Departmental Honors is for students who wish to dig deeper into their undergraduate studies. These requirements are supplemental to the regular program of study required by the major in Biology.

Completing Departmental Honors Requirements: 

• GPA:
  A UW cumulative GPA of 3.3 must be maintained for all courses taken for credit at the University. A departmental GPA of 3.4 for all supporting courses and upper division courses used in the major. GPA is checked once final grades are posted. 
   
• Ad-Hoc Honors Courses:
  Two honors courses 400-level BIOL courses with a minimum of 3 credits, from among the required or elective courses taken to fulfill the upper division requirements. 

• Seminars:
  two upper division approved seminars. These must be participatory seminars and can be graded or C/NC. They typically require student participation, such as doing one of the presentations, leading discussions of research papers, etc. (Weekly lab meetings are NOT considered seminars but rather a part of the research experience.) Examples are BIOL 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488. Please see the honors adviser for approval of other seminars.
   
• Undergraduate Research, Research Paper, and Research Presentation:
  Undergraduate Research is required. It must extend over at least 3 academic quarters, and students should register for a total of 9 credits of 499, with a minimum of 2 credits in each quarter. Students must complete a Research Paper on their work that is approved by their PI. A Research Presentation of the students work must be prsented at the Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium held each May, or another venue (such as a national or regional meeting). 

Qualifying and signing up as a Biology Departmental Honors student:
Students may become departmental honors students once they complete the introductory biology series and are a declared Biology major. To sign up, please email our Director of Academic Services, Janet Germeraad at janetjg@uw.edu.