Honors Degree

Graduate at the head of the class

Outstanding students may earn Honors in Animal Behavior by writing and defending an honors thesis involving their own original research. Students work with a faculty mentor to develop the research project, write their thesis, and assemble a thesis committee.

High-achieving students may be recognized for Academic Excellence in the College of Arts and Sciences, or be eligible for admission to the Hutton Honors College.

View Honors degree requirements

Why complete an Honors degree in Animal Behavior?

Honors students will receive intensive independent research experience under the mentorship of an animal behavior faculty member. This research experience will allow students to employ knowledge gained in their coursework to a research question that they develop in conjunction with their mentor. Students will learn how to design experiments, how to apply research techniques in the laboratory and/ or field to conduct experiments, how to collect data.
Honors students will develop and hone practical hands-on skills in data analysis and interpretation, scientific writing, oral presentations, and in explaining and defending scientific arguments through writing their honors thesis and defending it.
Honors students will have extensive interactions with faculty members, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and other undergraduates actively conducting research in a CISAB-affiliated laboratory. These interactions will give students experience in the culture of laboratory and/or field research and provide opportunities for networking that will help them to pursue careers in animal behavior.
The research experiences obtained in the honors program will be valuable both in helping student to decide on research career trajectories (e.g. graduate school) and will provide evidence to graduate admissions committees and/or potential employers of the student's ability to think scientifically and proficiently conduct research.
The Honors degree formally recognizes a student's commitment to the study of animal behavior, their academic excellence, and their accomplishments as a budding researcher in the field.

Learn about Honors degree requirements See how to apply

Program in Animal Behavior

Honors Degree

Graduate at the head of the class

Why complete an Honors degree in Animal Behavior?

The College of Arts & Sciences

Honors Degree

Graduate at the head of the class

Why complete an Honors degree in Animal Behavior?

Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior social media channels

The College of Arts & Sciences