Independent Study and Departmental Honors

Click on the following links to learn more about how to earn academic credit for the research you perform in faculty labs, and how your research can be used as the basis for an Honor's Thesis, which is the only way to earn latin honors in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Purpose of Independent Study

Independent study in MCDB provides an opportunity to earn academic credit for a research project. Participants receive “hands-on” laboratory experience that strengthens their preparation for graduate school, professional training in the biomedical sciences and for employment in academic or commercial laboratories.
MCDB students often participate in independent study projects within MCDB faculty labs. Faculty outside of MCDB or the University may qualify to host an MCDB student for independent study. For instance, labs on the Anschutz Medical School campus in Denver or biotech opportunities with suitable projects could qualify. To determine if your project qualifies for MCDB independent study, please contact Dr. Kristin Moore (kristin.a.moore@colorado.edu). Please provide a summary of the research project, the name of the faculty member whose lab you will be working in and how many hours you expect to work on the project per week.
Ifyou are a student from another college, (for example, Engineering), please contact your academic advisor prior to seeking approval for independent study.
Students enrolled in Independent study and who wish to do Honors research should begin a well-executed research project no later than the second semester of a student’s junior year and must have a GPA of at least 3.3. Only students who are in the College of Arts and Sciences may enroll in Honors Research (MCDB 4980) and Honors Thesis (MCDB 4990) classes their senior year. See the information on Departmental Honors Research on the MCDB website.

Criteria for Independent Study

The college of Arts and Sciences and the Department of MCDB both have specific policies regarding what constitutes an appropriate independent study project. These are:
Academic value: Independent Study must serve a legitimate academic purpose. College policy specifically forbids the use of independent study credit to “pay” students for non-academic work or internship activities. The critical difference between eligible and ineligible projects is the degree of intellectual involvement of the student. To receive independent study credit, the student must participate actively in the planning, design and interpretation of experiments as well as perform the laboratory procedures required for their completion. Service type work, such as cleaning laboratory glassware, routine preparation of reagents or preparing a lab for a laboratory course does not qualify for independent study credit. Internship type experiences that are comparable to being employed as a junior technician performing experiments that are designed and interpreted by a supervisor do not qualify as Independent Study.
No substitution for regular coursework: College policy prohibits using independent study credit as a substitute for a regular course that is not offered during a particular semester. Individualized Instruction arranged through Continuing Education is available for this purpose. College policy also forbids use of independent study credit to meet CORE Curriculum requirements. However, a maximum of 8hours of upper division MCDB Independent Study (MCDB 4840) may be used as an upper division MCDB Elective.
Laboratory projects: All research conducted must be in compliance with the standards foundhere:Office of Research Integrity (ORI).
Non-laboratory projects: MCDB independent study typically involves laboratory-based research or computer-based bioinformatics research.
If you have a project other than laboratory-based research or computer-based research, you must submit a proposal for review and approval to Dr. Kristin Moore (kristin.a.moore@colorado.edu).
Important considerations prior to starting project:
  1. Approval must be obtained BEFORE the project is started.
  2. There are no specific restrictions on where the project may be done. To be accepted the project must meet all College and MCDB criteria for independent study credit.
  3. An MCDB faculty member who is qualified to sponsor independent study research must review the proposed project, sign the contract, and assign the grade for the project in consultation with the research director who actually supervises the project.
  4. The project must be appropriate for an MCDB major. This decision rests with the MCDB faculty member who agrees to assign the grade and with Dr. Kristin Moore, the MCDB Coordinator of Independent Study.

The Independent Study Process

The student must submit a“Contract for Independent Study in MCDB”by the first day of classes of every semester in order to receive credit for their work. Its purpose is to ensure that the student and the faculty sponsor have agreed in detail on the nature of the project, the accomplishments that are expected, the types of reports that must be submitted and the dates when they are due.
Objectives: The faculty member and the student must agree on a project and identify reasonable objectives for the semester. For the first semester, the objectives may consist primarily of learning to perform certain types of experiments, interpreting the results and planning additional experiments based on the results. For continuing projects, more specific goals should be outlined. Because research is unpredictable, the faculty sponsor and the student may agree to alter the project to either follow an unexpected lead or to terminate a nonproductive approach. Major changes should be reported in written form to the Coordinator of Independent Study, Dr. Kristin Moore (kristin.a.moore@colorado.edu).

Honors research in MCDB provides an opportunity for undergraduate students who are in the College of Arts and Sciences, to participate in world-class original research. This experience gives students an opportunity to apply what they have learned in lecture classes to unsolved problems in biological research. Graduation with Departmental Honors from MCDB is recognized as an outstanding accomplishment, and the experience gained from having done original research provides a significant advantage for students who wish to go on to Medical School, Graduate School, or a position in industry.

How do you get involved in Honors Research in MCDB?

First, find a faculty mentor that will support your research project and your pursuit of departmental honors. Honors research projects are conducted in faculty labs. Find out about the research interests of individual faculty members by going to the MCDB Website. Contact the faculty member directly for more information about conducting honors research in their lab. The honors research project can begin as soon the student begins working in the lab. Honors students write an Honor’s Thesis document and present and defend their research the semester of graduation.

If you are interested in graduating with Honors, make an appointment with Dr. Christy Fillman (Chair of the Departmental Honors Committee, Christy.Fillman@Colorado.edu) for guidance through the Honors process. When you have secured a faculty thesis advisor for your honors research, fill out theHonors Research Approvalform.

Students who choose to perform research outside of the MCDB department must provide updates on their projects to Dr. Christy Fillman (Chair of the Departmental Honors Committee, Christy.Fillman@Colorado.edu) to ensure the project remains within MCDB guidelines.

When should you start your Honors Research Project?

Most students start their projects in their sophomore or junior year via independent study and continue until their senior year. At least two semesters of undergraduate laboratory research are recommended for graduation with Honors to allow sufficient data to be collected for the thesis project and written thesis document. The semester just prior to graduation is usually reserved for writing the thesis document and preparing for the thesis defense. Credit can be earned for this research by enrolling in independent study (MCDB 4840), Honors Research (MCDB 4980) and/or Honors Thesis (MCDB 4990). None of these courses are required to graduate with honors. Consult with your thesis advisor and Dr. Fillman about these options.

What are the requirements for graduation with departmental honors in MCDB?

  • A student must be in the College of Arts and Sciences and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3. This requirement can be waived for students who have done exceptionally well in their research (contact Dr. Fillman if you are in this category).
  • A student must complete at least two semesters of original laboratory research under the guidance of a faculty member. This research experience can be obtained through independent study for credit (the quality of research must be equivalent to a B or higher), or from an equivalent research experience without credit. Consult with your thesis advisor about these options.
  • A student must generate original research data that will support an honors thesis document. Consult frequently with your advisor to ensure that your project is on track for thesis quality data.

The semester before your graduation semester

  • Make sure you have submitted the MCDB Honors Research Approvalform and discussed your plans to graduate with honors with Dr. Fillman.
  • Complete the Arts and Sciences Honors Program Thesis Registration Application. The honors application requires a brief prospectus of your research, bibliography and timeline for your thesis project. Registration for honors occurs early in the semester prior to the semester you plan to graduate (early October for students graduating in May and late April for students graduating in December). Visit to the Arts and Sciences Honors Program website for the current semester deadlines and a link to the application form.

The semester of your graduation

  • Write an Honors thesis. Your thesis should synthesize the results of your honors project and include an abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, and references section (your thesis advisor can help you with this, as can Dr. Fillman). You can view prior students’ honors theses at the Students can earn credit for writing their thesis by enrolling in MCDB 4990, Honors Thesis, during the semester they plan to defend their thesis.
  • Form a thesis examination committee. This committee will consist of at least three members: your thesis advisor, a representative of the MCDB Honors Committee (your Honors representative), and one faculty member from outside the MCDB department. The committee members can provide support and feedback during the writing process. Provide each member of your examination committee a copy of your thesis at least one week before your Oral thesis defense presentation.
  • Complete the Honors Oral Defense presentation. The Honors Defense consists of a public seminar (usually approximately 30 minutes) during which you present your project/data, followed by questions from the audience and then further questions from your thesis committee in a private defense. Thesis defense presentations typically occur 4 weeks prior to the end of the semester of graduation but can be done earlier if necessary.

How is your level of Honors determined?

Your MCDB Honors committee vote on the level of honors after your thesis defense and will make a recommendation to the Arts and Sciences Honors Council who will make the actual designation (cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude). Factors considered in the recommendation include the quality of the research, the quality of the thesis, the student’s performance during the oral examination, and the student’s overall academic record (minimum GPA of 3.3 for cum laude, 3.5 for magna cum laude, and 3.8 for summa cum laude). Honors candidates whose performance does not meet, or exceeds, the designated grade point ranges can be awarded higher or lower levels of honors pending support from their committee and the vote of the Council.