or more credits of 01:447:408-409)
d. Complete Honors Thesis and Communication in Genetics 447:414 and 415 during senior year
e. Complete and defend a research thesis in front of your these committee (see Thesis Guidelines)
f. Present at Honors Day
g. If you are completing an Honors Thesis, your thesis committee will complete an evaluation form that includes suggested level of honors. This form is completed at the end of your thesis defense. This completed form is then given to the honors/awards committee to make a determination of the level of honors (Honors, High Honors, Highest Honors).
h. For details on the research thesis, see the Genetic Honors Research webpage.
Level of Honors: In determining the level of honors, the honors/awards committee takes into consideration multiple factors in aggregate, including but not limited to (1) cumulative GPA, (2) thesis defense committee recommendation, (3) research mentor evaluation, (4) faculty evaluation of presentation at Honors Day, and (5) whether or not the student took the honors versions of Genetic Analysis 1 and/or 2 (i.e., 01:447:384:H1 and/or 01:447:385:H1) and the grades received in those courses.
Please email if you have any questions.
2) Genetics Honors- Certificate Program
- GPA requirement: a student must have attained, by April 1st of senior year, a cumulative GPA ≥3.4 and a Genetics major GPA ≥3.4 (including prerequisites).
- Complete a departmental certification program (e.g., CompGen or Genetic Counseling)
- By April 1st, the student must formally apply to request consideration for Certificate Honors by completing the Genetics Honors- Certificate Program Form. This is a DocuSign form.
Level of Honors: In determining the level of honors, the honors/awards committee takes into consideration multiple factors in aggregate, including but not limited to (1) cumulative GPA, (2) completion of the certificate program requirements, (3) recommendation from the certificate program director, and (4) whether or not the student took the honors versions of Genetic Analysis 1 and/or 2 (i.e., 01:447:384:H1 and/or 01:447:385:H1) and the grades received in those courses.
Please email if you have any questions.