Do research with a biology professor on projects such as: cell development, viral genomes, pathogenic microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, mammalian and behavioral, ecology, endocrinology, etc.

Quotes from some past juniors and seniors:
"I would not have gotten my internship position if I had not...[had] 370 and have produced quite a lot for an undergrad. ...[it gave me my only] experience in experimental design."
"It gives students a chance to work side by side with a professor or graduate students and to get their feet wet in a lab experience. "

Your first semester of research, BIOS 370 = directed research
1. You may start as a second-semester junior, when you have completed at least 2 full years equivalent of college, and have taken most of the BIOS core courses.
2. Requires a 3.0 bioGPA (i.e., GPA in BIOS courses plus courses required for BIOS major).
3. You should spend a minimum of 3 hours per week labor for each hour of credit.
4. If you are in the university honors program, get honors credit for 370 by filling out their in-course honors contract form.

Subsequent semesters of research in BIOS 370 or 499 or 495H, depending on your GPA
(Maximum credits toward major for BIOS 370, 490, 499, 495H combined is 6 except students admitted to departmental honors may take 6 in 495H and up to 3 in 370, 490, 499 combined).
1. If your bioGPA is 3.5 or better, take BIOS495H.
2. If your bioGPA is between 3.2 and 3.5 and you are in university honors, take BIOS499H
3. Otherwise, take BIOS370, which requires 3.0 bioGPA.

Departmental Honors in Biology
1. Take 1-3 cr. of BIOS 370 (see above).
2. After BIOS 370, take 6 cr. total of BIOS 495H over 2 semesters.
3. To graduate with departmental honors in biology, a bioGPA of at least 3.5 must be maintained from when you sign up for your first semester of BIOS495H, thru graduation.
4. Write a senior thesis on your research and give a copy to the honors advisor, Dr. B. King, MO446. The senior research project may double as a University honors capstone project.

Signing up for BIOS 370/495
1. Pick a faculty member that you would like to work with, whose research sounds interesting to you: find out who researches what by going to http://www.bios.niu.edu/bking/facundres.htm or go to the biology homepage or look at the listings on the wall outside of the main office MO349.
2. Any questions? See Dr. Bethia King, BIOS370/Honors Advisor, MO 446, 753-8460, bking@niu.edu.
3. Get permit slip from biology main office MO 349. BIOS 370 requires signature of professor whose lab you'll be working in. BIOS 495H also requires signature of Dr. B. King.
4. Knock on a professor's door and ask: "Will you have room in your lab that semester for me? What sort of research project would you have me working on? How will I be evaluated?"