March 1999

Related Links Mason's Department of Biology

First Crop of Biology Students Graduate in Spring 1999 By Ghada Khouri This spring, the biology honors program will bid farewell to its first crop of graduates, all of whom intend to enter postgraduate education. Biology may be best known for being one of the oldest departments at George Mason, but it also administers a highly visible and expanding honors program benefiting students with superior academic ability. "The program gives students a head start on graduate training," says its director, Laura Adamkewicz, Biology. "It typically attracts individuals with a high level of commitment--the kind of students who tend to be officers in the biology club or volunteers at a local hospital. They are a wonderful group to teach." Although the program has been in existence for only two semesters, it is rapidly attracting a growing number of applicants. Thirty-three students are enrolled this semester, compared to twenty-two last fall. But regardless of the pace of growth, the department is committed to preserving one of the program's best features--the "small-group experience" it offers, Adamkewicz stresses. Students are required to take three seminar courses over three semesters. Each seminar class, which is no larger than 30 students, consists of discussions among small groups of five or fewer. The groups are headed by a student leader who rotates every week. At the end of each discussion, faculty sponsors help the groups reach concensus about the research under study. Honors seminars are typically led by two faculty members--a program coordinator and a professor who rotates each semester. Students share in planning the course with faculty members by helping select readings and discussion topics. This unique structure cultivates teamwork and leadership among students while ensuring that honors classes address their individual interests. At the same time, a rigorous curriculum exposes them to prominent guest speakers, primary scientific materials, and prestigious journals such as Nature and Science. "Students feel a tremendous sense of satisfaction at being able to tackle original scientific literature that is usually used at the graduate level," says Adamkewicz. Out of 900 undergraduate students currently pursuing B.A. or B.S. degrees in biology, only those who have completed 16 credits of math and science with at least a 3.0 GPA are eligible to pursue graduation with honors. George Mason students may also graduate with honors in art history, general education, history, or public and international affairs. Much like the biology honors option, these programs single out high achievers and are designed to prepare them for illustrious careers while exposing them to a challenging and demanding curriculum. For more information about the program, contact Adamkewicz at x31047, e-mail ladamkew@gmu.edu, or visit http://mason.gmu.edu/~ladamkew/honors.