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Honours program

The MBB Honours degree program allows a student to complete the required coursework for an MBB degree in addition to gaining valuable research experience by carrying out a research project (the Individual Study Semester, or ISS) during the course of one or two semesters. Two options are available and described below. Students with an Honours degree are often sought after for graduate and professional schools because of their research experience. The MBB Honours program requires a minimum of 124 units to be completed. A minimum 3.0 CGPA, 3.0 UGPA, and department permission is required for admission.

In addition to the major requirements, Honours students must complete one of the following individual study term options (A or B):

Option A - The following three courses are taken simultaneously over the course of one semester. . More information can be found at the ISS information link.

Option B - The following two courses are taken in consecutive semesters (MBB 491-5 then MBB 492-10). More information can be found at the ISS information link.

• MBB 491-5 Independent Study Semester -
• MBB 492-10 Individual Study Semester -

Students complete 12 units outside the Faculty of Science (including six units in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, but excluding EDUC 401 to 406) and at least 60 upper division units.

For an MBB Honours program, students are limited to 18 undergraduate (or graduate) research courses and/or directed reading units.  These include courses such as MBB 471, 481, 482, 483, 490, 491, 492, and corresponding courses offered by other departments (e.g. BISC 490, 491, 492, 498, 499).  If students complete more than nine (for the major) or 18 (for the Honours) units of these courses, they may not apply the extra units towards the degree total (120 for major; 124 for Honours). In addition, Honours students, may not complete more than 15 research and/or reading units in one term. It may be possible to take a lecture course with permission of supervisor.

Calendar Course Descriptions

MBB 481-5 Individual Study Semester - Honours Thesis
Part 1 of 3-part Honours degree program, the individual study semester (ISS). The ISS provides students with the opportunity to carry out full time laboratory research in molecular biology and biochemistry. Students are required to submit a written research proposal and an Honours thesis. The grade for MBB 481 encompasses the research design aspect of the ISS, consisting of the Honours thesis. Prerequisite: enrolment in the MBB or Biological Physics Honours Program, MBB331 and one of MBB308 or MBB309W, a minimum 3.0 CGPA and 3.0 UDGPA and permission of the MBB department. Students may not receive credit for both MBB 481-5 and MBB 493-15. Required corequisites: MBB 482-5 and MBB 483-5.

MBB 482-5 Individual Study Semester - Honours Research Performance
Part 2 of a 3-part Honours degree program, the individual study semester (ISS). The ISS provides students with the opportunity to carry out full time laboratory research in molecular biology and biochemistry. The grade for MBB 482 encompasses the research performance component of the ISS. Prerequisite: enrolment in the MBB or Biological Physics Honours Program, MBB331 and one of MBB308 or MBB309W, a minimum 3.0 CGPA and 3.0 UDGPA and permission of the MBB department. Students may not receive credit for both MBB 482-5 and MBB 493-15. Required corequisites: MBB 481-5 and MBB 483-5.

MBB 483-5 Individual Study Semester - Honours Research Defense
Part 3 of a 3-part Honours degree program, the individual study semester (ISS). The ISS provides students with the opportunity to carry out full time laboratory research in molecular biology and biochemistry. The grade for MBB 483 encompasses the defense component of the ISS. Prerequisite: enrolment in the MBB or Biological Physics Honours Program, MBB331 and one of MBB308 or MBB309W, a minimum 3.0 CGPA and 3.0 UDGPA and permission of the MBB department. Students may not receive credit for both MBB 483-5 and MBB 493-15. Required corequisites: MBB 481-5 and MBB 482-5.

MBB 491-5 Independent Study Semester
Part time laboratory research in an area of molecular biology or biochemistry for preparation of a thesis in molecular biology and biochemistry. Before seeking approval for enrolment in this course, the student should already have obtained the agreement of a 丁香园AV faculty member that he/she is willing to supervise the project, and have prepared a written proposal (of approximately 1-2 pages) stating the nature of the research project. The course will include the preparation of a written research report on the results of the project, and may also, at the discretion of the supervisor, include an oral presentation of the results. Prerequisite: MBB 222, and MBB 221 or MBB 231 and permission of the molecular biology and biochemistry department. Usually, upper level standing with at least 60 units in a molecular biology and biochemistry major, minor or Honours program will be required.

MBB 492-10 Individual Study Semester
Full time laboratory research in an area of molecular biology or biochemistry for preparation of a thesis for the Honours degree in molecular biology and biochemistry. This course is available to Honours students who have already taken MBB 491 (or BICH 491-5), or who plan to break an individual studies project into two terms (see below). The course will include the preparation of a comprehensive written research report on the results of the project, and may also, at the discretion of the supervisor, include an oral presentation of the results. Prerequisite: permission of the department. Students with credit for BICH 492 may not take MBB 492 for further credit.

MBB 496-6 Independent Study Semester Joint Honours MBB-BUS or CMPT-MBB
Directed reading and part-time scientific research in an area of molecular biology or biochemistry. This course is intended only for those students taking a joint MBB/BUS or MBB/CS Honours degree. Before seeking approval for enrolment in this course, the student should already have obtained the agreement of a faculty member that he/she is willing to supervise the project, and have prepared a written proposal (of aproximately 1-2 pages) stating the nature of the research readings and project. The course will include preparation of a written report on the results of the project and may, at the discretion of the supervisor, include an oral presentation of the results. Prerequisite: 75 units and upper division standing in an MBB Joint Honours Program, and MBB 308. Students who take MBB 496 are not allowed to take MBB 491, 492, or 493 with the same faculty supervisor.