Honors Introductory Sequence
Biology 315H/325H Honors Sequence
Biology 315H is the first course in a two-semester honors sequence followed by 325H that integrates a sophisticated survey of introductory biology with a rigorous analysis of upper-division genetics. The purpose of this course sequence is to provide incoming UT freshmen with an accelerated pathway for getting into upper-division biology coursework.
Successful completion of Biology 315H/325H is equivalent to completing Biology 311C/311D/325, and meets the prerequisite for most upper-division biology coursework. Students who do not successfully complete Biology 315H will need to take or claim credit for Biology 311C and 311D to meet the prerequisite for Biology 325.
Course Descriptions
BIO 315H. Advanced Introduction to Genetics: Honors
Basic principles of genetics and cell biology. Emphasis on gene structure and regulation; transmission of heritable traits; structure and function of cells; bacterial and viral genetics; and recombinant DNA technology.
BIO 325H. Genetics: Honors
Basic principles of genetics and evolution. Emphasis on population genetics and natural selection; structure and function of organ systems; behavioral ecology; and mutational analysis of organismal development.
Eligibility for UT Biology Honors Sequence
Registration is restricted to students who have scored a 5 on the Advancement Placement Biology exam, a minimum of 6 on the International Baccalaureate exam, or have been accepted into the Dean’s Scholars honors program. You may not register for this sequence if you have already completed a major’s level biology class at UT or any other college (dual-credit).
It is assumed that students who successfully complete Biology 315H (grade of C or better) in the fall will enroll in Biology 325H the following spring. Successful completion of Biology 325H meets the prerequisite for virtually all of UT’s other upper-division biology classes.
Honors Opportunities
Departmental Honors
Biology
Majors who plan to seek special honors in biology should apply to the honors advisor, Dr. Ruth Buskirk, rbuskirk@austin.utexas.edu, for admission to the honors program no later than the beginning of their senior year. A University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average in biology of at least 3.50 are required for admission. The requirements for graduation with special honors, which are in addition to the requirements of the major, are (1) Biology 679H or two semesters of Biology 379H, Honors Tutorial Course; (2) a thesis or presentation based on original research and approved by the supervising faculty member and the honors advisor; honors students in the Human Biology option must select both a thesis supervisor and a second reader, one of whom must be a tenure-track faculty member or senior lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences; (3) a University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average in biology of at least 3.50; and (4) completion at the University of at least sixty semester hours of coursework to be counted toward the degree.
Biology majors who have completed BIO 325 (Genetics) and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all Biology courses taken at UT are eligible to become members of Beta Beta Beta (Tri-Beta), the Biological Sciences Honor Society. Eligible students receive an invitation at the beginning of each semester sent to their local address, so students interested in joining Tri-Beta are advised to keep their local address up-to-date!
Biochemistry
Biochemistry majors interested in pursuing departmental honors should contact Dr. Jeffrey Barrick at jbarrick@cm.utexas.edu.
Neuroscience
Neuroscience majors interested in pursuing departmental honors should contact Dr. John Mihic at mihic@austin.utexas.edu.
Neuroscience majors interested in careers in research may also apply for Neuroscience Scholars, an honors-type degree that includes the completion of departmental honors as a degree requirement. Students are invited to apply upon successful completion with Bs or higher of NEU 330 and NEU 335 or NEU 340. Students must also maintain a competitive GPA in a combination of other CNS courses. Students must secure a position in a campus Neuroscience research lab prior to application and submit a personal statement. Students who have questions about this option can contact Ramiro De Los Santos (ramiro.delossantos@austin.utexas.edu).
College of Natural Sciences Honors
The Dean's Scholars program is the honors program for the College of Natural Sciences. Visit their website for more information.
University Honors
Each semester, undergraduates who complete a full course load and earn outstanding grades are recognized by inclusion on the University Honors list. Each time a student is included on the list, his or her official record also shows the award of University Honors for that semester. The list is compiled at the end of the fall and spring semesters but not at the end of the summer session. To be included, a student must earn at least 45 grade points and a grade point average of at least 3.50 on courses completed in residence and must have no incomplete grades (symbol X). Credit by exam, correspondence, or extension coursework do not count towards honors. This program replaced the College of Natural Sciences Dean’s Honors List.
Graduation with University Honors
To be eligible to graduate with University honors, an undergraduate must have completed at least sixty hours at the University of Texas at Austin. Graduation with University honors is based on the average of all grades earned in courses taken at the University, whether the courses were passed, failed, or repeated. Courses taken pass/fail are counted in the sixty-hour minimum, but only letter grades (including F’s in pass/fail courses) are used to determine the grade point average.
The faculty of each college or school determines the percentage of the graduating class of that division to receive honors (cum laude), high honors (magna cum laude), and highest honors (summa cum laude), and the minimum grade point average for each category, subject to the following requirements:
- No more than 20 percent of the graduating class of each college or school may receive honors, high honors, and highest honors. No more than 10 percent of the class may receive high honors and highest honors. No more than 4 percent may receive highest honors.
- Honors graduates must have a University grade point average of at least 3.30.
For additional information, including recent GPA cutoffs, visit the CNS Graduating with Honors website.