The Departmental Honors Program recognizes Physiological Science majors who demonstrate academic excellence while conducting an independent physiology research project under the guidance of a UCLA faculty mentor. Departmental honors students deepen their understanding of physiology while developing the analytical and scientific communication skills essential for future researchers and health professionals.
The program does not require an application. Students indicate their participation by completing the required honors coursework and milestones below.
Program Requirements
- Earn a minimum 3.5 GPA in the upper division major requirements.
- Earn honors credit by completing PHYSCI 189 or PHYSCI 189HC (for students in College Honors) concurrently with PHYSCI 111A or PHYSCI 111B during junior year.
- Complete PHYSCI 198A and PHYSCI 198B with an approved UCLA faculty member during senior year.
- Participate in the Integrative Biology and Physiology Undergraduate Research Poster Day in the spring quarter of senior year.
Students who complete the program requirements will receive an “Honors” notation on their diploma and transcript.
Timeline
| When? | Milestone |
|---|---|
| By sophomore or early junior year | Join an approved research lab and enroll in SRP courses each quarter you’re a lab member |
| Junior year | Complete PHYSCI 189 or PHYSCI 189HC concurrently with PHYSCI 111A or PHYSCI 111B |
| Senior year | Enroll in PHYSCI 198A and PHYSCI 198B |
| Spring quarter of senior year | Present your research at the IBP Undergraduate Research Poster Day |
Enrollment in Required Courses
PHYSCI 189
Who should enroll?
Students pursuing departmental honors whose main advising unit is CAC, AAP, or Athletics.
When to enroll?
Winter or spring quarter of junior year
Course information:
- 1 unit
- Letter or P/NP grading
- Taken concurrently with PHYSCI 111A or PHYSCI 111B
- Students are required to write a 10-page paper on a topic related to the material covered in one of the modules in PHYSCI 111A/B. Paper due to instructor at the end of the quarter.
How to enroll?
- Reach out to the instructor of the relevant PHYSCI 111A or PHYSCI 111B module to discuss a research paper topic related to the material covered in that module.
- Obtain the instructor’s approval for your topic.
- Contact the Undergraduate Advisor by Friday of Week 2 at 12:00pm to request enrollment in PHYSCI 189.
PHYSCI 189HC
Who should enroll?
Students pursuing departmental honors AND College Honors
When to enroll?
Winter or spring quarter of junior year
Course information:
- 1 unit
- Letter grading
- Taken concurrently with PHYSCI 111A or PHYSCI 111B
- Students are required to write a 10-page paper on a topic related to the material covered in one of the modules in PHYSCI 111A/B. Paper due to instructor at the end of the quarter.
How to enroll?
- Reach out to the instructor of the relevant PHYSCI 111A or PHYSCI 111B module to discuss a research paper topic related to the material covered in that module.
- Obtain the instructor’s approval for your topic
- Create a PHYSCI 189HC contract
- Go to MyUCLA > Classes > Contract Courses
- Follow the prompts to select the correct term/year, course number, instructor, unit value, grading basis, and course proposal.
- Obtain your faculty mentor’s signature on the contract. The Chair’s signature is NOT required.
- Submit your contract to the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology no later than Friday of Week 2 at 12:00pm the link below.
PHYSCI 198A and PHYSCI 198B
Who should enroll?
Senior Physiological Science majors pursuing departmental honors.
Eligibility:
- Have senior status
- 3.0+ cumulative UCLA GPA
- Completed three quarters of SRP 99, 196, and/or 199 in an approved lab
- Research has progressed enough to produce data for at least one figure in the research paper.
Approved faculty mentors:
Course information:
- 4 units
- Letter grading
- In-progress grading. Letter grade and credit granted upon completion of PHYSCI 198B.
- Students are required to submit a contract and research proposal that follows departmental guidelines at the start of each quarter to request enrollment in PHYSCI 198A and PHYSCI 198B.
- A research paper that follows departmental guideless should be submitted each quarter that a student is enrolled in PHYSCI 198A and PHYSCI 198B.
- Up to two courses from PHYSCI 198A/B OR PHYSCI 199 may be used to fulfill up to two upper division major electives.
How to enroll:
- Discuss the expectations for the contract course with your faculty mentor.
- Create a PHYSCI 198A/B contract
- Go to MyUCLA > Classes > Contract Courses
- Follow the prompts to select the correct term/year, course number, instructor, unit value, grading basis, and course proposal.
- Follow the guidelines below to create a research proposal
- Obtain your faculty mentor’s signature on the contract. The Chair’s signature is NOT required.
- Submit your signed contract and proposal to the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology no later than Monday of Week 2 at 5:00pm at the link below.
