Honors in the Major – College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Biology
chemistry
computerscience

Geography
Mathematics
Physics & Astronomy

Click here for Capstone Support


Biology

Contact Information

Brent Hill
Professor and Biology Chair
bhill@uca.edu
(501) 450-3146
LSC 180

Department Requirements

  • Completion of 72 hours of coursework, including 12 hours in the major
  • Overall GPA of 3.25 or better (must be 3.00 or better to begin honors work)
  • Biology GPA of 3.25 or better (must be 3.00 or better to begin honors work)

Department Resources

Department Process

  1. Students considering an Honors Project in Biology should discuss their interests and career goals with their academic advisor (or biology professors). The advisor will suggest one or more faculty in the Biology department who would be suitable mentors in the area of interest. Students can also identify possible mentors by consulting the web pages of the CNSM student research program. The student should then make an appointment with prospective mentors to discuss possible projects.
  2. The student and faculty mentor will together develop a plan for initiating a project. Often the faculty mentor will suggest possible projects or promising areas of investigation. The student will often read relevant articles together with the faculty mentor.
  3. A brief research proposal will be submitted to a Biology faculty advisory committee selected by the student and the faculty mentor (suggested submission during the first semester of the student’s junior year). The advisory committee will consist of two or three faculty in Biology or other suitable fields that have expertise useful for the project and agree to serve (upon invitation by the student).
  4. The advisory committee with the faculty mentor as Chair will review the proposal and provide suggestions. If the advisory committee approves the proposal, the student will earn Biology elective credit through the capstone research experience BIOL 4285 (the student may elect to receive more credit–up to four hours–if desired). The student may then submit grant proposals to obtain funding for the project and/or salary for the student.
  5. The research project may be completed during the academic year and/or summer. Honors students are required to earn a minimum of two hours of undergraduate research credit.
  6. Upon completing the research project, the student will prepare a final report to submit to the faculty advisor for suggestions and then to the entire advisory committee for review, at least two weeks prior to the oral presentation. The reports are typically modeled after research articles with introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections. The student will also give an oral presentation open to the public and defend the project to the advisory committee after the presentation, at least three days prior to the end of the last week of instruction.
  7. The advisory committee will review the final oral and written reports and then provide a recommendation to graduate with Honors. A positive recommendation results in signatures of advisory committee on thesis cover page. The student must have at least a 3.25 grade point average in Biology courses to graduate with Honors in Biology. The student must submit all necessary forms along with their thesis, collecting signatures from the advisory committee and other required individuals.

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Contact Information

Kristin Dooley
Chair and Professor
kdooley@uca.edu
(501) 450-5940
Manion 205

Department Requirements

  • Overall GPA of 3.25 or better
  • Chemistry GPA of 3.50 or better
  • Consent of Department Chair
  • Two or more semesters of research with a chemistry faculty member

Department Resources


Computer Science and Engineering

Contact Information

M. Emre Celebi
Professor and Chair
ecelebi@uca.edu
(501) 450-3401
MCS 305

Department Requirements

  • Consent of Department Chair

Geography

Contact Information

Stephen O’Connell
Associate Professor and Chair
soconnell@uca.edu
(501) 450-3146
LCS 105

Department Requirements

  • 15 hours credit earned in major
  • Overall GPA of 3.25 or better
  • Major GPA of 3.50 or better
  • Consent of Department Chair
  • Completion of GEOG 4360

Department Process

  1. A faculty member will nominate a prospective Undergraduate Scholar during a regular departmental meeting.
  2. Those students deemed potential participants will be advised of the criteria for the Department Undergraduate Scholars Program. If a student is interested and feels he/she qualifies, the student will present an up-to-date UCA Checksheet to the Chair of the Department.
  3. The departmental faculty will examine the UCA Checksheet. If all criteria are met, the Department Chair will send the student a letter of invitation to participate in the Undergraduate Scholars Program.
  4. As soon as practically possible following the receipt of the invitation, the student will select a director for the Program. The director will be chosen from current geography faculty members.
  5. The student, in concert with his/her director, will select the remaining members of the committee. A minimum of three faculty members is required. One committee member may be from another department.

Mathematics

Contact Information

Fred Hickling
Associate Professor and Chair
fredh@uca.edu
(501) 450-3614
MCS 233

Department Requirements

  • Consent of Department Chair
  • Completion of special problems/research course

Physics and Astronomy

Contact Information

Carl Frederickson, PhD
Professor and Chair
carlf@uca.edu
(501) 450-5900
LSC 171

Department Requirements

  • Consent of Department Chair
  • Completion of two semesters of research in physics or astronomy