Honors in the Major or Senior Thesis
Honors in the Major(HM) or a Senior Thesis is intended for students who are interested in original research and who wish to graduate with the best possible undergraduate training in neurobiology. Meet with a Neurobiology advisor to decide which option is right for you.
Requirements – Honors in the Major
You must declare HM with L&S Honors Program.
- Earn a 3.300 University GPA
Earn 3.300 GPA in all major courses. - Two of the following 3 Required Neuroscience Courses for honors:
PSYCHOLOGY 454- Behavioral Neuroscience
ZOOLOGY 523- Neurobiology
ZOOLOGY 500- Neuroscience Seminar. - At least 1 Neurobiology elective listed on our Guide page for honors .
- 6 credits of a Two-semester Senior Honors Thesis – 681-682 (acceptable courses listed in Guide). Your thesis project MUST show relevance to a neuroscience-related topic.
You must complete at least 14 credits in honors courses in the Neurobiology Major while in residence at UW-Madison.
Proposal and Final Thesis Guidelines
All students pursuing Honors in the Major in Neurobiology or a Senior Thesis must submit a thesis proposal to the Neurobiology major for approval.
If you are enrolling in honors thesis credits through a department other than Zoology (for example, Psychology, CS&D, Biochemistry), you still must submit a thesis proposal to Neurobiology.
Proposal Due Date
Proposals are due by August 31.
Your proposal needs to be approved by the Neurobiology Major Honors Committee. The approval process may take up to 2-3 weeks after the deadline, so please plan ahead. If this timeline could affect scholarships or funding deadlines, contact your advisor as soon as possible.
Email one combined PDF file to: neuro@biology.wisc.edu
What to include in your proposal package
Your submission should include all three items below, combined into a single PDF (forms are linked in a column on the right side of this page):
1. Honors Thesis/Senior Thesis proposal form
- Must be signed by you and your mentor.
- If you are completing a dual honors thesis, you must still submit a proposal to Neurobiology and clearly indicate this on the proposal form.
- Please meet with your Neurobiology advisor before beginning your research.
2. Thesis Project Proposal (2-3 pages)
This document should clearly describe your project and include:
- Your experimental or research question.
- Why the project is important (rationale).
- The methods you plan to use.
- Your expected results.
Your proposal must demonstrate clear relevance to a neuroscience-related topic.
3. Course Authorization Form
This form is required to recieve permission to enroll in a Zoology thesis course. After your proposal is approved by the Neurobiology major, you will be given permission to enroll in Honors Thesis or Senior Thesis credits.
- Honors Thesis
- Semester 1: Zoology 681
- Semester 2: Zoology 682
- Senior Thesis
- Semester 1: Zoology 691
- Semester 2: Zoology 692
Final Thesis Due Date
The Monday after finals week.
Submit a signed, electronic PDF copy of your completed thesis to the Neurobiology major. Please use the Thesis Title Page Template, linked on this page. (Forms, templates and examples are linked in a column on the right side of this page).
If you are unsure about formatting or requirements, contact your Neurobiology major advisor.
Email your final thesis to: neuro@biology.wisc.edu.
Honors Links
Requirements
Find additional Neurobiology electives and Thesis subject listings on Guide (BA and BS)
Forms, Templates, Examples
An Important Note about Grading
- Your faculty mentor is responsible for grading your final thesis.
- During the first semester, your mentor will be assign a grade of “P” (Progress) for Zoology 681/ 691.
- At the end of the second semester, you will submit your completed thesis to your mentor for final approval and grading.
- After your mentor assigns the final grade, submit your approved thesis to the Neurobiology major: neuro@biology.wisc.edu.
- The Registrar’s Office will then update the “P” grade from 681/691 to match the final grade assigned for 682/692.