Students with a GPA (based on the last four full-time semesters of Cornell credits in residence, with a minimum of 48 letter graded credits) equal to or greater than 3.0 and who complete an acceptable research thesis will graduate with "distinction in research."
As one of the largest undergraduate programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, we have a well-developed program for upperclass students. The award of the BS degree with Distinction in Research recognizes students who demonstrate an additional level of scholastic achievement, beyond what is required to graduate from CALS. The college sets the basic conditions for acceptance into the program, but we then establish the guidelines for a student to graduate with Distinction in Research. Prospective candidates typically explore opportunities for advanced undergraduate research with one or more faculty mentors and obtain commitments to join individual faculty research programs, sometime during the junior year (it can be done earlier). Students usually conduct an independent study involving experimentation (though an advanced, nonexperimental study may be acceptable). Much of this can be accomplished during the senior year although students are strongly encouraged to begin earlier. During the senior year, students participate in a seminar class, and submit a small thesis for examination by the Thesis Research Committee. Students apply to the college, at the start of their penultimate undergraduate semester, to be accepted into the program and may request a small allocation of CALS funds (currently up to $350) to offset some of the costs of their research; the remainder is borne by the research mentor. Students may apply for additional funds described on CALS undergraduate research website. Application for Distinction in Research Honors Program can be found at http://www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/student-research/honors/index.cfm.
Students usually undertake their thesis research work during the last 2 to 4 semesters. For some students the fall and spring semesters of the senior year are adequate for the program; other arrangements are possible for students who will graduate early.
The research work is usually undertaken for credit under the provisions of AS 4990 (Undergraduate Research) for students majoring in Animal Science with credit hours and grading option at the discretion of the candidate and his/her research mentor. This work may be undertaken with faculty elsewhere in the university, but in order to receive AS 4990 credit, there must be a Professor of Record from Animal Science. Candidates for Distinction in Research are required to take AS 4020 in the spring.
AS 4020 is a seminar class where students develop and deliver formal scientific presentations within a peer-group setting during the semester when the students are completing their projects and writing their theses. The presentations are evaluated by instructors and others in the group, primarily to offer constructive criticism to the presenters. Students planning to graduate in December rather than May should enroll in AS 4020 before graduating.
Students are encouraged to present their work elsewhere, e.g. in university-wide undergraduate forums and (in agreement with their research mentors) at regional, national, or even international meetings of the various scientific societies. There are diverse sources of institutional funds available to offset the expense of participating in such meetings, and the university is proud to have its elite students become known in the scientific community.
Students are required to submit a thesis, embodying the results of their research efforts, for examination by members of the Thesis Research Committee. A low-key oral defense of the thesis concludes the formal requirements of our program. After incorporating suggestions on content or presentation, a bound copy of the thesis is lodged with the Department of Animal Science. Students and their research mentors may choose to submit the work for publication or to incorporate the student's research into related research projects; this is entirely at the discretion of the investigators and is a matter that is outside the purview of the program.
I am interested - where can I find additional information?
Honors Thesis Guidelines
In addition, the College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences guidelines for all Honors Programs are presented in the
general information section of the Course Catalog each year.
If you qualify, discuss the program with your advisor (or any of the faculty in Animal Science).
But, where can I find out about undergraduate research opportunities?
Research exposure for undergraduates is an integral part of our instructional program and opportunities exist to work with virtually all research professionals (faculty and Research Associates). The research interests of each of the faculty are the most useful starting points. If a particular program or small group of programs catches your interest, either discuss them with other students including graduate students whom you know, your advisor, or visit the researcher and explore possibilities that might exist.
I have set-up a research opportunity - what do I do next?
File a CALS Independent Study form. To do so requires you to discuss with your research mentor the details concerning credit hours, work load and a general description of what you will do. Your academic advisor will review your plans and endorse the form. If you plan to work with someone outside Animal Science or with a non-faculty mentor, you will need to find a Professor of Record who is agreeable with your plans.
What about being in the Honors Program?
At the start of your second-to-last semester, obtain, complete and file the CALS form to apply to join the Honors Program.
What is involved in the thesis requirement?
Full details on format, scope, size and deadlines for submission are made available to candidates for Honors and copies are provided to research mentors. The deadlines need to be enforced so that the Honors Committee can complete the overall evaluation of candidates in time to make recommendations to the CALS Registrar, before commencement, for the award of the degree, With Distinction in Research.
|
What to do |
When to do it |
| Explore possibilities on research programs | anytime, but preferably by Fall semester, Junior year |
| Start background work, reading and planning possibly join-in on lab meetings | ideally, during Spring semester----continue during summer break between Junior-Senior year |
| Pre-register for AS 499 | Spring, Junior year |
| Apply for acceptance into the Honors Program | By third week of Fall semester |
| Start research project | Fall, Senior year (or earlier - some projects begin before gaining acceptance into the Honors Program) |
| Pre-register for AS 402, additional AS 499 | Fall, Senior year |
| Complete research and write thesis | Spring, Senior year - the earlier the better |