Capstone Experience Form | Thesis Guidelines

Senior Capstone Requirement

From the catalog: Completion of a capstone experience that includes either two of the following: Biology 457, 458, 460, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 476, 477 (a research-intensive Short Term course may be substituted with prior departmental approval); or, with prior approval, Biology 460 plus a service-learning project. With prior departmental approval, a semester-long research experience in certain approved programs, such as those offered at The Jackson Laboratory or Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, combined with Biology 460, may serve to fulfill the capstone experience.

In the Winter term of the junior year, each student is required to submit a plan (Capstone Experience Form) to their advisor as to how they will fulfill their capstone requirement. Early planning for the capstone is strongly encouraged, particularly if it will involve off-campus programs such as those mentioned above. The student should discuss her/his capstone plan with their advisor as early as possible in the junior year. If the plan includes thesis, students should, in consultation with faculty, prepare a brief description of the proposed project; this does not replace the formal thesis proposal requirement (see Thesis Guidelines) at start of thesis enrollment. Students should discuss possible projects with two different advisors/mentors - although every effort will be made to match each student with their first choice, this cannot not be guaranteed.

DEADLINE FOR CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE FORM SUBMISSION CLASS OF 2011:

This form and the supporting paragraphs are due by 2 PM, Wednesday, Feb 3rd, 2010. Hand all paperwork in to Laurie McConnell at the Carnegie Reception Desk.

Students will be notified by Friday, February 26th, 2010, about their options.

Biology 460 Junior Seminar

Bio 460, the Junior Seminar course, may be used to partially fulfill the capstone requirement as explained above. In addition to other requirements for the biology major, all students majoring in biology are strongly encouraged to attend the department's extracurricular seminars. Because Biology is an experimental discipline, and quite broad, students need multiple exposures to how research in Biology is actually done. Students greatly benefit from meeting and hearing from researchers from other institutions. This helps to ensure that majors are exposed to the research methods and forms of analysis used in the various subdisciplines. Bio 460 is an excellent preparation for doing an independent research project, as well.

BIO 460. Junior Seminar. Reading original biological literature is an essential skill for biology majors. Focusing on the topics addressed by invited speakers for the semester's biology seminar program, students review articles, write analyses, and contribute oral presentations in a small group format. Students attend afternoon and/or evening seminars and discuss the content, context, and presentation of original investigations. Prerequisite(s): Biology 101, 242, and 270. One of these courses may be taken concurrently, only by permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20. [W3] Normally offered every year. Staff. ('09/'10 catalog)

Students pursuing Interdisciplinary Majors in Biological Chemistry, Neuroscience, Environmental Studies, or other areas involving Biology are encouraged, but not required, to attend biology seminars.

 

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