senior honors thesis ucsd

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Research for Academic Credit

• BISP 196: Senior Honors Thesis Program

Special Studies research projects have returned to in-person instruction. However, if it is determined by the Division of Biological Sciences or campus that instruction must be fully remote, then all research projects are expected to be done remotely as well.

BISP 196 offers students majoring in the Biological Sciences, the opportunity to participate in independent/individual research for academic credit with, and under the direction of, a UC San Diego faculty member. Projects are expected to involve primary, experimental/analytical approaches that augment training in basic biology and that echo the curricular focus of the Division of Biological Sciences. Thus, projects should involve analysis of biological processes or systems at a molecular, biochemical, cellular, organismal, or ecosystem level.

Students who successfully complete all the requirements for the program will have “Distinction” recorded on their transcript. Completion of this program is the only way to earn distinction through the Division of Biological Sciences.

Eligibility

• Undergraduate student declared in a major housed within the Division of Biological Sciences.
• Achieve, prior to the start of the program, a minimum 3.6 biology major and overall UC GPA.
• Identification of an eligible faculty sponsor/instructor of record who has an active appointment with UC San Diego in an approved teaching title and who is willing to serve in that capacity for the duration of the program. There are no specifically designated faculty sponsors/instructors that research must be conducted with for the Senior Honors Thesis Program. The instructor of record is required to adhere to the Faculty Guidelines for Undergraduate Mentoring .
• Complete application, including student and faculty sponsor/instructor portions, must be submitted by the stated deadline. Application and subsequent enrollment are subject to approval of the Division of Biological Sciences.
• Completion of mandatory safety training and any other training related to the research you are conducting, as determined by your faculty sponsor/instructor of record, is required.

Course Information/Major Applicability

• Earn upper-division credit.
• One quarter of BISP 196 may apply to biology major requirements as an elective or a biology laboratory (select majors). Please send a message to Biology via the Virtual Advising Center to determine if BISP 196 can apply toward your biology laboratory requirement.
• Any additional quarters of special studies courses (196, 197, 198, 199) will result in upper-division university credit.
• A quarter of BISP 196 that is applied to biology undergraduate major requirements cannot be applied toward MS program requirements in the BS/MS program.
• Academic credit can be earned a maximum of 3 times.
• Four (4) unit course graded on pass/no pass basis.

Program Requirements

• Each quarter of BISP 196 grants 4 quarter units of academic credit. Four quarter units of academic credit equates to 120 hours of research over the course of the quarter (minimum 12 hours of research per week).
• Submit the BISP 196 Contract (see Admitted BISP 196 Students section under "How to Apply").
• Attend the Fall quarter student orientation.
• Attend the Winter quarter meeting presented by the Honors Thesis Faculty Chair to review the process of thesis writing and development of a scientific poster.
• Submit an abstract to the Saltman Quarterly Journal.
• Participate in the Research Showcase.
• Complete a written thesis (there is no set guideline on the number of pages that are required however, theses generally range from 15-40 pages).
• Students must meet with their faculty sponsor/instructor of record regularly to discuss their research and the writing of their thesis.
• Achieve a minimum major GPA of 3.25 at time of graduation.

Deadlines to Submit Applications

Other important deadlines.

• Applicants should review all criteria (including instructor eligibility) for enrollment in the applicable Special Studies course and ensure that the submitted application represents a complete and accurate submission.
• Applications will be reviewed in relation to the catalog course description for the Special Studies course for which the application was submitted. If the application is denied, the student has the opportunity to re-submit, only if the application for the requested term is still open. Re-submission after the posted deadline will not be permitted, thus early submission is encouraged.
• It is the applicants' responsibility to ensure that the proposed instructor of record submits their portion of the application before the posted deadline. Both the student and instructor portion of the application must be submitted by the posted deadline for the application to be considered.
• Extensions or exceptions to the application deadlines will not be granted under any circumstances, including unavailability of the proposed instructor at the time the application is due. Applicants are encouraged to plan accordingly.

How to Apply

Interested students must begin the Honors Thesis Program in fall quarter. If the applicant is accepted, a web-based application in both winter and spring quarters will need to be submitted in order to continue in the program.

Quarterly Application (an application is required for each quarter of participation)

• Request Type is "Special Studies"
• Submission of the student portion of the online application will generate an email to the applicant and the proposed instructor of record.
• Proposed instructor of record will complete his/her portion of the application and submit it for Divisional review.
• Students may track the status of their application by visiting their application portal.
• In general, the application is open the first day of the quarter preceding the quarter in which the credit will be completed.
• Both the student and instructor portion of the application must be submitted by the posted deadline. Late applications will not be accepted; early submission is encouraged.

Admitted BISP 196 Students

• If the Fall Quarter application has been approved, the student and faculty sponsor/instructor of record will need to complete and sign the BISP 196 Contract. Once the contract is signed by the student and the PI, the PI will need to submit the contract to Biology Student and Instructional Services electronically via email ( [email protected] ) no later than Friday of Week 2 at 4 p.m.
• Student name and PID
• Title of research project
• Name of faculty sponsor/instructor of record and department
• Summary of project, including goals of project and proposed experiments to accomplish those goals
• Progress update: What has been attempted and what has been found or learned? What results do you have so far?

How to Enroll

The applicant will be notified of the outcome of the application review via their @ucsd.edu email address. Notification time varies and is dependent upon the instructor's response time and Divisional review period.

If the application is approved, the student will be automatically enrolled by Weeks 1-2 of the respective quarter or participation.

Enrollment Verification

Once an independent study application and research plan are submitted, they will not be returned to the student or forwarded to any other individual, organization or institution. If a lab requires the student provide enrollment verification, the following options are available:

• If a lab requires the student provide proof of application approval, the student may print a copy of their approved application by logging on to EASy .
• Official - Request Enrollment Verification from the Registrar's Office.
• Unofficial - Provide a print-out via TritonLink Courses & Waitlists screen, which lists the course, instructor, section ID, grading option, etc.

At the conclusion of the term, the instructor of record is responsible for assigning a final grade (pass or no pass) via the University eGrades System .

I'm interested in applying to the Honors Thesis Program, but my current major GPA is a 3.599. Am I still eligible?

An applicant's overall and major GPAs must be a 3.600 or higher by the end of Summer Session II of the junior year to be eligible to participate in the Senior Honors Thesis Program.

Next year will be my last year at UC San Diego, but I plan to graduate a quarter early. Can I still participate?

Students must complete three consecutive quarters of research during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters of the senior year at UC San Diego in order to participate.

Next year is my senior year at UC San Diego, but I do not anticipate to graduate until Fall or Winter quarter of the following year. Am I still eligible to participate and receive Distinction?

As long as the student completes one full year of BISP 196 (Fall, Winter, and Spring), completes all program requirements, and has a minimum major GPA of a 3.25 at time of graduation, the student is eligible to participate.

I plan to study abroad during a portion of my senior year. Can I still participate?

Students must complete three consecutive quarters of research in residence during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters of the senior year at UC San Diego in order to participate.

Do I have to work in the same research lab for all three consecutive quarters?

Students must work with the same faculty sponsor/instructor of record and lab for all three consecutive quarters.

Please also see: Research for Academic Credit Frequently Asked Questions

• BILD 99/BISP 199: Independent/Individual Research
• BISP 193: Biology Education Research
• BISP 197: Biology Research Internship Program

Are you an instructor or potential instructor for a research for academic credit course? Please review Information for Instructors .

THE SENIOR HONORS THESIS

Three documents are available for viewing and downloading.

Click the one you need:

1.  Structure of the Senior Honors Thesis and the First Chapter

2.  Research Design

3.  A Manual of Minutiae

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Undergraduate Program

The Study of Religion program offers an honors program for students who have demonstrated excellence in the major. The honors program consists of a two-quarter sequence of individualized, directed-research courses in which majors learn first hand the processes and practices of scholarly research in the study of religion, culminating in the completion of a thesis and an oral presentation.

The honors program is recommended for majors who 1) have a strong interest in doing original research, 2) intend to pursue graduate study in religion or other academic fields, or 3) intend to pursue other work that will entail independent intellectual inquiry. By participating in the program you will develop research skills and habits of intellectual independence that are valuable for every professional career.

Successful completion of the honors program requires that a student—

• Maintain a GPA of 3.5 in upper-division major courses and 3.3 overall.
• Enroll in 8 units of Honors Thesis (RELI 196AH and BH) over two quarters, typically Winter and Spring of the senior year.
• Research and write an honors thesis, at least 20 pages in length (typically between 30 and 50 pages).
• Make timely progress toward the completion of the thesis (progress to be certified by faculty directors by the end of the first term).
• Have the completed thesis approved by the faculty adviser and the program director.
• Present the honors research orally, in a public seminar arranged by the program office.

1. Meet eligibility requirements

• GPA of 3.5 in upper-division major courses and 3.3 overall.
• Completion of at least six upper division courses within the major.
• Completion of the RELI 101 core requirement (may be completed concurrently with the honors project).
• Completion of at least 90 units (usually a student will have senior status and will graduate during the second quarter of the honors program).

2. Formulate a topic

You are responsible for choosing a research topic. At this stage, you should have a general idea of what you wish to research. As a prospective honors student you are not expected to have a full conception of your project, nor are you expected to have a complete written proposal. It is the role of the faculty adviser to assist you in determining the feasibility of the project, to help you locate sources, to suggest research methods, to read drafts of proposals and chapters, and to help with theoretical and conceptual problems.

3. Obtain a faculty adviser

Once you begin to formulate your honors topic, you should meet with core or affiliate faculty members to secure an adviser. The role of the faculty adviser is to determine the feasibility of the project, to help locate sources, to suggest research methods, to read drafts of proposals and chapters, and to help with theoretical and conceptual problems. Finding an appropriate faculty adviser is very important. You must ensure that the faculty member’s research and teaching interests are appropriate to your chosen project. 

All Study of Religion affiliate faculty are available to assist students in their honors theses, but not every faculty member will be available every year. Thus, professors should be contacted as early as possible. For instance, if you are planning on taking honors in Winter/Spring of your senior year, it is proper for you to begin making inquiries in the Spring quarter of your junior year. If you know early on that you are likely to enroll in the honors program, try to establish a relationship with a likely adviser as soon as possible.

Participation in the honors program requires a great deal of motivation and self-discipline on the part of a student. If you are unable to work independently you should probably not pursue honors. If you are having problems with your adviser, you can discuss them with the Study of Religion program director.

4. Prepare the honors proposal

The proposal should be 4-5 pages in length and must include the following:

NAME PID EMAIL FACULTY ADVISER DATE HONORS PROPOSAL "[tentative title]"

• Approximately one paragraph, include the question of your research and why you are studying it
• Scholarship on the topic...put your research question into a larger scholarly context
• Use your own terms to describe why you are doing the research and what contributions can be anticipated from it
• Identify research sources you will use and how you will use them

Download Honors-proposal-criteria.docx (optional)

5. Submit the application packet

To be admitted to the honors program you must be nominated by a faculty adviser and the nomination must be approved by the Study of Religion director. The faculty adviser ensures that the student’s research meets professional standards; the director ensures that the student satisfies the program’s requirements and that the research is appropriate for the program.

To apply, submit the following to Study of Religion by the application deadline:

• Application form
• Honors proposal
• Other materials or information you would like the director to review

The deadline to submit the application packet to the Study of Religion office is the 10th week of the quarter before you intend to begin your project . This is a final deadline. You are advised to submit your application and proposal as early as possible. Final approval (admission to the program) must take place before the first day of the quarter in which you plan to start the program.

Once you have submitted your application you must inform both the faculty adviser and the Study of Religion director in writing of any deviations from the project proposal and timeline.

6. Enroll for independent study credit

After you are admitted the Study of Religion office will give you WebReg preauthorization to enroll in RELI 196AH (4 units) during your first quarter in the program, and RELI 196BH (4 units) during the following quarter. The 8 units of independent study will count as two of your electives for the major. Both courses must be taken for a letter grade.

At the end of the first quarter your faculty adviser must notify the Study of Religion director that you are making timely progress and give you an "in progress" grade for RELI 196AH. The IP grade will be changed to a letter grade when you complete the program.

Students who fail to make satisfactory progress may be asked to withdraw from the honors program at any point during the two quarters of the program. If you think you may have to withdraw, be mindful of the enrollment deadlines and contact your faculty adviser and the Study of Religion office immediately to discuss options.

7. Complete the thesis

The thesis project is largely self-paced, requiring discipline and steady commitment. Students often find it helpful to break down the process into a series of stages, which allows for the steady development of the project and for regular feedback from the faculty adviser. The adviser should provide direction at each step, but once again, the student is responsible for turning in the work and for raising these issues.

The following list provides a suggested sequence of stages for completing the thesis, but the exact order and structure can be worked out between the adviser and the student.

• Prospectus: The first stage is to write a prospectus, which is a detailed description of your research project that includes a plan of action. The prospectus is meant to be a blueprint of and justification for your project. It should contain a working title, a brief introduction of your topic, a presentation of your thesis (i.e., your argument, or the central questions you will attempt to answer), an explanation of the significance of the project, a brief discussion of what has been written about the topic, a tentative outline, and a preliminary bibliography.
• Annotated Bibliography: This is a more extensive bibliography that requires a brief review of the most important sources. Consult the librarians about search methods and bibliographical tools. Once you identify likely sources, you will evaluate the usefulness of each source to your project by conducting a cursory overview of each source and describing the ways the source will contribute to your research; that is, to annotate each source.
• Formulate a Research Methodology: Describe your research design and methods. How will you conduct your research? What kinds of sources will you use? If primary sources are available, what are the problems or limitations with using them? Justify your research approach and how and why you chose your sources. Finally, discuss any potential methodology problems you foresee.
• Write an Outline: Break down the thesis into chapters or parts, and organize the progression of your material and your argument.
• Write Drafts of Chapters: For general formatting issues, such as footnote/endnote citations (full notes as opposed to parenthetical text citations are required), margins, the use of quotes, and so on, consult a style manual such as the Chicago Manual of Style . There is no required format, but each thesis must be internally consistent.
• Submit a rough draft of the thesis in a timely manner, leaving ample time for your adviser to read your work closely and offer a response.
• Revise in response to your adviser’s feedback and criticism. Remember that any advanced writing project requires multiple drafts and revisions in order to achieve a high level of internal consistency, clarity, stylistic elegance, and analytical incisiveness.
• Submit paper copies of the final thesis to your adviser and the Study of Religion program director, and a digital copy to the Study of Religion office ( [email protected] ).

8. Present the research

Approximately halfway through the second quarter you will present your research orally in a public seminar arranged by the program office. You will talk about your research (topic and questions, methodology, problems encountered, findings) before a friendly audience composed of program faculty, students, staff, and invited friends and family. Questions from the audience will follow.

Typically the event is held in a conference room and lasts 45 to 90 minutes, depending on how many honors students are presenting. 

• 2-3 dates/times that work for you and your faculty adviser
• Title of your talk
• Image for inclusion on the program announcement/invitation (optional)
• Audio-visual needs
• Invitation list (names and emails of friends/family)

9. Receive grades and transcript notation

The two-quarter honors sequence is represented by two grades listed under RELI196AH-BH in different quarters on the transcript. Please note that the first quarter you will not receive a letter grade but an “In Progress” grade. The final grades for both quarters will not show up until the completion of the last quarter.

A transcript notation of “distinction,” “high distinction,” or “highest distinction” may be given based on the GPA in the major, the grade for the research paper, and the grade for the public presentation. When you meet with your college advisor about graduation be sure to mention that you are pursuing (or have completed) honors. Your college may want to annotate your name in the commencement booklet if you receive a departmental distinction.

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Urban Studies and Planning Senior Honors Thesis

To receive departmental honors, students are required to complete USP 190 Senior Honors Thesis. The one quarter seminar is designed for seniors who wish to undertake a research project under the supervision of a USP faculty member and satisfies one upper division elective requirement in both the Urban Studies & Planning and Real Estate & Development majors. Students who have special research interests and plan to pursue graduate school or work in research focused fields are strongly recommended to apply to the Honors Program. Applications for USP 190 are collected in the winter.

2023-2024 Senior Honors Thesis Application

If you are interested in completing the USP 190 Senior Honors Thesis in Spring 2024, please read all the criteria listed below and complete this  application  by Tuesday, February 20th at noon.

To be admitted to the seminar, a student must have:

• Senior standing at the time of completing the application
• Minimum GPA of 3.5 in major coursework
• Minimum overall GPA of 3.0
• Completed USP 185B or USP 187 by the start of Spring 2023
• Have a faculty advisor confirmed from the list of  faculty  in the Department

Info Session Recording

Thesis Proposal

• Problem or Issue that your thesis is addressing
• Potential methods and data sources for analysis
• Potential applications for your findings

Your faculty advisor must review the proposal before signing the Faculty Student Support Agreement Form (see below).

Faculty Advisor

Each student completing the Seniors Honors Thesis is required to have a faculty advisor who is a member of the USP faculty.  Prior to applying for admission to the Honors Program, students should contact the faculty member with whom they hope to work, and arrange a meeting to discuss their proposed project and review their thesis proposal. Ideally, the faculty member is someone with whom a student has had one or more classes and whose subject area and is a good fit in terms of the research or creative interests a student hopes to pursue in the program. Students may want to provide an unoficial copy of their transcript as well as a writing sample to the faculty member for review. The faculty member must complete the Faculty Student Support Agreement Form which the student will submit with their application.

Writing Sample

Past senior honors theses topics.

Listed below are some topics that past USP majors have used for their senior honors theses.

Past Thesis Topics

• Hu, Shunyi - Rethink Housing Affordability: Case Studies on Two Transit Oriented Affordable, 2021-2022
• Rintoul, Michael - The Process of Decentralizing Land Use and Governance Systems: A Case Study of CityDAO, 2021-2022
• Sethuraman, Anupama - Equity and Urban Tree Planting: A Comparative Case Study in the City of San Diego, 2021-2022
• Yichen, Wang - Dimensions of Star Architecture’s Cultural, Economic, and Design Impacts: A Case Study of the Suzhou Museum, 2021-2022
• Defining Success Within Housing First (An analysis of a program to address homelessness), 2020-2021
• Municipal Facilitation of Shared Equity Homeownership in San Diego, Oakland, Berkeley, and Richmond: A Comparative Study of Policy, Administrative, and Financial Supports, 2020-2021
• Using Transit to Increase Access to Universities Affected by Spatial Mismatch: A Case Study on the University of California San Diego, 2020-2021
• Dual Densification: Developer Discretion and Housing in Kearny Mesa, 2020-2021
• Gentefication and Urban Neighborhood Change in Barrio Logan, San Diego, 2020-2021
• Beltran, Sable - Intersecting Land Use, Sociology, and Innovation in Housing Production in San Diego Cities, 2019-2020
• Hocquet, Tessa - Certifying Innocation: Analyzing the Role of Environmental Policies at Universities, 2019-2020
• Koh, Rhiannon - On Your Mind, A Thousand Eyes (a work of creative fiction), 2019-2020
• Mumm, Erik - Rapid Scenario Analysis Software: A Path to More Efficient Rail Planning in California A Case Study of the use of Viriato in the Development of the Caltrain 2020 Business Plan, 2019-2020
• Osborn, Allyson - Alleys in Action! 2.0: Activating an untapped resource of the public realm, 2019-2020
• Reep, Alexandra - Hazardous Waste and Environtmental Justice in the Maquiladora Industry of Tijuana, 2019-2020
• Sanchez Zelaya, Celia - Climate-Driven Displacement: Perceptions of the State and Federal Government vs. the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Band on the Process of “Resettlement” for Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana, 2019-2020
• Shang, Haoyi - Commercializing History: a study of recent historic district development in Chengdu, China, 2019-2020
• Vides, Cindy - Place Based Models as a Better Predictor of Life Expectancy: Forward Looking Perspective on Challenges and Constraints, 2019-2020

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• Senior Thesis Program

UCSD distinguishes between Latin Honors ( cum laude, magna cum laude, suma cum laude ), based entirely on grade point average, and Departmental Honors (with distinction, high distinction, highest distinction), awarded by departments.

In Anthropology both GPA and the quality of a student’s senior thesis are taken into consideration in awarding English honors. A senior thesis is required in order to be considered for departmental honors. Additionally, successful participation in the senior thesis program places students in a more favorable position to be nominated for the outstanding graduating senior award in their major: Washburn, Adams, and Hallowell awards for excellence in Biological, Archeological and Sociocultural Anthropology (see  Awards page ).

Students are admitted to the Senior Thesis program by invitation of the faculty during the Spring quarter of their junior year. Eligibility for the program requires the student to have by the end of the junior year (1) completed eight upper-division courses, including the core sequence, and (2) achieved grade point averages of at least 3.9 in the anthropology concentration major (overall GPA will also be considered). Outstanding junior students, who do not meet all the criteria for automatic invitation to the program, but have already established some research experience with a regular faculty member of our department, may also be considered for invitation to the program, if spaces are available.

The senior thesis is prepared during two successive quarters (Fall and Winter) of a major’s senior year, and can count as two of the four unit upper-division elective courses required for a major (total of twelve upper-division courses are required for a degree). Students can enroll in a recommended (not required) third quarter (ANTH 198) to delve into each other’s completed theses and selected background references, as well as learn research presentation skills.

ANTH 196A  (Fall quarter): Students participate in a weekly seminar with their peers taught by the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). They select a research topic and write a research proposal. Students who receive a B+ or better are invited to continue working on their chosen topic with their individual faculty adviser.

ANTH 196B  (Winter quarter): Independent preparation of senior thesis under the supervision of the faculty adviser. Thesis is due at the end of the quarter. Students who complete their theses successfully are invited to join the Spring quarter course. The DUS and the individual faculty supervisors will advise the department’s faculty on the merit of the thesis for departmental honors.

Recommended ANTH 198  (Spring quarter): This is a weekly seminar taught by the DUS where students discuss their research findings and selected background literature with their peers. Students learn how to turn their theses into presentations and are given the opportunity to present at multiple venues (such as Undergraduate Research Conference, Department Colloquium, high school outreach). For more information on special studies courses (ANTH 198, etc) see the general catalog and the department’s website.

As early as possible in their junior year, students interested in research and in the honors thesis program are encouraged to identify one or two potential faculty mentors who specialize in their general area of interest. Students who wish to be considered for the senior thesis program should notify the department’s undergraduate adviser during the winter quarter prior to the senior year. It is expected that by then, outstanding students interested in pursuing a senior thesis have already taken relevant courses offered by faculty with expertise in shared areas of interest.

The honors thesis program is intense and demanding. However, it benefits students as follows:

• Improves chances of receiving English Honors and Departmental Awards
• Enriches Curriculum Vitae for professional pursuits after graduation
• Allows students to work one-on-one with individual faculty members, building current and future mentorships
• Gives opportunity for productive, interdisciplinary exchange with peers in other subfields of anthropology
• Provides a supportive, well-structured environment in which to conduct research in-depth in a topic of interest
• Develops students’ research skills, applicable at the postgraduate and professional level
• Enhances excellent oral and written communication skills for a variety of audiences
• Offers an opportunity to bond with other high-achieving anthropologists through teamwork
• Helps decide whether research is of interest for paths after graduation
• Creates a solid foundation of knowledge for students pursuing graduate studies
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Senior Honors Theses 2011-2012

The division of biological sciences senior honors theses program (bisp 196) is open to undergraduate biology majors who have an overall, and major, gpa of 3.7 or higher, have senior standing, and commit to three consecutive quarters of research during their senior year. the goals of the program are to increase one-one interaction between students and faculty to encourage more biology majors to pursue independent research., each student in the program has a faculty mentor who provides guidance to the student during the year. in spring quarter each year, students in the honors thesis program participate in a poster session that showcases their research, and gives them the opportunity to discuss their research with faculty and their fellow students. below are abstracts of all the outstanding research projects conducted by undergraduates in the program during the 2011-2012 academic year., investigating the cytokine activity of the drosophila toll pathway.

Allen Ninh, Warren College, Biochemistry and Cell Biology major, Psychology minor, Class of 2012 PI: Steven A. Wasserman Ph.D., Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell & Developmental Biology

Comparisons between Drosophila species based on genome-wide transcription profiling have identified a core set of Toll-induced genes of unknown function that potentially play a role in the Drosophila innate immune response. We are currently developing assays to elucidate the function of these immune effectors and, for those that are likely to act as cytokines, identify their receptors. Ectopic expression of one candidate cytokine is associated with the proliferation of lamellocytes and melanotic tumor formation in larvae and adult flies. Bioinformatics studies suggest that this immune effector may act through a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) pathway. In order to study this, I have generated a stable cell line expressing a genetically encoded calcium indicator, GCaMP. Using a synthetic peptide and assaying for calcium infl ux in GCaMP expressing cells, we hope to identify the mechanism by which this immune effector acts. The results of these studies hold promise for providing a better understanding of these novel immune effectors and of their roles in the innate immune response.

Effects of Immunosuppresants Cyclosporin A and FK506 on Central Axon Outgrowth in vitro

Ari D. Kappel, Sixth College, Physiology and Neuroscience major, Cognitive Science minor, Class of 2012 PI: Mark H. Tuszynski, MD, Ph.D., Department of Neurosciences

Spinal cord injury (SCI) and disorders disrupt movement, sensation, and function of the central nervous system leading to lifelong debilitations and often paralysis. Unlike axons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), injured axons in the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) do not regenerate after injury. Novel research in our lab has shown that grafts of embryonic nervous tissue can induce functional recovery of severed axons in the CNS. However, grafts of embryonic tissue require immunosuppression, and any future application of embryonic nervous tissue grafts in a clinical setting will require immunosuppression. In the past, it has been shown that conventional immunosuppressants such as cyclosporin (CsA), and prograf (FK506) inhibit axonal regeneration in the PNS (Tessier-Lavigne et al, 2003). The current research investigates the effects of CsA and FK506 on CNS axons in vitro. Time course information, and concentration dependence data are investigated in an isolated setting in order to elucidate the molecular and cellular effects of common immunosuppressants, CsA and FK506, on CNS axons.

Protective effects of spinach aldolase on muscle adenylate kinase and Phosphofructokinase-1 activities

Brian Jihoon Park, Muir College, Human Biology major, Class of 2012 PI: Dr. Percy Russell, Ph.D., Division of Biological Sciences

From previous studies, a hypothesis was developed that ascorbic acid (AA) inhibits muscle glycolytic enzymes during periods of rest to facilitate the storage of glucose as glycogen. Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) is considered the enzyme that controls the rate of glycolysis and along with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and adenylate kinase (AK), PFK-1 is inhibited by AA. During contraction, AA does not inhibit glycolysis due to the formation of a complex of glycolytic enzymes with contractile muscle proteins that protects them. Muscle aldolase prevents AA inhibitions and its protective properties are considered a microcosm of the complex formed with contractile muscle proteins. It was observed that spinach aldolase appeared to protect muscle PFK-1 activity from AA inhibition. The current study focuses on this ability of a plant enzyme, spinach aldolase, to interact and protect animal enzymes. Specifically the studies showed that spinach aldolase protected muscle AK activity loss due to dilution and protected muscle PFK-1 from inhibition by each AA and ascorbyl dipalmitate, an AA derivative shown to be more inhibitory than AA alone.

Role of Tissue-nonspecific Alkaline Phosphatase and Fetuin in Biomineralization

Bryan Lam, Revelle College, General Biology major, Urban Studies and Planning minor, Class of 2012 PI: Paul A. Price, Ph.D., Division of Biological Sciences

Our goal is to understand the mechanisms by which proteins control the the normal mineralization of bones and teeth and prevent the abnormal mineralization of soft tissues. We studied two proteins which have been implicated in the regulation of biomineralization: tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) and fetuin. Fetuin is a 48kDa glycoprotein that is synthesized in the mammalian liver and found in high concentrations in serum and bone and is an important inhibitor of apatite growth in-vitro. TNAP has been identified in previous studies as a component of serum calcification activity and its effect in increasing the rate of mineral formation is observed only exclusively in the presence of fetuin. Apatite crystal formation was investigated using an in-vitro assay that closely resembles the calcium, phosphate and pH of human serum. We have demonstrated that fetuin is a substrate for alkaline phosphatase activity and that de-phosphorylation of fetuin greatly reduces its mineral inhibition activity. The high concentration of alkaline phosphatase and fetuin in bones suggest that bone fetuins may have a more dephosphorylated state. The reduced mineral inhibition activity of fetuin within bone may allow for normal mineralization to occur. Our findings also suggest that the phosphorylation state of serum fetuin may play a role in abnormal soft tissue mineralization such as the formation atherosclerotic plaques.

The role of the homeodomain protein Six6 in pituitary gonadotrope gene expression

Chiara Maruggi, Revelle College, General Biology major, Italian Literature minor, Class of 2012 PI: Pamela Mellon, Ph.D., Department of Reproductive Medicine

The hypothalamus orchestrates the release of FSH and LH from the pituitary through its pulsatile release of GnRH. FSH and LH in turn act on the gonads to stimulate hormonal secretions and gametogenesis. This research aims at better understanding regulation of gonadotrope gene expression through studying the mechanism by which Six6 represses the expression of LHβ, FSHβ, and GnRH receptor (GnRH-R). Six6, a member of the SIX/Sine oculis family of homeobox genes, stimulates progenitor cell development in the growing pituitary, eye, and brain. In mice, absence of Six6 causes a hypo-pituitary phenotype and a striking decrease in fertility. Recent work has shown repression of LHβ, FSHβ, and GnRH-R by Six6 and a relief of repression of the genes when transfecting with Six6 carrying a mutation in the eh1 domain. The region of repression by Six6 is in the 800 to 600 region for GnRH-R, in the -300 to -87 region for LHβ and inside of -95 in FSHβ. Two non-exclusive hypotheses will be explored further: displacement of activators from binding sites and recruitment of TLE co-repressors. The murine TLE (Grg, Groucho-related gene) proteins are co-repressors regulating development. Research has shown that both long-form (Grg4) and short form (Grg5) proteins regulate the GnRH gene by co-localizing with through Oct1 and Msx1 in vivo. Elaborating on these findings, this project also aims at identifying the possible role of TLE/Grg proteins in the repression of LHβ, FSHβ or GnRH-R. Such findings would help increase our knowledge of the mechanisms regulating GnRH release–mechanisms that play a key role in physiology and pathophysiology dealing with development and reproduction.

The Unique Shuttling Pathway of the Peroxisomal PTS2 Receptor, Pex7, in Pichia pastoris

Danielle Hagstrom, Muir College, Molecular Biology major, Class of 2012 PI: Suresh Subramani, Ph.D., Division of Biological Sciences

Peroxisomal matrix protein import relies on two pathways that use one of two peroxisomal targeting signals (PTSs), known as PTS1 and PTS2, present on cargo proteins. The majority of import occurs through the PTS1 pathway, dependent on the receptor Pex5. The PTS2 pathway is dependent on the receptor Pex7 and its co-receptor Pex20. Pex5 and Pex20 bind their respective cargo in the cytosol and shuttle them into the peroxisome matrix to be released. After cargo release, Pex5 and Pex20 are subject to mono-ubiquitination which allows for receptor recycling — a process dependent on the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, Pex4, and the AAA ATPases, Pex1 and Pex6. When receptor recycling is blocked, Pex5 and Pex20 are poly-ubiquitinated and degraded by the proteasome, in a process called the RADAR (Receptor Accumulation and Degradation in the Absence of Recycling) pathway. However, we found that the shuttling pathway of Pex7 differs from that of Pex5 and Pex20 as Pex7 is present at low levels in wild-type cells but stabilized in pex mutants affecting normal peroxisomal matrix protein import, suggesting that Pex7 is constitutively degraded during its normal import cycle. Specifically, Pex7 is stabilized in the receptor recycling mutants, Pex4 and Pex6, due to its inability to enter into peroxisomes, as seen by fractionation and protease protection assays. However, in the mutants affecting peroxisomal membrane proteins containing a RING domain, such as Pex2, Pex7 can enter peroxisomes but presumably cannot be exported, thus causing accumulation of Pex7. Additionally, the import and export of Pex7 may have a previously unknown dependence on Pex5 and Pex20, which may be mediated by the special cargo, Pex8, which contains both a PTS1 and PTS2. The shuttling pathway of the PTS2 receptor, Pex7, demonstrates a sharp divergence from the previously studied shuttling pathways of Pex5 and Pex20 and could represent a mechanism to regulate Pex7 levels when the PTS2 pathway is not needed.

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Undergraduate

The Honors Program

The department offers this special program for outstanding students. The Honors Program is especially recommended for those students interested in pursuing graduate study in history or allied fields and is a particularly effective preparation for professional careers.

About the Program

The Honors Program is a two-quarter sequence of courses for history majors, in which students focus on the theory and practice of historical research. Honors program students have a slightly modified set of major requirements and are eligible to receive the Rappaport Prize.

Who Should Apply to the Honors Program

It is designed for a limited number of students who have demonstrated excellence in the History Major. It is recommended for students who...

• have a strong interest in doing original research
• intend to pursue graduate study, in history or other professional fields
• intend to pursue work involving research (law, business, public administration, and the like)

Honors Major Requirements (as of FA21)

Candidates for history honors should organize their upper-division coursework as follows:

Lower Division Requirement (3 courses)

• HILD or MMW or HUM
• HILD  or MMW or HUM

Honors Major Worksheet

Upper Division (12 courses)

1. HITO 100

Field Emphasis

2. Upper Division Field Course 3. Upper Division Field Course 4. Upper Division Field Course

Non-Field Emphasis

5. Upper Division Non-Field Course 6. Upper Division Non-Field Course 7. Upper Division Non-Field Course

8. Upper Division Elective History Course 9. Upper Division Elective History Course

Honors Courses

10. HITO 196 Honors Colloquium (Fall) 11. HITO 194 History Honors (Fall) 12. HITO 195 History Essay (Winter)

Note: Until the thesis is submitted and graded, the student's grade for HITO 194 will appear as IP (in progress). A letter grade will be assigned for both HITO 194 and HITO 195 once the thesis is submitted and graded by the advisor. If a student drops from the honors program after having completed HITO 194 but without submitting a thesis, they will be assigned a C- for HITO 194.

At least 3 of the 12 upper division courses must be focused on the period before 1800.

• Upper Division Field or Non-Field Course

Honors students must complete three colloquia (courses numbered between 160-180) in total, two in addition to HITO 196.

• HITO 196 Honors Colloquium

In addition to regular course work in the department, the Honors Program consists of a colloquium in historiography (HITO 196) offered in the fall quarter of the senior year and a program of independent study (HITO 194 & HITO 195) leading to the completion of an honors essay on a topic of the student’s choice. During the fall quarter of the senior year, candidates select a topic and begin preliminary work on the Honors essay in consultation with a  major field adviser  (HITO 194). During the winter quarter, the student pursues a course of independent study devoted to completing the Honors essay (HITO 195). The award of History Honors is based on satisfactory completion of the colloquium in history and the Honors essay. Students are expected to maintain an average of 3.5 or better in all work taken within the department. Honors candidates must include at least three colloquia in their regular coursework.

Honors Major Requirements (pre-FA21)

1. Upper Division Field Course 2. Upper Division Field Course 3. Upper Division Field Course 4. Upper Division Field Course 5. Upper Division Field Course 6. Upper Division Field Course

7. Upper Division Non-Field Course 8. Upper Division Non-Field Course 9. Upper Division Non-Field Course

Honors Program Admission

Requirements.

Candidates for History Honors are chosen during the spring quarter. The Honor's Program is intended for students in their last year at UC San Diego. Admission to the program is based on the student’s academic work. Students interested in applying must meet the following criteria:

The prerequisites for participation in the Honors Program are: 

• Junior standing
• A GPA of 3.5 in history upper-division courses (3.0 overall)
• the completion of AT LEAST four upper-division history courses, including one colloquium (two are recommended).   

Please submit the following items to the  Undergraduate Coordinator  in person or via email:

• Application [Google Form]
• Writing sample (5-10 pages)

Applications are due the second Friday of May.  

Notifications of acceptance into the Honors program are sent out at the end of the Spring Quarter once grades have been posted and major GPAs can be verified.  We recommend those applicants who have applied to the honors program register for classes with the assumption that they will not be admitted. Applicants that are accepted into the program have an assured seat in HITO 196 for the Fall and will be assigned a HITO 194 section.

Honors Program Timeline

Honors program within the four year plan, spring quarter.

(before your last year at UC San Diego)

Apply for the Honors Program Applications for the Honors Program are due the Second Friday of May. 

Enroll in Fall Courses You won't be formally admitted to the Honors Program until after you have registered for Fall courses. Enroll in courses for the Fall with the expectation that you will not be admitted to the Honors Program (you likely will be admitted, but in the unlikely event that you are not admitted this is the best course of action). 

Fall Quarter

Winter quarter.

Rappaport Prize Revisions All students' theses will be submitted for consideration for the Rappaport Prize. Honors students will have until the second Friday in April to resubmit the final draft of their papers with revisions. 

The Honors Thesis

The Honors Thesis represents the most significant work in the undergraduate program. It should be substantial in length (usually between 30 and 50 pages) and contain an original argument and conclusions based on the analysis and synthesis of the available materials on the subjects. Primary research is encouraged where possible, but students are not expected to be able to read documents in a foreign language. 

The student is responsible for choosing a research topic, but the faculty advisor should approve its scope and feasibility. The student should begin conversations with the advisor during the Spring Quarter of the junior year.

Students can consult earlier Honors theses for appropriate models, which can be checked out from the department's library (see the Undergraduate Student Affairs Coordinator). The Rappaport Prize Winning theses are also linked below.

The Faculty Advisor

Locating an appropriate faculty advisor is one of the most important tasks of the Honors student. For the department's faculty listing and their short biographies, research, and teaching interest see:  https://history.ucsd.edu/people/faculty/index.html

All faculty are available to assist students in their Honors theses, but not every faculty member may be available yearly. Thus, professors should be contacted as early as possible, preferably before the end of the Spring Quarter. If you know early on that you are likely to enroll in the Honors Program, try to establish a relationship with a potential advisor as soon as possible, by taking courses with the instructor.

Faculty Advisor's Role

Grading and evaluation.

The three-quarter Honors sequence is represented by three grades on the transcript: HITO 196 is an independent course taken during the fall term, graded by the faculty member teaching the seminar. This grade counts in the student's record regardless of the completion of or progress on the Honors thesis. The grade for HITO 194 will be a preliminary IP (in progress) after the fall term.  Until the thesis is submitted and graded, the student's grade for HITO 194 will appear as IP. A letter grade will be assigned for both HITO 194 and HITO 195 once the thesis is submitted and graded by the advisor.  Thus, HITO 194 and 195 receive the same grade, awarded by the advisor at the completion of the thesis. 

Note: If a student drops from the honors program after having completed HITO 194 but without submitting a thesis, they will be assigned a C- for HITO 194.

All Honors students who complete the thesis with a grade of "B" or better will graduate with honors. Those with a GPA in the major of:

3.5-3.79 Will graduate with DISTINCTION 3.8-3.89 Will graduate with HIGH DISTINCTION 3.9-4.00 Will graduate with HIGHEST DISTINCTION

Armin Rappaport Prize & Winning Theses

About the prize.

Established in 1983, the Armin Rappaport Memorial Fund endows an annual prize for the graduating history major whose scholarship is outstanding. Honors students must submit their revised thesis to the committee by the second Friday in April. All Honors students are considered for the prize.

Past Recipients

Ryan Dilworth, 2022-23 Understanding Holocaust ‘Singularity’: The Memory Sought vs. the Memory Achieved between the Historikerstreit and the ‘Catechism’ within the German Federal Republic

Natalie Novella, 2021-22 Tale as Old as Time: Three Brazen Empresses, One Fateful Apple, and The Resulting Woes of Men

Liam McKee, 2020-21 Slaves To A Myth: Irish Indentured Servitude, African Slavery, and the Politics of White Nationalism

Yuwei Zhou, 2019-20 The Spatial and Social Organization of Bronze Production System in Anyang

Hannah von Heidegger, 2018-19 Galloping onto the Throne: Queen Elizabeth I and the Symbolism of the Horse

David Dawson, 2017-18 Inviolable Motherhood: The Far-Right and The Battle Against The Conscription of Women During The Second World War

Christian Hillman, 2016-17 A Crust of Bread, For the Love of God! The Ottoman Homefront in World War I

Luke A. Mitchell, 2015-16 The Crescent and the Eagle: The “Turk” as Political Rhetoric in Newspapers of the Early American Republic, 1765-1797

Cameron Towne, 2014-15 From One Mighty Movement to 100% Americanism: David Lasser and the Co-Optation of the Worker's Alliance of America Amanda Gardner, 2013-14 Scientific Temperance and Scientific Men: Physiology as an Unbiased Solution to the Liquor Problem

Ryan Gingeras, 1999-00 British Press Coverage of the Illinden Uprising of 1903 and the Conceptualization of the Balkans

Vice Chair of Undergraduate Studies: Mira Balberg Phone: (858) 534-0408

Undergraduate Coordinator: Robert Lopez Phone: (858) 534-8940

WALK-IN ADVISING: Mondays 8:30am - 11:30am (In-person and via Zoom ) Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays 8:30am - 11:30am & 12:30pm - 3:30pm (Remote via Zoom )

The Physics Honors Program

The Department of Physics offers an Honors Program for students who demonstrate excellence in the major. Eligibility for the Honors Program includes completion of all required lower-division physics courses, nine upper-division physics courses, and a GPA of at least 3.50 in the physics major.

The Honors Program consists of a minimum of eight units of Honors Thesis Research (Physics 199H), an Honors Thesis, and the presentation of the research to faculty and peers at UC San Diego's  Undergraduate Research Conference  or an Undergraduate Seminar.

Students who successfully complete the Honors Program and who have maintained a GPA of at least a 3.50 in the major will have the one of the following designations on their diploma, based on an average of their major GPA and the grade for their research project:

3.50 – 3.67 "with Distinction" 3.68 – 3.85 "with High Distinction" 3.86 – 4.00 "with Highest Distinction"

Applications to the Physics Department Honors Program must be submitted via  EASy  and are due NLT Friday of week 1 in the term you want to start the program (see instructions here ). Late applications will not be accepted. 

• Learn about  research opportunities  in Physics
• Download the  Physics Honors Program Application Packet

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do i need a cumulative gpa of 3.5 to be eligible to apply to the physics honors program.

No, it's your major gpa that must be a 3.5 or above in order to be eligible to apply.

Can I apply to the Physics Honors Program before my senior year?

Provided you have met the eligibility requirements, you may apply before your senior year.

In what term am I allowed to apply to the Physics Honors Program?

At the very least, you must apply two terms in advance of your graduation. Program participants must enroll for 2-3 terms of PHYS 199H and earn 8-12 199H units; one term must be a 4-unit PHYS 199H.

Am I required to submit an EASy request to enroll in PHYS 199H units each term? ​​​​​​

Yes, you must submit an EASy request to enroll in PHYS 199H units each term (see instructions here ). Be sure to include your honors application packet with each EASy request, even after your first term of enrollment in PHYS 199H.

Can my PHYS 199 count towards the Physics Honors Program?

No, only PHYS 199H applies to the Physics Honors Program and only students who are admitted to the Physics Honors Program are able to enroll in PHYS 199H.

Who can serve as my faculty supervisor for the Physics Honors Program?

Only  professors  in the Physics Department can serve as your supervisor for the Physics Honors Program.

I am a double major in another field and I am participating in the Honors Program in my other department. Can my research also count towards the Physics Honors Program?

No, your research must be unique to the Physics Honors Program.

How many PHYS 199Hs can I apply to my physics major requirements?

Program participants are required to have a single 4-UNIT PHYS 199H applied as an upper division restricted elective for their physics major instead of the 4-UNIT PHYS 199 we typically accept.

How, where, and when must I present my Honors Thesis Research?

Program participants must work with their faculty honors project advisor to schedule a day, time, and location to present their research. Some faculty simply book a room in a dept. space and invite people to hear their participant present. Other faculty help their student get signed up to present at the  UCSD Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) .

Have a Honors Program question not addressed in the info. above? Contact us through  VAC  to let us know!

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Undergraduate

The department offers a special program of advanced study for outstanding undergraduates majoring in literature. Admission to this program requires an overall GPA of 3.5, a literature major GPA of 3.7, and enrollment in one of the Literature Department capstone courses (LTWR 194 for Writing majors and LTWL 194 for all other Literature majors, both offered every Fall Quarter) at the beginning of the senior year.  During Fall Quarter, students meeting these requirements will be invited to participate in the Honors Program. Interested students who do not (but are very close) to the GPA requirements may be eligible to petition to participate in the program.  Students should contact the Undergraduate Advisor for more details. 

During the Winter Quarter of their senior year, all honors students will write their thesis paper under the supervision of a faculty advisor chosen by the student (while enrolled in an Honors Thesis independent study course, LT__ 196). The Honors Program concludes with the Spring Quarter Honors Program conference within the department, where students present their research or creative piece and answer questions from attendees (other Honors Program students and Literature Department faculty).  Honors students will enroll in LTWL 194A (1-unit) in Spring Quarter to receive credit for these presentations.  Each student's performance on the thesis project, as well as at their presentation, will determine the level of honors they will receive.

The Literature capstone course and thesis course may be applied toward major requirements, if applicable. Students should contact the Undergraduate Advisor to determine how the courses might apply to their remaining requirements.

There are two undergraduate awards offered each year that are dedicated to the Honors Program.  The Burckhardt Honors Award is bestowed upon the highest rated literary/cultural criticism thesis project, and the Sherley Williams Memorial Award is bestowed upon the highest rated literary arts thesis project.  Past winners of these awards can be seen on the Past Participants page.

Courses for the Honors Program

Fall quarter: literature dept capstone courses.

LTWL 194 - Capstone Course for Lit Majors

An advanced seminar open to all Literature majors in their senior year.  Required for those interested in the Honors Program.  It offers an integrative experience by considering key facets of the discipline, including literature theories/historiography, knowledge of neighboring disciplines, relevance of literature/cultural studies in various professions outside of academia.

LTWR 194 - Capstone Course for Writing Majors

An advanced seminar open to all Writing majors in their senior year.  Required for those interested in the Honors Program.  It offers an integrative experience by considering key facets of the discipline and profession, including genre writing, craft/technique, literary theories/theories of writing, the relationship between aesthetics/culture and politics, and distribution/publication.

Winter Quarter: Honors Thesis Courses

LT__ 196 - Honors Thesis

Senior thesis research and writing for students who have been accepted for the Literature Honors Program.

Spring Quarter: Honors Conference Presentation

LTWL 1 94A - Honors Practicum

Honors practicum for those students in the Literature Department Honors Program.  This is a 1-unit course for which students in the Honors Program will present their work as part of organized panels at an Honors Program conference (within the department).  Students will receive a P/NP grade for LTWL 194A for completing the presentation.

Undergrad Advising

Current students must use the VAC (valid student PID required) or Zoom appointments for advising. We cannot advise students via email or over the phone (to preserve student privacy standards). If/when we are able to re-open in-person advising, we will update you. If you have academic-related forms or paperwork that require our review and signature, please email them to [email protected].

Virtual Advising Center

Send us your questions via the VAC. We respond to questions Mondays - Fridays, 8:00am-4:30pm.

Submit a question

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Walk-in advising is currently unavailable, but we are happy to schedule a virtual appointment with you.

Schedule Appointmnet

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2024-25 Program Application 

Information Session

We invite you to review the PRESENTATION SLIDES and PRESENTATION VIDEO from our recent Information Session. If you are interested in applying for the 2024-25 cohort, please email Professor deWaard ( [email protected] ) and COMM Undergrad Advisor, Melanie Lynn ( [email protected] ), so that we can best support your application, including answering any questions you may have.

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Undergraduate Program

Psychology honors program.

Are you considering graduate school or a professional program? Are you interested in conducting original research? If so, you should consider applying to the Psychology Honors Program. This program prepares you to work on your own research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor. 

Program Benefits

• Conduct your own research project
• Learn to manage a project from beginning to end
• Build strong academic relationships with your advising faculty
• Develop skills experience that may provide an advantage for admission and success in graduate school

The Psychology Honors Program is open to all Psychology majors and those who declared the Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience (CBN) major under the Psychology Department.

This program, which students can apply for in fall of their junior year, offers a distinctive way to complete your psychology major. 

Psychology Honors Information Sessions

Please attend a Psychology Honors Information Session:

• Wednesday, November 1st, 2023  at  1:00pm (Virtual via Zoom)
• Friday, November 3rd, 2023  at  11:00am (Virtual via  Zoom)
• In-Person in Mandler Hall 1539
• Virtual via Zoom

If you cannot attend an information session or have missed the information sessions, please watch the recorded presentation. It will answer many of your questions and provide thoughtful information to consider before applying for the Psychology Honors Program.

Requirements to Apply

Our Application Review Committee takes a holistic approach when reviewing applications. Academic, leadership, research, service, and work experiences are all taken into consideration as well as a recommendation from faculty.

Students are required to have the following completed by the end of the Fall quarter they apply :

• PSYC 60: Introduction to Statistics (or equivalent)
• PSYC 70: Introduction Research Methods (or equivalent)
• At least Two Upper-Division (UD) PSYC courses (preferably at UCSD)
• If a student is enrolled at UCSD in PSYC 70 (PSYC 60 is a prerequisite), PSYC 102, and PSYC 104 during Fall 2023, this will fulfill the course requirements to apply to the honors program.
• If a student transfers in PSYC 60 (or equivalent such as COGS 14B, MATH 11, etc.) and PSYC 70 (or equivalent such as COGS 14A, etc.) and is enrolled in PSYC 100 and PSYC 105 during Fall 2023, this will fulfill the course requirements to apply to the honors program.

A strong application will have an overall UC San Diego GPA of 3.3 (or 3.5 transfer GPA for first-quarter transfer students) and completion (or close to) of all lower-division major courses.  Though this is a common profile of a successful applicant, we have had Honors students with lower GPAs and more than two lower-division psych major courses left to complete provided other aspects of the application are strong.

Applying to Program

 The online application requires the following information:

• Student information
• Major GPA and course information
• Personal Statement: Describe what interests you the most about the field of psychology.
• Briefly describe your reasons for applying to the psychology honors program.
• What personal and academic strengths do you possess that will contribute to your success in the psychology honors program?
• What challenges do you foresee yourself facing in the program and what steps will you take to overcome them?
• What are your future plans/goals after you have completed your undergraduate degree?
• The personal statement and supplemental questions are each  limited to 1,000 words.
• 2 References: at least one must be academic. You will list their name, job/teaching title, phone number, and email address. No letters of recommendation are needed for the application.
• You must be logged into your  UCSD  email account on the browser you are using to access the application.
• You must complete the application in one sitting (there is no "save and continue at a later time" feature).
• You can submit one application; be sure it's complete and accurate before you hit "submit."

Applications will be reviewed by Psychology faculty and staff. Students will be contacted with the final decision on Friday, December 22, 2023.

Students should not wait to enroll in Winter 2024 quarter courses. If admitted into the Psychology Honors Program, students will change their class schedule to enroll in the psychology honors courses during Week 1 of the Winter 2024 quarter.

Overview of Program

The Psychology Honors Program is a 2-year commitment comprised of the honors courses PSYC 110, PSYC 111A/B, PSYC 194A/B/C. Psych honors courses cannot be removed or condensed nor can courses be moved to different quarters as students move through the program as a cohort unit.

The Psychology Honors Program is not required to graduate from UCSD with a psychology major. It is optional. Therefore, students who apply and commit to this program should be prepared to dedicate substantial time and energy to their coursework and research project. Students will be asked to make numerous revisions to course papers and their thesis. The PSYC 111 courses require significant tim e outside the classroom to prepare for class, study for exams, and complete assignments. Students must be ready to devote extensive time to their research and faculty mentor to ensure they can complete their honors research project and thesis on time for graduation.

Junior year

Winter quarter courses:.

• PSYC 110: Junior Honors Research Seminar
• PSYC 111A: Advanced Statistics and Research Methods I

Spring quarter course:

• PSYC 111B: Advanced Statistics and Research Methods II

Senior year

PSYC 194A/B/C: Honors Thesis Courses (FA, WI, SP). A year-long independent research project under the mentorship of a faculty advisor. This research culminates in a thesis and a poster presentation during the Spring quarter.

NOTE for those considering the PSYC 116 series : Students should make a choice between taking the PSYC 116 series or the Psych Honors program. Both of these programs have demanding workloads, require a faculty mentor's extensive time, and there is a strong possibility that class meeting times will overlap. It is highly unlikely a student would be approved for both programs. Since both programs offer an intensive research experience, the goal is to offer more psychology majors the opportunity to experience one of these programs.

Psychology Honors Courses

All psychology honors courses must be taken for a letter grade. also, all psychology honors courses will be used in calculating your psychology major and cumulative gpas., psyc 110: honors seminar (4 units).

This is a series of lectures where faculty members present their research. Students in PSYC 110 prepare themselves for each lecture by reading articles published by the various faculty members. These articles are made available in the form of a reader. The course will allow personal contact with faculty and enable students to discuss their future senior thesis projects with potential supervisors. The grade for PSYC 110 is based on participation and several short papers. Students should expect to complete multiple revisions of their papers.

PSYC 111A: Advanced Research Methods I (6 units)

This course provides training in applying advanced statistical methods to experimental design. Emphasis will be placed on the developing skills in statistical problem-solving, using computer applications, and writing scientific reports.

PSYC 111B: Advanced Research Methods II (6 units)

This course builds upon the material of PSYC 111A. Students will participate in data collection, data organization, statistical analysis, and graphical analysis, with emphasis placed on developing scientific report writing, presentations and critical thinking about experimental methods. 

PSYC 194 A/B/C: Honors Thesis Courses (4 units each)

It is important to identify a thesis advisor during or after PSYC 110. It is possible to do the project outside UC San Diego, i.e., in the VA or Children Hospital, etc. The sponsor, in this case, would be the program coordinator. In the introductory meeting, the program coordinator will give guidance regarding the whole procedure of PSYC 194 A/B/C.

Briefly, the first quarter is reserved for setting up the research project and writing of the research proposal. The proposal must be handed in at the end of the quarter and will be graded with a letter grade. The second quarter is dedicated to data collection and analysis. The grade for this course will be WIP (work in progress). It will change to a letter grade upon completion of the project at the end of the third quarter. The thesis will be read by the student's advisor, an outside faculty member, and the program coordinator. The staff coordinator will assist students with setting up the poster session at the end of the spring quarter, to which students' instructors, friends, and families are invited. At this session, students will answer questions regarding their research project.

Please attend or watch the Psychology Honors information session to learn more about how the Psychology Honors courses may apply to your psych major.

Graduating with Psychology Honors

Successful completion of the Psychology Honors program requires the following:

• Grade of at least an A- in the PSYC 194 series
• Minimum GPA of 3.5 in the upper-division courses taken for the major
• 12 units of supervised research (PSYC 194 A/B/C)
• Public presentation of Honors project (Psychology Honors Poster Session)
• Submission of a  final thesis that is considered “honors worthy” by Faculty Mentor and Honors Faculty Coordinator

Honors Faculty Coordinator: Gail Heyman, PhD

Honors staff coordinator: kristi mackenzie.

• Honors Awards

Mathematics Honors Program presentations are held each May. These presentations were based on theses submitted for examination to the Mathematics Department Honors Committee.

The Mathematics Department Honors Committee determines the level of departmental honors awarded (Honors with Distinction, Honors with High Distinction, or Honors with Highest Distinction), based on the student's GPA in the major and the quality of the honors work.

If you are interested in attending the Honors Program Presentations, please send an email to [email protected].

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Undergraduate

The Department of Philosophy offers an honors program for outstanding students in the major.

Eligibility:

• majors who have a 3.75 GPA in philosophy and
• 3.25 overall GPA at the end of their junior year, and
• who have taken at least 4 upper-division courses are eligible to apply

Interested students must consult with a faculty sponsor by the last day of classes during the spring term of their junior year.  Admission to the honors program requires nomination by a faculty sponsor and the approval of the undergraduate faculty advisor.

In addition to the usual major requirements, an honors student is required to complete a senior honors thesis by the end of winter quarter.  During the fall and winter quarters, the student will be registered for PHIL 191A and PHIL 191B, and will be supervised and evaluated by the student's faculty sponsor.  Honors students are expected to maintain an average of 3.75 or better for all work taken in the program.

A departmental committee will read and assess the completed thesis and determine if philosophy honors are to be awarded.  Upon successful completion of the requirements, the designation "with distinction," "with high distinction," or "with highest distinction" will appear on the student's diploma.

Philosophy Honors Nomination Form

Staff Contact Cami Koepke Philosophy Undergraduate Advising Staff Email:  [email protected]

Senior Honors Thesis Advice for Students

Academic advising and support resources.

Academic Resource Center  offers writing consultants who meet individually with senior thesis writers to help them with anything from making and meeting deadlines to planning out chapters to polishing final drafts.

Senior Writers Action Group  is a writing group through the Academic Resource Center that holds workshops on such topics as time management and accountability, research resources, tips for STEM writers, preparing for the defense, and more. Plus: Writing Bootcamp sessions! Undergraduate Research Fund  may be used toward some research-related expenses.

Dean of Undergraduate Studies  upholds senior honors thesis policies, grants waivers, and can answer questions about policies and deadlines. Your  Advising Dean  can help you decide whether do an independent study rather than a thesis.

Tisch Library Resources

Research consultations  with a reference librarian can expedite your research process. Savvy Researcher Workshop Series  offers instruction on citation methods, software programs to manage citations, and other research skills Online  citation information  from Tisch Library

More Resources

How to Write a Senior Thesis Proposal  Before you get started on your thesis, you’ll need to prepare a proposal. Surviving the Defense  What to expect and how to prepare for your senior thesis defense.

Formatting Your Manuscript  How to format your thesis so it can be added to Tufts’ digital archives.

Thesis Advice from Successful Tufts Seniors

"Don't wait until too late to decide on a topic, to do the research, and to write the actual paper. Start early. And make a timeline for yourself and your committee." "For the writing stage, free writes are my best suggestion. While writing an 80-odd page thesis in a foreign language, free writing in English (for 20 minutes at a time, no more) helped me get my thoughts together." "Make deadlines for yourself and submit as many drafts as possible to your professors and writing tutors." “Having a defense earlier rather than later gave me plenty of time to do my other classwork and not have to worry about my thesis too around exam time."

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New language-learning app hits all the right notes

Top photo: College of Engineering and Computing seniors: (l to r) Siri Avula, Ashley Bickham, Tanvi Singh, Mahi Patel and Vivian D'Souza.

What if your Spotify playlist could help you learn another language? Thanks to the Lyraquist app, developed by five College of Engineering and Computing seniors, that possibility will soon be a reality.

At the South Carolina Honors College Thesis Symposium on Friday, April 12, Siri Avula, Ashley Bickham, Vivian D’Souza, Mahi Patel and Tanvi Singh unveiled their CEC capstone project: the Lyraquist app. The five women, four of whom—Avula, D’Souza, Patel and Singh—are Honors students, designed Lyraquist to sync with a user’s Spotify Premium playlist. As users listen to songs in French, German and Spanish, the app utilizes Google translate to offer word-for-word English translations of the lyrics.

“Anyone can be a lyrical linguist.”

The Lyraquist logo, an LP record emblazoned with a world map, offers some insight into the inspiration and ethos behind the project.

D’Souza, who studied abroad in Ireland, has fond memories of connecting with students from around the world through music. She and her classmates would gather in common areas in the evenings and share songs with lyrics in a variety of languages. D’Souza mentioned how this practice helped her learn more about her classmates, their cultures and the languages they spoke.

Four of the five Lyraquist team members studied abroad during their time at USC, and all team members grew up in multilingual households. Using the knowledge gleaned from their computer science classes, the team sought to create an app that would emulate their language-sharing experiences and provide insight into other cultures.

“Our budget was zero dollars.”

The team, who met through their computer science classes, worked together for two semesters to develop, code and test the app. D’Souza and Patel mentioned that, initially, the team progressed in perfect sync. But as coding began and each member took on their own portion of the project, the team had some non-technical bugs to work out.

This inspired the team to implement weekly stand-up meetings, a common practice in professional tech teams, providing time for each member to give a progress update. This approach, combined with the project management program Trello, helped the team stay on track as they navigated platforms and software such as React Native, Javascript, Expo and the Musixmatch lyrics database to create Lyraquist.

Above all, the team strove for the app to abide by music copyright laws and ethical guidelines. Though they had no funding, they utilized open-access sources to provide users with the best in-app experience possible.

Dr. Jose Vidal, who served as the team’s capstone project director, attested to the team’s quality work. He was impressed by “how they were able to combine all the various third-party APIs [application program interfaces]: Spotify, Musicmatch, Google Translate, Lexicala, Expo Speech, into one cohesive and fun to use app.” 

“Customize their own learning journey.”

Within the app, users take charge of their learning experience. Unlike many language-learning apps that are lesson-based, Lyraquist allows users to choose the songs that they want to hear. As they listen, they can click on words in the lyrics to learn their definitions. Users can then add vocabulary to in-app workbooks, save songs for later study and “star” particular languages that they want to focus on.

If users are unsure of where to start, the Lyraquist team has thought that through, too. The team curated language playlists of varying difficulty levels to help users get started. Users can also find out what songs are trending in languages and countries around the world.

“Beyond just the vocabulary.”

At the Thesis Symposium presentation, USC German faculty member Dr. Yvonne Ivory was among the first to express excitement about the app’s possibilities. Lyraquist could be used in K-12 and college classrooms, allowing students to experience language learning outside of a textbook. The Lyraquist team has also added an in-app feedback function, allowing users to spot Google Translate's errors and send corrections to the team.

The conversation surrounding Lyraquist is just beginning. More users, voices and languages will soon be included in the dialogue: the team is seeking approval from Spotify for the app’s public release.

Interested in viewing a demo of Lyraquist? Here’s a sneak peek.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.