Eligibility

To be accepted into the Genetics and Genomic Sciences Honors Program, you must:

• have completed at least 45 credit hours;
• have a 3.5 GPA in GGS and Biology courses;
• have a 3.2 GPA overall;
• have already completed BY 123 and 123L, BY 124 and 124L, BY 210, CH 115/116, and CH 117/118; and
• identify a faculty sponsor who is willing to serve as your mentor.

Requirements

To successfully complete the Honors Program you will need to:

• take 6-12 semester hours of Honors Research in Genetics and Genomic Sciences (GGSC 390). Each semester hour per term requires a minimum of 3 hours of laboratory work per week.
• complete the required Occupational Health and Safety training courses.
• submit a formal research proposal by the end of the first semester of Honors Research. The proposal should include a synopsis of your proposed research incorporating an introduction, proposed methods, and relevant literature review.
• complete a formal written report in the form of a scientific paper.
• take the GGSC Honors Research Seminar in Genetics and Genomic Sciences course (GGSC 493) during the fall or spring semester of your senior year. This course can be taken to fulfill the capstone requirement.
• submit an oral or poster presentation at Biology Research Day or the UAB Expo. Under special circumstances, the poster may be presented at other times of the year pending approval of the Honors Committee.

GGB Honors Research can also be taken as part of the University Honors Programs. You will need the permission of the instructor and approval by the GGS program director. GGS majors generally enter their research labs in the fall semester of their junior year; however, they may begin their research work in the spring semester of their sophomore year with permission of the program directors.