Botany Departmental Honors

Please contact the Botany Department for advisement and permission prior to enrolling in Honors courses.

Requirements for Botany Departmental Honors:

1. Minimum overall GPA of 3.7.
2. A completed portfolio with a grade of A in the capstone “Portfolio Summative Assessment” course.
3. The completion of a written thesis and a thesis presentation that has been evaluated by the thesis committee and faculty that not only receives a grade of A in the “Botany Thesis” course but is deemed outstanding. The Honors Director will sign off on a Botany thesis written for departmental honors.
   
   Outstanding is defined as meeting the following characteristics, which qualitatively and quantitatively go far beyond that reached by an “A” student.
   1. The research shows originality of thought and interpretation. This could be in the construction of the hypothesis, application of a technique, development of the project, etc.
      
   2. The thesis demonstrates an understanding of the pertinent literature by showing relationships between this work and other published research, contains meaningful suggestions for subsequent research by expanding the ideas of this research to provide new questions for further study, unifies the work with a broader biological context through suggesting inter-relationships with ideas outside of this area of study, etc.
      
   3. The student has displayed initiative throughout the planning and execution of the project with regard to at least one of the following: obtaining financial support, arranging facilities or study site, collaborating outside of the dept/WSU, etc.
      
   4. The research is of sufficient quality to be publishable in a peer-reviewed journal or suitable for presentation before a professional society.
4. Invitation to make a poster presentation of the thesis at the Nye Cortez Honors Banquet.

Students who have not completed their General Education requirements are encouraged to take Honors General Education classes.