Undergraduate Honors Concentration
If you missed the Informational Meeting, you can view a copy of the presentation here.
If you have further questions, please email (shawna@uiuc.edu) or call the MCB Advising office (333-6774) and set up an appointment with Dr. Naidu. Please refer to the Application Process section below for more details about applying.
The MCB Honors Concentration is designed for exceptional MCB Majors who demonstrate personal motivation to explore a fuller complement of experiences in biology during their undergraduate training. MCB honors students typically plan to enter graduate or professional programs to reach their career goals and want an intensive undergraduate education as preparation.
Honors students must
- fulfill all normal requirements of the MCB major;
- complete honors sections in the MCB core courses (MCB 250, 251, 252, 253, 354); and
- complete four or more additional upper class honors courses as Juniors and Seniors.
Required honors sections in the MCB Core
In addition to providing direct interaction with faculty, honors sections are designed to develop skills in reading and critiquing primary scientific literature, analytical thinking and problem solving, and oral and written communication.
Upper class honors courses may include
- one additional 3–5 hour advanced MCB course from the Approved List;
- Honors Credit Learning Agreement in a 300- or 400-level MCB course;
- MCB 290: Individual Topics (Undergraduate Research);
- MCB 492: Senior Thesis;
- MCB 493: Special Topics in Molecular and Cellular Biology;
- LAS 299: Study Abroad in an MCB-approved discipline-specific program.
Eligibility
The MCB Honors Concentration is open to MCB majors only. Applicants must be current MCB majors or must declare the MCB major prior to starting the Concentration. In addition to the motivation to perform honors work, qualifications for admittance may include overall GPA, an average in UIUC mathematics and science courses of 3.5 or better, and teaching assistant or instructor recommendation. Interested students should apply prior to enrolling in MCB 250/251--generally, during the Spring of their Freshman year. Applications will also be processed during the Fall semester to accommodate those students planning to enroll in MCB 250/251 during the Spring semester. Students who are currently enrolled in MCB 250 and 251 may apply for admittance to the Honors Concentration; however, preference will be given to those who would be most able to meet the requirement of completing Honors sections in all five Core courses.
Application Process
The Spring 2008 application period (for admittance to the Concentration in Fall 2008) is February 1 thru February 20. Applications should be submitted by 5 PM on February 20. Qualified applicants will be interviewed and offers of admittance to the Concentration will be made prior to the Early Registration Period for Fall 2008 (March 31). The application is available as a webform. Please click here to access the application.
For More Information
Dr. Shawna Naidu
Program Coordinator, MCB Honors
242 Davenport Hall
(217) 333-7392
shawna@uiuc.edu