Senior Thesis (Biology 457,
458)
Doing a thesis in Biology is optional
for students majoring in Biology. Theses are almost always experimental
and may occupy one or two semesters. Preparation for the thesis
may begin in the junior year with an Independent Study (360
or s50). While every senior is encouraged to do a thesis
project, opportunities in certain fields may be limited by equipment
or faculty load. Whenever possible, students should try to integrate
interests with one of the Seminar and Research courses (470's)
and use the thesis as a means of continuing this work. When the
student's interest does not coincide with a Seminar and Research
course, a one or two semester thesis can be used to pursue this
interest. If this is the case, consult with the faculty member
whose interests are closest to yours and determine if he or she
is willing and able to advise your project. You must submit a
one page proposal in early January of your junior year
(see Capstone
Requirement) for approval by your thesis advisor and by the
Department. Formal, referenced, thesis proposals are generally
due early in the semester in which you begin thesis enrollment;
the specific due date is set in consultation with your advisor.
Some advisors may require a proposal to be submitted the prior
semester. By College policy, thesis work must be done in residence
(the Biology department includes field locations of Faculty members).
Students may do research projects at other locations, but if
they wish to incorporate it in a thesis, they MUST make prior
arrangements with a Bates faculty member to oversee this work
(as described below in Credit
Policies.)
Thesis research can be laboratory, field or library research
done in one or two semesters. A thesis
includes original research; a thesis is not a term paper. The
thesis topic must be approved by a
Biology faculty advisor. Such discussions should be started no
later than the semester prior to
when you hope to begin the thesis work. The Department requires
a written proposal, and the
advisor may suggest a second faculty reader of the proposal and
the final thesis. Theses may be
done with members of other departments serving as the major advisor,
with Biology Department
approval.
Honors
Thesis
The college's Honors
program is described in the Catalog. Prospective Honors students
should also read the Honors
Program Guidelines. The achievement of honors improves the
student's chances for election to honorary societies such as
Phi Beta Kappa or Sigma Xi and for admission to strong graduate
research programs. In Biology, any major may apply to do an Honors
thesis. To apply to the Honors program, a student must submit
a written proposal to the Biology faculty by the 10th day of
classes in the first semester of the thesis work in the senior
year. Students whose proposals are accepted then can begin an
in- depth research project in conjunction with the individual
faculty advisor. Proposals for collaborative work may be considered
by the department. The final Honors thesis proposal (submitted
early in the second semester) must be approved by the Biology
Department and is then submitted to the College as well, early
in the second semester. The submission dates vary from year to
year; information is available from Secretarial Services in Lane
Hall. Four copies of the Honors thesis must be submitted to the
College Honors Committee by the deadlines set by the Honors Committee
(see calendar).
The actual research can begin during the
junior year as an Independent study, or during the summer in
between the junior and senior years. Due to the early deadline
for submission of Honors theses (in March), this early start
is crucial. Honors thesis work must extend over a minimum of
two semesters (the student registers for Bio 457-458 or for one
semester of research and seminar and one of thesis).
An Honors thesis must be defended in an
oral defense normally scheduled at the end of the second semester.The
oral examination covers the thesis and topics related to the
thesis (including biology in general). For the oral defense,an
Honors panel is assigned for each student and consists of: one
faculty member from Biology, one Bates Faculty member outside
Biology and one outside Examiner from off campus (who has not
had input into the project) with expertise in the research field.
Your Faculty advisor will also be present to ask questions, but
cannot vote on the outcome. The Honors panel determines the level
earned: No Honors or Honors. A portion of the level earned is
based on the written work (60%) and a portion on the defense.
The results appear on your transcript as, for example, Honors
in Biology. This designation is for the major only and is distinct
from College Honors (for example, cum laude).
The College allows one semester Honors
theses. It is anticipated that a one semester Honors thesis in
Biology would be a rare event, and would likely require the inclusion
of extensive work in the preceding summer or academic year. Intention
to do a one-semester Honors thesis must be filed with the college
by the last week in September (date varies); the four copies
of the completed thesis are due at the end of November (date
varies).
Guidelines
for Thesis Credit
1. The College policy is that thesis research
be done while in residence (at Bates); we interpret this to include
an off-campus field research location of a Bates faculty member.
2. Permission to extend an off-campus
research experience into a one- or two-semester thesis may be
granted if:
Arrangements are made in advance of the
summer experience including arrangements of who will be the on-campus
advisor; a written proposal is expected;
The student has significant input into
the design of the project done off- campus and demonstrates independence
in carrying out the work (with a letter to both effects from
the off-campus advisor);
Review occurs in the Fall as to how/if
the work should continue as a thesis. This review may include
a group of Biology faculty or just a single faculty member;
Further work will be done at Bates in
which the student has significant intellectual input and independent
effort, AND
Any financial remuneration during the
summer is in the form of a research stipend, but not an hourly
wage or salary;
The off-campus advisor is willing to
continue to support the project financially if needed.
3. Further work on campus may be in the
form of laboratory, field, analytical, or library work.